My tail just loves to shake in the morning. Kori thought as he felt his tail tapping Fluttershy’s hoof. Kori raised his head to look up the bed and saw that the pegasus was starting to stir.
“Morning, Kori,” Fluttershy said with a yawn. She rubbed her eyes and looked over at the fox, who scrunched up his nose and rolled over with a moan.
“It’s not morning yet. Wake me up tomorrow,” Kori said into the quilted blanket, then tried to bury himself under the blanket.
“Sorry, Kori, but it’s time to get up!” she said with a chuckle, then crawled over to Kori and wrapped her hooves around him.
She’s gonna choke me if she hugs me any tighter. “Fine.”
“How’d you sleep, Fluffy?”
“Fluffy? Did that Fluffle Puff pony sneak in?” Kori muttered as he tried to slip from her grasp.
“I meant you, so how’d you sleep?” Fluttershy asked as she quickly scratched his side in an attempt to get his legs to kick like a happy pup.
“I didn’t,” he moaned as he finally slipped out of her grasp and sluggishly limped over to lay his head on a pillow.
“Why not? Does it have anything to do with today?” Fluttershy asked with a concerned look. Kori tucked his head under the pillow.
“No,” Kori groaned. He twisted one of his legs, which resulted in a loud pop. Fluttershy cringed at the noise as she thought of how such an action would feel to an already-broken leg; it hurt her to see him injure himself. Little did she know this was just another one of the many things Kori had learned from his home; pain was nothing new to him.
“You shouldn’t do that. Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Only for a moment,” he moaned as he shifted it once more with another muffled pop. With a glance, he saw that Fluttershy was watching him closely. “You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll be out of your fur in no time at all. The princesses will be making sure of that, one way or another.”
“I promised I’d see you through this. I just don’t want to see you in pain, so could you please stop doing that to yourself? Please?”
“Fine. Can I just...”
“Just what?” Fluttershy asked as set a hoof on Kori’s leg, making it twitch reflexively.
“Forget it, it was a dumb idea,” Kori muttered as he slid off the bed and began towards the stairs. “Let’s just get something to eat.”
“Hold on. What were you going to say?”
“I was gonna ask if I could just sleep through today, but I’d rather face this head on. I will see those princesses, and they’ll help me. Right?”
“That’s right. Come on, let’s get some toast and tea so we’ll be ready to go,” she said as they entered the kitchen.
“Sounds like a plan.” The sooner we get there, the sooner I’ll never have to hear about pony royalty again.
“You make the tea and I’ll make the toast?”
“Sure,” Kori replied as he walked over to the cupboards and got a small pot. “Where’re the cups? I couldn’t find them.”
“They’re on a higher shelf so that no critters can climb up and play with them.”
“Got it,” Kori said as he started boiling some water before he hopped up onto the counter. A sharp pain shot up his leg as he landed, and he flinched in pain before he forced himself to adopt a calm expression. He stopped himself from grunting as he stretched up to look on top of the higher shelves. Stop showing pain, can’t afford to look weak. “Found them.”
“Be careful! You already have two broken legs.”
“I’m being careful.” Don’t drop the cups. Don’t yelp. I’m not weak. Not gonna look weak... Kori thought before one of his paws slipped on the counter causing his entire body to tense so he didn’t fall. Some of his claws dug into the wood as he struggled to hold himself up. He groaned through the cup in his mouth as he felt his legs straining from the effort, the pain of his injuries flaring up.
“Oh my! Maybe you should let me get the cups,” Fluttershy exclaimed, a hoof over her mouth in shock.
“Iv gt i,” Kori spat through the mug in his mouth.
“...I can’t just sit and watch as you do something so dangerous with two broken legs!” Fluttershy exclaimed, then raced over to Kori and wrapped her legs around his chest, carefully lowering him to the ground. “I’ll get the other cup, and you can still make the tea.”
“I was fine, it’s not like that fall would’ve hurt anything,” Kori snapped, ears laid down against his head as he slouched, embarrassed.
“Kori, that was almost a four-foot fall onto your head. That could’ve seriously injured you.”
“No. It would take more than that to hurt me,” Kori muttered darkly as Fluttershy set a second mug beside him.
“Kori, you have to realize that you are still a living being, and that means that you can be hurt. And that sometimes you need some help.”
“I can help myself,” Kori muttered under his breath which caught a glance from the pegasus.
“What was that?” she asked.
“I said that I can help myself,” he snapped.
“I never said you couldn’t,” she said with a shrug, “it’s just that sometimes a little help would make things a lot easier on you.”
“When am I supposed to see the princesses?” Kori asked, changing the subject with a sigh.
“Well, the train doesn’t leave for a few hours, but Twilight might come by to talk to you before then.” Fluttershy said slowly, looking Kori over a second time.
Fan-fricken-tastic. I’m finally ready to get this stupid royal business done and I find out that I have to wait a few hours before I actually have to deal with them! ...I don’t have anything to do until then.
“Toast’s ready.” Fluttershy said, derailing Kori’s train of thought.
“Alright.”
“Do you know how to make tea?” Fluttershy asked, realizing he hadn’t started making any yet.
“Just because I couldn’t afford it doesn’t mean I can’t make it,” he said as he grabbed a couple teabags from one of the cupboards and set them in the mugs before he put the water in them. Being sure that he turned the stove off afterwards.
“So... what do you wanna do?” she asked as she munched on a piece of toast.
“No idea,” he muttered as he blew a tuft of fur out from in front of his eyes. At the moment I’m stuck waiting for Twilight to come by.
“We could always play something while we wait.”
Oh yes, let’s see just how many times you can humiliate me in a game. “Or we could find something else to do.”
“Sure.”
A few knocks at the door drew the attention of the two. Kori stood and crossed the room to answer it.
“Hello, Kori,” came the voice as he opened the door to see Twilight was on the other side with a scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. “May I come in?”
“Come on in Twilight,” Fluttershy said as she set a two plates down on the table before walking over to greet her friend. “We were just about to have breakfast.”
“Breakfast? At ten thirty?”
“T-ten thirty?!” the pegasus exclaimed as she looked over her oaken wall clock. “We must’ve slept in later than I thought.”
“There’s still an hour until we have to go and Rarity.... was right behind me?”
“I’m here!” Rarity exclaimed as she rushed into the house, a multitude of miscellaneous tools in tow. “I thought I forgot my pencil, but it was right here next to the thread.”
Wasn’t she one of the ponies I met yesterday? It’s so hard to tell when there’s so many ponies around.
“Hi, Rarity,” Fluttershy said joyously as she saw her friend.
“What’s with the stuff?” Kori asked as the unicorn held a cloth out before her.
“It’s just a little something for when you go and meet the princesses. First impressions are important after all,” she said as a tape of some kind floated over to Kori and was held along side him. “I want to make sure that this fits.”
“That what fits?” he asked as he flicked the tape away from himself.
“It’s not my best work, but I’m certain that it’ll help you look your best when you see the princesses in a few hours,” she replied as a few needles wove their way through the cloth. “It was a bit longer than it should’ve been.”
“Alright Kori,” Twilight began, pulling Kori’s attention from the seamstress. “The princesses and I are going to be meeting you in the throne room in a few hours, and depending on how it goes there could be a feast afterwards.”
Depending on how it goes? Kori thought as a shudder ran through his body. No! Fluttershy promised me I’ll be safe. I haven’t done anything wrong afterall, so they’ll have no reason to hurt me.
“See Kori?” Fluttershy said as she bumped Kori’s shoulder. “I told you that you’d get something to eat afterwards.”
“Yeah.” She did say that. And now I have something to look forward to after all this royal shi... stuff’s done.
“That should do it!” Rarity exclaimed as she pulled the needles from the cloth and held it up to show that it was a simple yet elegant robe about Kori’s size. “Would you mind trying it on to see how the fit is?”
“S-sure,” Kori muttered as he put his forepaws through the sleeves and let the rest of it lay atop of him.
The cloth was a bright blue that had been chosen to contrast his natural fur with a multitude of simple snowflakes put in a pattern across the back. The back was made so that it draped over his tail without restricting it.
“How does it feel?” Rarity asked, suddenly nervous as to how Kori would react.
“It feels... weird? Never wore something before though,” he said as he shifted around inside the robe. It feels so weird! How do the rich stand wearing this kind of stuff?!
“Does it itch?”
“No. It just feels weird on my fur. It doesn’t feel... natural.”
“You’ll get used to it, darling. What do you all think?” Rarity asked, turning to her friends. “It’s not my best work, but it’s still pretty good for a rush job, wouldn’t you agree?” the unicorn asked of the others as she glanced over the robe herself.
“I think it looks nice,” Fluttershy said as she ate some of her toast. “It really brings out your fur.”
“Just what I was thinking!” Rarity exclaimed. A moment later she glanced at the clock and began to trot in place. “Oh my! We’re going to be late if we stand around and talk like this! I’ll hold onto it until we get there if you’d like.”
“Sure,” Kori said as he pulled the robe off his head and gave it to the eager unicorn. For a second I was afraid I was gonna have to wear that the entire way there.
“We should head into town so that we’ll be able to catch the train. We still have to meet up with Pinkie, Rainbow and Applejack before we go,” Twilight said as she stood to leave.
“Yeah. Let me just grab something for the cold. Would you like a scarf Kori?” Fluttershy asked as she too stood.
Kori shook his head with a forced giggle at this. “My fur’s not thick for show.”
“Right,” she said as she walked to the door with a scarf wrapped around her for warmth. “Come on Kori.”
“Alright- One sec!” he exclaimed as he crammed a slice of toast in his mouth before rushing out after the ponies.
--------------氷狐--------------
“Welcome to Canterlot!” Rarity exclaimed as she hopped off the train, Kori close in tow. “Are you okay?”
“I feel sick,” Kori muttered as he swayed a bit on the solid ground. Note to self: trains move fast.
“I didn’t know you had motion sickness,” Fluttershy said as she got off the train behind him. “I would’ve brought something to help if I knew.”
“News to both of us here. I’m fine. I just-”
“Woo hoo!” Rainbow exclaimed as she soared out of the train and hovered above the group. “Feels great to stretch my wings a bit.”
Blah blah blah. Lucky little-
“Alright everypony,” Twilight exclaimed drawing the attention of everypony as Kori sat and gained back control of his legs. “The sooner we get to the castle the more time we have until we head back.”
“Which means more time for parties!” Pinkie exclaimed as she hopped off the train with a bag of snacks hanging from her tail.
She brings food and I get sick from a train ride. Just my luck.
“Hey,” Fluttershy said as she set a hoof on Kori’s back. “Are you okay? I can get you something if you’d like.”
“Just dizzy,” he muttered as he slowly straightened up. “I’m fine.”
“Ya sure? You look a bit tipsy,” Applejack said as Kori took a wobbly step forward.
“Yeah. Never been on train bef-” Kori began before he stumbled against Fluttershy.
“Careful!” the pegasus exclaimed as she caught him before his face met the floor. “Okay. Just sit down, wait until the ground stops tilting.”
“Sure,” he moaned as he laid on the floor. Just close your eyes. The world’s not tilting like some fun house. “I feel like I’m about to lose my breakfast.”
“Oh boy,” Rainbow muttered as she watched him sway where he laid. “You sure you don’t need something?”
“I’m go- second thought. Anything to get the ground to hold still.”
“Probably needs something in his stomach. That always helped me when I was little,” the cyan mare said as she glanced off for something to help him. “How about doughnuts?”
“Ugh. I‘m ready to puke and you say to eat?”
Rainbow giggled at this. “Yeah, that’s what I said when a teacher first said that to me. It helps settle your stomach, though if you’d rather wait it out I guess that’s always-”
“No! I don’t want to wait!” I swear if I have to wait for this to stop I will puke!
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing that Doughnut Joe’s place is open all day,” Twilight stated with a gesture into the city.
This better not be some prank to get me to puke. Kori thought as he stood to follow the pegasus only to have Fluttershy stand beside him supportingly.
“Careful,” she exclaimed as Kori fell against her. “We don’t want you falling on the ground before you even get to the castle now, do we?”
Kori looked up in search of the castle. To his surprise, he saw that the entire town had been built on the side of a mountain, and a large white castle stood vigil at the top. The golden roofs seeming to reflect the light to every inch of the town as they walked through a well lit archway.
So much for modesty. I feel like I’m in the middle of a giant pissing contest. He remarked as the buildings gradually got bigger and more elaborate. Now if only the buildings would hold still I’d be able to stop tilting around like a drunk.
“Feeling better?” Fluttershy asked as she noticed Kori had stopped bumping against her.
“A little,” he lied. Don’t fall on your face. Don’t-
“And here we are!” Rainbow exclaimed as they arrived at a small white building with a large brown circle covered in chocolate and some colorful sprinkles atop it.
Thank toast that.... Kori thought before he feigned a trip and landed on his face. That hurt a lot more than I thought it would.
“Oh my!” the pegasus exclaimed as she noticed Kori’s position. “Are you okay?
“Mm hm.” If I ever said that aloud I’d probably drop dead from embarrassment.
“Come on. Let me see,” she said as she helped Kori up and glanced over his snout to see a drop of blood running down it. “Come on now, let’s get that fixed up.” she said as she pulled him into the building.
“What?” he muttered as the blood reached his mouth and he had the familiar taste of blood on his tongue. It’s just a nose bleed. It’s not like I’ve broken something.
The inside of the building had a more relaxing theme of warm reds painted along the wall with an assortment of pastries on display in the counter.
Fluttershy sat at the counter and Kori followed suit beside her as she grabbed a few napkins. “Hold these to your nose.”
Sure thing your majesty, he thought as he did as she said, the wide assortment of colored pastries drawing his attention. Still dizzy as a drunk in a tire that just rolled down some mountain.
“Doughnut Joe! Are you back there?” Twilight called out as she sat on the other side of Kori.
“Would that be, Princess, Twilight?” a voice called out from the back as a large pale stallion walked out behind the counter. “What do I owe the visit to?”
“Just going up to see the princesses.”
Don’t forget the never before seen creature sitting beside you.
“Well I’ll have to thank them the next time I see them. What can I get for you seven?”
No remark on how I look? No ‘Timberwolf!’ or asking what I am? Not even a remark on the bloody napkins?!?
“What’d you like Kori?” the pegasus beside him asked as she pointed out a pink ring.
“Oh, um. How about that one?” he said as he pointed out a solid ring with some white frosting atop it.
“Here you are,” Doughnut Joe said as he grabbed the pastry with a napkin and set it before Kori.
“Thanks,” Still? He wasn’t even surprised that the big red fluffy dog looking thing can talk! Wow, I’m being harder on myself than this pony is.
“Ya gonna eat it or are ya just gonna sit there like a bug in front of a light?” Applejack remarked as she bit into her own pastry.
Right, food! Kori thought as he took a bite of the pastry to find it was filled with a sweet cream. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better they think of something that tastes better than the last!
“He sure likes his sweets,” Rainbow remarked as Kori took another bite of the. “Feeling better yet?”
Can’t talk, busy eating.
“Looks like,” Twilight remarked as she set a few bits out on the counter only to have Joe shake his head.
“It’s on the house.”
On the house? I don’t even think I’m gonna try and understand that one.
“Thanks. But I’d feel better if I paid.”
“Are you telling me that I’m supposed to allow an old friend to pay me for a few doughnuts?”
“Yes,” the alicorn said as she pushed the bits closer to Joe.
She denied free stuff?! I get the feeling that it’s going to be a long time before I understand this place. At least the world stopped spinning- Kori thought before his chair suddenly spun in place as Pinkie rushed past.
“Be right back!” she exclaimed as she rushed into a side door.
And the ground’s tilting again. “Food not helping now.”
“We should probably get to the castle before something else happens,” Rarity said as she finished her pastry.
“Yeah.” Let’s get this over with before I lose what food I have in me, again.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle?” a voice called from the entrance as three large white stallions in gold armour entered the shop.
“Yes?” she replied in shock at those who’d entered.
“Celestia was concerned as to what was taking you so long. We’re here to escort you and your group to the castle,” the first said in a voice that made it seem like the stallion had eaten a breakfast consisting of gravel and nails.
I guess they really want to see me. Kori thought as his body visibly drooped. I guess that I’ve got to get this over with sooner than I thought.
“Hey,” Fluttershy said as she set a hoof on Kori’s back. “Don’t worry.”
Twilight’s glanced at the floor to hide her face as she spoke. “Y-yeah. Why would they hurt you?”
“I-I guess they don’t have a reason to do anything to me.” Can’t stop myself from remembering what I’m about to do. Kori Kitsune, the poor little runt of the litter, is about to ask some royal’s for help?
“We’ll take you to the castle as soon as you are ready to go.”
Twilight looked towards the guards keeping her face hidden from the fox.“Th-”
“No point in waiting. I’m ready.”
“We’ll take you there right away. Princess Twilight?”
“I’m coming. You five can finish your breakfast. We’ll meet up with you afterwards.”
--------------氷狐--------------
“How do you ponies wear this stuff?” Kori muttered as he scratched at the robe. “It feels weird.”
“It takes some getting used to but it’s more of a formality than anything,” Twilight said as they walked through the halls of the castle towards their destination. “We don’t always wear clothes.”
“I don’t know why you’d ever wear this stuff,” Kori complained, “it just itches and it moves my fur around.”
“Because…” Twilight stopped for a moment and tapped her chin with a hoof, then shrugged. “I guess it makes you look rich if you can afford to wear fancy stuff.”
“Ah,” Kori said curtly. “So you’re trying to make me look better than I normally am?”
“First impressions are lasting. It’s this room right here,” she said as she stopped next to a large, ornate stone door. “Ready?”
“Not like I have a choice,” he muttered darkly.
“Excuse me,” a nearby guard said as he held out a small steel chain and shackle to Kori. “As a formality, we must ask that you put this on.”
“Really?” Kori asked, perplexed. Why the hell would they do that? Have they met foxes before? ...I’m gonna be slaughtered if they’ve met any.
“Yes. Officially, it’s a precaution, to keep the princesses safe from any possible harm.”
“F-Fine,” he replied as he put the chains on. They kept his paws within a foot of each other, and they were much heavier than they appeared. Twilight nodded towards the door. The guard pushed it open and gestured Kori inside.
The first thing he noticed about the room was the size of it: the room was at least five times as long as Fluttershy's home, and at least twice as wide. The walls were lined with banners of the Equestrian flag, a Yin-Yang symbol with twin alicorns swirling around the sun and moon. The ceiling was high enough to allow a few pegsi guards to hover above the door as he entered. Magnificent marble pillars ran parallel to the red carpet that spanned the length of the hall. At the end of the room was a raised platform on top of which sat three gilded thrones: a gleaming golden sun was rested atop of the center throne, which sat surrounded by the thrones of the silver stars and the moon.
On the throne of the moon sat a dark blue alicorn who was busy writing on a scroll.
"Good luck!" Kori whipped his head around to see Twilight wave to him as the great doors began to close. He flinched as they slammed shut, cutting her from his view. He felt his heart stop as he realized that there wasn't a single familiar face with him. This isn't right. Fluttershy said she'd be right here.
“Is it safe to presume that you’re Kori?” the alicorn called out. Kori slowly turned to look back up to the dais. She hadn't looked up from the scroll.
He took a quick breath, steadied himself, and then lifted his head high with a proud stance and called out, “I am!” He boldly walked towards the thrones. "And you are?”
“My name is Luna. I’m here to represent my sister until she arrives. Now, before we start, I’d like to ask you something.”
“S-sure,” he stuttered. He shook his head to calm his nerves and forced his voice to remain steady. "Of course."
“Why are you here?” the Lunar Princess asked, finally looking up and putting her scroll down.
“I wasn’t safe where I came from. I stumbled across Ponyville, and Fluttershy took me in,” he said.
“What were you running from?” Luna asked, curious.
“Someone that didn’t want me around.” Kori responded evasively.
“Alright." She pulled out a scroll, a six-pointed star on the broken seal, from behind her throne. "Now then, I see here that you are in need of help.” she said as she looked the scroll over.
“Help? I guess I don’t have much," he said with a nonchalant shrug.
“Well, you could always make a home for yourself here. That is, if this goes well.”
“Right...”
“Do you have any special talents?”
“Um... I did work as a courier for a few years. Is that what you mean?”
“It will suffice,” she said with a slight nod.
Going good so far; this royal is surprisingly civil.
“What put you in this state?” she asked with a gesture towards his splinted legs.
“I was attacked," he said bluntly.
“Attacked?" Luna asked, raising an eyebrow and lowering the scroll. "Did you agitate your attacker in any way?”
“I-I...” Kori stammered, his facade beginning to break. I can’t lie. They’ll never trust me if I lie about this and they find out. He lowered his head and saw the chains still connecting his legs. It’s not like they trust me anyways. Kori took a deep shuddering breath, and then admitted, “I did. I had stolen from him. I... I was forced to kill him afterwards.”
Silence. Kori waited for her to respond, to say something, anything, for what felt like hours. Finally, he looked up at her. She simply sat there, still, staring at him as if unable to comprehend what he'd said.
“You... you beast!” came a bellowing roar from Kori's right, then a massive wall of force slammed into his side and sent him flying into a nearby pillar. “You won’t harm anypony as long as I’m here!”
Luna shook her head, still shocked. She leapt down from the throne and walked over to Kori’s assailant. She glanced at Kori as he struggled to stand with a snarl. “Do you think you got him, sister?”
“It seems not,” the attacker growled as Kori stood, leaning against the base of the pillar. He saw that he was faced with a large white alicorn who towered over him as she glared down at him.
I should’ve known. He groaned as he stood to see that his robe had been torn from the attack, though he remained mostly intact as his fur dispelled the blast. Several pegasus guards rushed to surround him at a respectable distance, spears pointed at his throat. “Royalty’s a bitch, watch for the bait and switch.” Kori muttered, disgusted with himself for dropping his guard.
“Silence, beast!” one of the guards called out. “We don’t want to hurt you if we don’t have to!” He exclaimed.
Another two alicorns entered, one pink, the other purple, and were shocked to see the princesses glaring down at a surrounded figure. The guards all surrounded Kori, who glared back with equal malice.
“Celestia! You said that you’d wait for me before you did anything,” the first alicorn said as she ran in. Kori quickly recognizing her as Twilight. “He at least deserves a chance to defend his case!”
“Twilight! That thing has nothing to defend!” Celestia exclaimed as she jabbed a hoof at Kori. “I’m not going to let it be a threat to us!”
Twilight walked over to stand by Celestia, then looked at Kori, surprised to see that he was standing firm. “Did he attack you first?” she asked, getting a silent glare from the princess as all the guards shuffled uncomfortably.
“No! She attacked me,” Kori hissed, unaware of the fact that in his rage he’d reverted to his own language.
“Stay back, Twilight!” Celestia exclaimed. A guard jabbed his spear at Kori’s face, and he reflexively knocked the spear away. “That was your last chance! Guards, take him out!”
The guards reared back, then rammed their spears at Kori. The air chilled, and the spears were deflected away from his hide, sliding across patches of glistening ice on his fur. The chains slid off his now-frozen front paws.
Celestia gave in to her rage at that moment, pressing her advantage as Kori slid the chains from his claws. She hadn’t the time for that as a ball of fire appeared above her horn and she sent it hurtling past the guards to Kori.
Twilight’s horn lit to defend Kori only to have a large white stallion leap from the guards to stop her. “Twily!”
“S-shining?” Twilight stammered, then looked back to where Kori was to see a flaming figure in his place. “I... I could’ve...”
“The beast is slain! Huzzah!” Luna called out as the figure fell to the floor. She turned and asked her sister with a grin, “You thought that it’d be a problem?”
“That was too easy,” Celestia muttered as she poked the burning form. The cloth fell, and Kori was nowhere to be seen. “Guards!” Celestia shouted, backpedalling and looking around frantically, “He isn’t dead! Find him before he kills somepony!”
The guards scattered, quick to ensure every door was secure as they looked for the fox. The group was baffled to find that the red creature appeared to have vanished. They finished their search and began to look through nearby rooms. The alicorns stayed where they were, taking stock.
Kori bit his tongue, barely able to refrain from screaming at the pain in his legs.
That was too close, he thought as he looked down to see where the alicorns were, standing by the thrones as they discussed something he couldn’t hear. His unbroken legs dug into the top of the banner from which he hung as they looked around. Looks like even these idiots don’t look up when they try and find something. He looked back the again-barred entrance, thinking on how to escape.
The dark alicorn glanced up at the banners and began to scan them with haste.
“There you are,” she muttered. She spread her wings and pushed off the ground, surging up to to the fox. She slammed her hooves across his head as she flew by, flinging him from the banner and to the ground with a crunch.
“Is he...?” Twilight whimpered, eyes wide as she saw Kori’s legs bent in wrong angles, blood streaming from his stressed wounds as he lay there.
“Can’t be too sure,” Celestia muttered before a ball of flames formed over her horn and was flung towards the broken figure.
--------------氷狐--------------
“Are you sure this is the right room?” Fluttershy asked as she and the others stopped before a large stone door in the inner works of the castle.
“This is the throne room,” Applejack said as she pushed on the door to find it looked closed. “I don’t really know where else they’d be.”
“Maybe there’s a side room?” Rarity said as she glanced down the hall for any indication as to where her friends had gone.
“It’d probably be best if we just waited around in the cafeteria until Twi or one of the other princesses goes there.”
“You just ate. It isn’t very posh for a lady to be constantly stuffing her face,” Rarity said as she flipped her mane back to the side.
“So you don’t want any Canterlot Castle Cake then?” The cyan mare said as she began to hover down the hall.
“I never said that. One can always feel free to have an extra slice of cake, or two.”
Pinkie was bouncing after Rainbow as Rarity said this. “Woo hoo! Let’s-”
A loud crash against the door grabbed the attention of the group as they looked back to see the cause of the noise only to find a still closed door. The group exchanged looks of shock at the sudden noise from where their friends were supposed to be.
“Ya’ll heard that too right?” Applejack asked to see the others nod.
“I-I wonder what that was. It sounded-”
A crash rang through the halls as a red figure was thrown through the doorway and into the hall. The group of five letting out startled screams as it landed beside Fluttershy.
“K-K-Kori?” Fluttershy stammered, starring in horror as she saw that the bloody figure at her hooves was the fox from earlier that day. His body doused in his blood and covered in lacerations from a fight. “W-What happened?!”
“Stand back!” Shining exclaimed as he rushed through the doorway and pointed his sword at the downed figure. “He looks to be unconscious, but he could always be faking.”
“We sent him through a stone door that had a three inch gold bar keeping it closed,” Cadence said as she walked out close behind him. “I think he’s out.”
“Guards!” Celestia roared as she stepped out of the room and looked down on the bloody creature. “I want the restraints on him now! He’s not dead so if he wakes you are to scream for reinforcements and try to overwhelm him.”
“W-What happened in there?” Fluttershy whimpered as she set a hoof on Kori’s chest and felt the faint beat of his heart.
“We’ve saved countless lives today. I would like to thank you all for helping in such an important battle. We shall have a feast in your names tonight!” Luna said with a roar.
“B-But,” the butter pegasus cried as a few guards put chains on Kori legs and pulled him off to the side.
“You know where to take him,” Celestia said as she wiped a bit of blood off her cheek before turning her attention to the ponies before her. A certain butter pegasus in particular. “I’d like to apologize for anything Kori might have done while he was in your care. I shall pay for anything that he might have cost you and would like to say that I shall give you something as a reward for this great feat. But right now it seems that my sister is throwing a feast. We wouldn’t want to miss that now would we?”
Fluttershy was left in shock as she walked with her friends to the banquet hall, the feeling of Kori’s blood on her hoof present with each step.
“To those who risked themselves to keep us safe!” Luna exclaimed as she raised her glass of ‘royal wine’ to have those at the table mirror her. “Without whom we may have never caught the beast!”
“Fluttershy!” Rainbow exclaimed as she nudged her friend, her plate untouched before her. “You’re not scared of all the ponies are you?”
“N-no. I’m just, I can’t eat after seeing that.”
“They didn’t have to do that!” Applejack muttered as she pushed her plate of leaves away. “They went too far! He’d done nothin’ wrong!”
“They didn’t have to try and kill him, I just thought they’d kick him out.” Rainbow muttered as she saw that the others were mimicking each other as they pushed their plates from them.
“I know that Celestia said he was dangerous but I just...” Rarity said as she swished around her wine before setting it back on the table.
“Didn’t think that they’d attack him?” Pinkie whimpered as she blew some of her now straight hair from her face.
“Yeah. He really didn’t seem like he wanted to hurt us, he seemed more afraid that we’d hurt him than anything. ” the farmer whimpered as she tapped at her mug of cider.
“I can’t believe that Celestia would stoop to trapping him in a room and beating him!” Rarity hissed. “I thought that the idea of taking a life died long ago, but I guess that they forgot that this isn’t a hundred years ago.”
“He was afraid,” Fluttershy whispered, her face on the table as she let her mane drape over her face. “He said that he didn’t want to come yesterday and he wanted to sleep through today so he wouldn’t come.”
“He was afraid of us?” Twilight whimpered as she saw the red on the base of Fluttershy’s hoof. “He actually wanted us to help him.”
“That’s the only way I could get him to come. I promised him that he wouldn’t be hurt. The only reason he’s here is because he trusted me. I should’ve been in there with him, maybe then things would’ve gone differently.”
Rainbow looked down into her mug to see her reflection shone back in a red tint from the wine. “He didn’t do anything wrong, they just attacked him.”
“Never did anything wrong?!” a nearby guard exclaimed as he shook a pack of ice which he was holding up to his head. “I don’t count knocking five royal guards out as doing nothing wrong. Trust me when I say that having a spear broken over your head, hurts!”
“H-he broke a spear over your head?” the butter pegasus stammered.
“Yeah, after he had already broken the heads off eight of them at once and knocked four guards out. He probably did more harm to himself than we did to him,” the guard groaned as his head rang out in pain. “I’m not sure though, he knocked me out pretty quick.”
“I-I can’t believe that he’d do that. I wanna see him.”
“I don’t think he’ll be waking up anytime soon,” luna said as she set her own glass down for a servant to fill. “We do need to keep him alive though.”
“I-I-I could help him! I helped him when he first got here.”
“And for that we’re very thankful,” Celestia said as she set her own mug down beside her sister’s. “But we have vets who are willing to keep him alive for us.”
“But does he trust them?” Fluttershy said. “If he wakes up and sees somepony he doesn’t know, after what just happened?”
“She does have a point,” Cadence said as she nudged her husband’s shoulder who pulled his head from his food. “He’s likely to attack anything he doesn’t recognize right now.”
“F-fine,” Celestia groaned as she took a large sip from her newly filled mug of wine. “But as soon as he’s stable Luna is going to go into his dreams to find why he really came here.”
“It should be easy seeing as he’s technically asleep now. We’ll get you what you need as soon as you’d like.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like them now.”
“Certainly. The sooner you get to him the better chance of him making it.”
--------------氷狐--------------
“Right this way miss Shy,” the guard assigned to escorting Fluttershy to Kori’s ‘cell’ said as he led her deeper into the castle.
“I-I didn’t know that the castle went into the mountain. There’s so many gems.” It’s really beautiful.
“It’s cell is up ahead,” he said as they walked past four guards to enter a spherical room with a large glass cube suspended in the center of it by eight thick chains.
It’s like they’re trying to cage a dragon!
“Bring it down!” the guard called out as a few guards pulled a switch on the wall to lower the cell. “We’ll be right here.”
“T-thanks,” Fluttershy whispered as she looked into the cell and saw the figure of Kori.
His fur had a wet appearance that she knew all too well was blood as it slowly ran across the floor. His entire body seemed to have been put through a mincer save for the intact shackles around his wrists, and the shackles pierced through his ears.
They pierced his ears?! Haven’t they done enough!? She thought as she looked over his wounds. He’s been burnt and cut in multiple areas, his legs are broken again and he won’t stop bleeding. I’ll have to sew the- Fluttershy began before she noticed a piercing green on Kori’s form and saw that his eyes were locked on her. “You’re awake!”
“Be careful Miss Shy! He could be dangerous!”
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know that they would do this to you,” she exclaimed as Kori’s eyes drifted over towards the still open cell door. “You have to believe that I had no idea.”
Kori’s legs twitched before a slight groan resounded from him. His gaze deadlocked on the space past the door.
“Just relax, I’m going to be as gentle as possible. Okay?” she said as she noticed a splint of wood lodged in his side. “I’m sorry, but this might sting,” she lulled as she grabbed it in her mouth and jerked it out of his side. A few drops of blood across her nose from the action.
“How’s everything going in there?” the guard exclaimed as he glanced back into the cell.
“E-everything’s fine.” The walls are glass, just look in and see for yourself. “Could you give me that thread?”
“Of course!” he said with a salute as he hovered the thread into the room.
“Thanks,” she said as she began to stitch Kori’s wounds closed. Each time the needle pierced his skin she could see his eyes cringe at the feeling. “I’m so sorry. Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.” Why would he believe me? It already looks like I lied to him to get him here.
“Report!” a voice bellowed as the butter pegasus turned to see that Luna was approaching the cell.
“Subject gained consciousness for seven minutes yet was unable to do anything past look around! He also showed signs of being able to feel his wounds being sewn shut!” a guard exclaimed once he finished bowing to the princess.
He passed out again?
“Thank you. How is he Fluttershy?”
“H-he’s in terrible condition. I’ve closed the major wounds and re-splinted his legs.”
“Good to hear, because I’m here to check his reasons for being here so you may return to the main chambers and are welcome to stay the night if you can’t catch the next train.”
“T-thanks,” Fluttershy said as she followed the guard back to the main halls of the castle.
“Close the door and put him back up there. I’m going to be walking through some of the most corrupt thoughts possible. If I seem to be in pain I want you to kick my side to get me out.”
“Yes princess!” the guards called in unison as Luna laid on the floor before the cell.
“I’m going in.”
--------------氷狐--------------
The scene was a blank slate as Luna opened her eyes, ready to avoid anything that she may find. What she found was a panicked Kori hunched in nowhere particular, the scene quickly shifting as he noticed her.
“Get out of here!”
The scene faded to a scene of a group of young foxes standing in front of a wrecked building which was being used as a makeshift orphanage. The group of younglings were shouting at a much younger pup who had been trapped on the stairs of the building.
He retreated into a memory! Well, that means he must be in this group somewhere. I’ll have to pick him out of ten foxes.
“You know why you’re here right!?” one of the larger reds exclaimed. “Because your parents were to weak to keep themselves safe and they died because of it!”
“No no no!” another slightly smaller red exclaimed. “They’re not dead, didn’t you hear? This runt was left outside the doors a few days ago. Because nobody wants him!”
“He’s like a weed!” a royal exclaimed as he grabbed a bit of dirt off the nearby path and tossed it into the pup’s face. “All anything wants to do with him is pull him out and throw him away!”
“Yeah! Weed!” a royal bellowed to the now laughing group. “Why don’t you go and find a place that wants you?!”
“I hear the dump could always use more trash!”
“I don’t even think they’d take him! He’d be better off jumping in a fire and ending it!”
“But he’d put the fire out!” a red bellowed as he picked up a rock and stuck it into the door behind the pup. “All he can do is wait for someone to pluck him out and deal with him!”
That’s enough of this! Luna thought as she sent a burst of magic from her horn which destroyed all of the dream’s images. And then there was, one?
The spell had worked as it was intended yet Luna found her tempted to try and rip any power Kori had of the memory from him as she saw the only remaining figure. The crying pup on the steps.
“I’m not a weed. I didn’t want to be left here,” Luna heard as the small figure wept before her. It’s thought’s audible in the dream.
Kori? Luna said as she placed a hoof on the figure to see that it was indeed the truth.
“Please, come back. I don’t want to be left here. I want to go home.”