//------------------------------// // Ch.12 - Realm of Dreams // Story: Tails of Sacrifice // by CommanderX5 //------------------------------// Tails of Sacrifice - Chapter 12 - Realm of Dreams "Come on! Put your back into it!" Lily cheered as she wrestled the bottom of Kyuubi's paw with her hooves. She stood on her rear legs like a indestructible pillar, a bored expression on her face.  I am trying, but you are so strong.  "You could be stronger if you just exercised more. I know you can't overstrain your magic, but you have no excuse to slack physically!" Lily groaned. "Ever since you hit your growth spurt, I hoped facing you would become a challenge again!" "You’re both at it again?"  Lily lowered her head and peeked from under the paw, seeing the legs and chest of Nightmare Moon. "I swear on the moon, you are the weirdest duo either Luna or I have ever known, and Luna's memories are vast regarding meeting strange creatures." The dark alicorn lowered her head, peeking under the paw, unamused. "Do you enjoy being crushed so much that you do this every single day?" "Well, first of all, I didn't have difficulty keeping Kyuubi at bay for a decade, so no crushing. Second of all, it’s all about the challenge. If anything, it is also a workout for Kyuubi, and she needs one." Lily smiled. "But it's perfect timing. Can you increase the gravity around us? Kyuubi is too light on the moon, making it too easy." "Another time. There's something I have to show you first."  "Oh, sure." Lily bent her rear legs and gritted her teeth. Jumping, she pushed the paw and Kyuubi, who flew a few meters away. The ground only lightly trembled from the kitsune's soft landing.  They were still in the ruined throne room, Nightmare’s former hibernating spot that now served them as home. The room itself was no longer bare stone, now decorated with things made from their newest resource.  A white, fluffy carpet now covered the floor. A puffy cushion was present on the repaired throne. But most importantly, a makeshift white nest was performing the role of a bed for Kyuubi herself. Lily glanced at the kitsune, whose fur had lost some size and luster from the extraction jobs. Lack of food and the magical nature of the fluff prevented healing magic from regenerating it to perfect condition. All there was left was to wait for the fur to grow back naturally. In a way, the appearance of the kitsune had been a blessing as she was a source of soft material in this new harsh realm. The kitsune lowered herself, looking back at the alicorn curiously. Is it time? Should we try to reach for Luna again? She giggled. I'm sure she will enjoy hearing about my school experiences. Just wait until I get to the potion-making event. That one is a blast. "Please restrain your enthusiasm," the alicorn said. "I have made an important discovery, one that will prove most insightful for you." Lily spotted a blue aura form around Nightmare's horn and then noticed her attempts to fix the bowtie on Kyuubi's neck.  Discovery? After so long here? It must be rather exciting for you! Ooh, I am feeling rather excited myself! Please, do tell! Kyuubi said as her five tails started waving left and right in unison, her toothy smile a sight to behold. "For someone who has experienced the third month of banishment, you are holding up rather well. I can only hope your smile and your enthusiasm won't falter in the years to come." Nightmare unleashed a sinister chuckle. "Fortunately, Luna and I discovered new things all the time. Of a sort, anyway. It kept us occupied, and hopefully, it will do the same for you." The alicorn flew up, then familiarly gestured with her hoof. Lily recognized this gesture. She looked at Kyuubi, who quickly lay on her side, exposing her now shorter fur in an invitation. "Is it time to rest already? It is rather hard to schedule naps with no night-day cycle."  "It’s time to rest, yes, but it will serve a greater purpose than just sleeping."  Lily climbed Kyuubi and sat on her third tail, her very favorite. She watched as what appeared to be some naval-blue string started emerging from Nightmare's horn, reaching out to Kyuubi's forehead. A moment later, a similar one went in her direction. "Do you remember my lecture on how Luna and I sought the dreams of ponies to escape monotony and boredom?" Kyuubi and Lily nodded in unison, both examining the strings with full curiosity. "You mentioned that you two found some weaknesses in the seal, which allowed you to visit dreams. You couldn't interact with them, though," Lily answered. Her ears dropped as she added in a sadder tone, "Unfortunately, even that became stale. It was when even the dreams of ponies stopped being enjoyable that Luna gave up control of her body and sealed herself in her mind." "That is correct, little Lily. I am impressed. For a while, I assumed you were ‘all brawn and no brain’." Lily crossed her forelegs and narrowed her eyes. "Hey! It’s my choice to act carefree and follow my impulses. It doesn't mean I can't think when the situation calls for it. I am way older than I look." This was true, as far as it went. It was merely that, in Lily’s opinion, very few situations called for much thought, while most called for action. Your Highness. You mentioned that you made a discovery. Did you find something of importance while seeking dreams? Nightmare walked across the fur on Kyuubi's side, sitting on her shoulder. "Indeed, and it is something I would like to share with you." She gestured at the blue strings and explained, "I can't interact with the ponies of Equestria due to the seal, but I can still guide you both. Please close your eyes and leave the rest to me." Semi-transparent, Kyuubi floated between two lines of doors with a star-filled sky in the background, a shine in her eye. "Wow! This place looks amazing! And you can peek into any dream you want in a manner of seconds. How could Luna get bored of it?" "Give it a century or two, and you will have your answer," Nightmare said, sarcasm clear in her voice.  A semi-transparent Lily spoke up, "I am more curious about ‘how did you shrink Kyuubi in this realm’? She's no bigger than me. Not to mention she can speak Ponish now without telepathy. How did you do that?" "It comes with the territory. It is a realm limited only by the dreamer’s imagination. Thus, it has limitless potential, and I know how to take advantage of that." Nightmare poked Kyuubi's small form with the tip of her armored hoof. "Navigating a massive kitsune through dreams would be inconvenient. I much prefer her as a little fox." "Well. While I admit that Kyuubi is super cute when she reduces her size with an age spell, I much prefer her at full size. I love seeing my mentor as a mighty giant." Lily spread her forelegs. "And I hope she'll grow even bigger!" The kitsune covered her ears. "You don't have to yell, little Lily. I mean, big Lily. At this size, I can hear you just fine." Kyuubi held her forepaws close to each other. "I also must admit to something. I got used to being big, and I love seeing ponies as the little, precious, adorable beings they are. The bigger I grow, the more ponies I can accommodate with my fluff." Upon hearing a chuckle, a rare sound from the dark alicorn, she asked, "Huh? Did I say something funny?" "Oh, it is nothing. I just started to understand a bit better why you both like each other so much." Nightmare stopped flying in front of a door with three tails decorating the bronze wood. "Here we are."  "Three white-tails? Wait. No! It can't be!" Kyuubi blocked the bright light with her paws as soon as the door opened. She lowered them and blinked as she took in the scenery of this dream. Fields covered by flowers with castle walls in the background. Trees and bushes. There was no mistaking it. It was the Canterlot Garden. "Oh, how adorable!" Lily said as she flew further down to get a better view. “So this is where Nightmare got an idea to turn you into a cub.” Kyuubi gasped, not believing her eyes. She saw herself back when she had three tails, playing in the garden with a smiling alicorn. Both Celestia and little Kyuubi had white lilies attached between their ears. "No... How can this be? That's me!" Nightmare groaned. "Oh, how I wish I could vaporize this dream version of Celestia."  Kyuubi tried to land on the grassy field and failed. Her transparent form seemed unable to interact with the dream in any way, shape, or form. She just floated in place, feeling imaginary tears drop from her transparent eyes as she saw what had to be one of the happiest times of her life.  Her deja vu was interrupted by a gruff ‘a-hem’ from Nightmare Moon. As she saw the scowl on the dark alicorn’s face, Kyuubi curled her limbs fearfully, holding them close to her belly. Nightmare Moon already intimidated her before, and now Kyuubi was the tiny one. "I’ve been watching dreams of your younger self for quite some time, and she just happened to call that cursed Celestia her mentor on a few occasions." Nightmare narrowed her eyes as steam erupted from her nostrils. "W-What?!" The kitsune blinked the tears from her eyes and panicked. She tried to form a response, feeling her attempts to earn Nightmare's trust were in jeopardy, but nothing came to mind. Nightmare Moon’s eyes darkened further before she shut them in resigned annoyance. "I understand why you hid this information as I would do the same. I won't hold it against you," The alicorn groaned. "However, I expect an honest explanation. No more secrets." Kyuubi whimpered and nodded, grateful for Nightmare's mercy. Still shaken, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Fifty years ago. I mean, now. I mean." She gulped. "Take it easy. Deep breath, deep breath," Lily said as she placed forehoof on the kitsune's shoulder, extra careful not to hurt her, dream or not. She then recalled another detail due to that fact. "Oh, right, it’s a dream. Then imagine you're taking calming breaths. That works too." Kyuubi took the advice as her semi-transparent form took a few calming breaths. She wrapped her forepaw around Lily's foreleg for moral support. "I was exiled from a distant land, half a century before you regained your freedom. Injured, I appeared inside the garden and healed my wounds. Princess Celestia took me in as her student." "Because she wanted to use your talents?" Nightmare asked, cynical of Celestia’s intentions. "Because she wished to nurture my talents," Kyuubi answered, forcing herself to add some heat into her answer despite feeling intimidated. She had to defend her mentor's honor. "I was lost and scared in this alien nation, and the princess took me in as her student. She trusted me even though I admitted to the horrible deeds that a member of my species had committed. She even apologized to me for thinking of trying to take advantage of me." Kyuubi pressed paws against her mouth, realizing what she was about to reveal. "She admitted to something like that and apologized? Interesting." Nightmare glanced at the playful alicorn, who now rubbed the belly of the three-tailed fox. "I may hate her, but honesty is something I can respect." She lowered herself to the transparent kitsune. "Speaking of which, I believe it’s time I learned more about you and your species. Can I expect a display of honesty from you?" Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh, trust me, you have no idea. Kyuubi is too honest for her own good." "I will be the judge of that."  Kyuubi yelped as she was pulled towards the open door, leaving the dream. She was perched on a floating island with Lily by her side.  Nightmare Moon landed before them, staring down with a judging glare. "Now then. I am listening."   The kitsune rubbed her foreleg nervously. "You want me to tell you about my past here and now?"  The alicorn nodded. As Kyuubi was about to speak, Lily cut in, "Before you start, I have a question." "Yes?" Lily asked, "If you are on the moon, and your younger self is dreaming of your time with Princess Celestia back when you were tiny and had three tails." She gasped, pressing her muzzle against Kyuubi's. "Could it be that this spell sent us five decades backward?" "Lily. You're a genius!" Kyuubi shouted as she withdrew her muzzle from close contact.  "Genius? Nah. I am a master athlete. You're the smart one." Nightmare sat and asked, "Did you figure something out?" Kyuubi nodded before holding a paw on her chest. "It is just a theory, but I believe the spell banished me to the moon at the exact time when my younger counterpart arrived in Equestria." "What?! Realy?" Lily shook her forehooves enthusiastically, forcing the kitsune to step back. She giggled. "I can see it now. You were under the care and guidance of Princess Celestia for five decades. And now you will spend five decades alongside Nightmare Moon. It is so fitting." Nightmare rubbed her chin. "So, in other words, you have half a century to help me awaken Luna before we regain our freedom. Most interesting." She tapped her forehoof against the stone. "Now, with this out of the way, I command you to share your past with me. You mentioned that a member of your species did some horrible deeds. If I’m to trust you, I need to know more about you and your kin, both the good and the bad." The kitsune nodded, now more open to the idea of sharing her past. She did it for Celestia, so it was only fair to do so for Nightmare Moon. Some may say she was too open with her past, especially given how her trip to Ponyville went, it still always worked in her favor in the end. Perched on Kyuubi's side, her favorite resting spot, Nightmare opened her eyes. She looked at the kitsune in pity. "Kyuubi."  Y-yes? Kyuubi rubbed her sleepy face with a paw. "That nine-tailed kitsune from your story. I would do the same. Is it so wrong to want to avenge the murder of your entire species?" Kyuubi's eyes shot wide open as she raised her head. What? Of course! What he did was wrong. "And why is that? He wanted revenge. He wanted justice for his fallen comrades. Those filthy humans and all those other races who hunted them got what they deserved. How is this wrong?" If it was about punishing the guilty, I could understand, but he slew the innocent as well as the guilty. Did his action bring his species back to life? What happened can't be undone. All he accomplished was mass murder. He wasn't avenging our kind by hunting those that hunted us. He was at war with everyone, innocent or not. Vengeance is not a solution. "He wanted to conquer so that other species would never be a threat to his kind," Nightmare remarked as she stood up, spreading her wings. And he got himself sealed away by priests and monks in a war that took countless lives. Because of his actions, knights wanted my head out of fear. Kyuubi's tails started moving in the rhythm of her emotions. Lily, who was resting between second and third tail, was swept away in the process, an unpleasant awakening for the strong earth pony. "And you're not angry? You just forgave them?" My attackers feared what I could do once I grew up, so I will not hold it against them. My caretakers, the people who took me in despite the threat I may have one day posed, there was nothing to forgive. Another cycle of vengeance would bring nothing but pain. I am content with my life in Equestria, and I wish to use my gift and my blessing for good.  "So your species is extinct with you being the last kitsune, and yet you forgave them? I can't tell if it is a sign of strength or weakness." Nightmare sighed and sat, gently stroking Kyuubi's fur. "How can you be so carefree and happy, knowing you will never meet another kitsune, nor ever have an offspring. Are you not upset?" Seeing a shake of the kitsune’s head, she asked. "Why?" If there were a few kitsunes or even just one that was still alive, and I knew I could never reunite with them, I would be upset for sure. Worries and regrets would never leave me as I would fear for their lives, unable to help them, scared of what could happen while I was gone.  Kyuubi sighed as her ears dropped. But because I know I am the last and that I will one day expire without any children, I have made my peace with that. I focus on what I can do and all the blessings I have rather than what I lost. I treasure the life I have and all the friendships I made. I have my goal to make Equestria a better place, and it pushes me forward. It is not all I could wish for, but it is enough. Nightmare Moon looked away. Blinded by her hatred for Celestia, she was willing to do all in her power to kill her, or die trying, no matter who would have to suffer for it. But after learning about Kyuubi and her forgiveness, Nightmare felt a seed of doubt planted in her mind. She had no intention of forgiving Celestia, but as of now, she had much to think over. Your Highness. "Yes?" Can you teach me how to enter ponies' dreams? Pretty please. The alicorn blinked, assaulted with puppy eyes. Under normal circumstances, Nightmare wouldn't be swayed by pleading eyes. But after hearing about Kyuubi's tragic past, she wanted to keep her happy. “Interacting with ponies dreams was something Luna developed not long after becoming an alicorn, something unique only to her.” Pretty please. “I can only promise to try. What I would like to know is why you want it so much? I can always take you with me.” Can you visit non-pony dreams? Dreams of people from a faraway land? Nightmare blinked, staring back in confusion before realization struck her. “I see how it is. You wish to see the dreams of the priests and the monks who cared for you.”  The alicorn held forehoof against her chest. “I fear I can visit only dreams of creatures in Equestria as this is the land Luna that grew in. To look into dreams of priests and monks that you remember, you will need to master this magic yourself under my guidance.” Kyuubi smiled, a sight that the alicorn welcomed with open hooves.  “I suppose it is worth a try. It is not like you have anything else to do most of the day. You have fifty years to learn,” Nightmare said, liking the idea of teaching Kyuubi. If Celesta could mentor Kyuubi for half a century, so could she. She was going to surpass that hated Celestia. She was going to help Kyuubi far more than that pathetic excuse of an alicorn ever did. Her pride demanded it.