The Black Eyes of the Nightmare

As the night darkens, so do the poor ponies' spirits. They keep making their way back to Ponyville like they received a bullet to the chest. It's a painful feeling for them, more painful than anything the Moon Fox could have done to them. She could have squeezed the life out of Rainbow Dash. She could've destroyed Ponyville like she destroyed that mountain. The mountain was only a demonstration, though. It's a warning to the ponies to be careful around the mysterious Moon Fox. Twilight and her friends, still hanging their heads low, can't believe what they witnessed. The Elements of Harmony, their ultimate weapon against all that is against peace and tranquility, failed them for the first time.

No one dares to break the dreary silence that accompanies them on their walk. There's nothing left to do but to go home and report the findings to Princess Celestia. Nopony is scared or terrified anymore. They already have the Moon Fox, a majestic yet deadly creature, to fear. They already left, and she already stated that she won't bother them as long as they don't bother her. The Moon Fox is like the mighty bald eagle, a majestic beast that shines in the sky like the sun, but when agitated, it will tear your eyes right out of your sockets and feed them to its young.

Fluttershy looks up at the Moon. 'That's not Luna's moon,' she thinks.

She's right, and by observing it closely, she knows. It's not Luna's moon. It's the Fox's moon this time. She trembles at the sight of the silvery, white ball hanging above them. It's a new fear not just for Fluttershy. Her friends also look up and start getting a new sense of fear. From now on, the Moon will be a reminder of the Fox's dreadful promise. Just like the Moon, she will watch the night.

The only one in the group who can feel a bit optimistic is Spike. "Look at the bright side, everypony," he says nervously. "At least she's not causing any harm."

"I guess," agrees Twilight Sparkle. Her tone is more depressing than relieved.

"Isn't that a good thing? Equestria is safe as long as we don't bother that fox thing."

"Spike, darling, we're glad that there won't be any trouble," says Rariry, "but did you see what happened? The Elements didn't work against her." The rest of the group doesn't need to hear that. It's echoing in their minds for the fourth or fifth time. The thought of failure is like a rerun for their imagination.

"Don't get me wrong, I saw the whole thing."

"Spike," interrupts Twilight, "don't you get it? The Elements worked on Nightmare Moon and Discord, but it didn't work on the Moon Fox. I'm gonna assume Discord is as powerful as Princess Celestia, but I could be wrong."

"You can't be serious!" blurts out Rainbow Dash. She's fearing what everypony else is. "If the Elements worked on Discord but not on the Fox, then that means..." She doesn't want to say it, but it could be true. She remembers when the Moon Fox nearly squeezed her to death. Rainbow Dash feels great to be alive, but there's a new force in Equestria now. Everypony feels safe under Celestia's majesty, because they know that she only does what is best, but the Fox. What she gave the ponies is a threat. Ponyville gone if the wrong move is played. "...Moon Fox is more powerful then Celestia."

                                                                   *                            *                          *

Twilight is tired, even though it's only 8pm. The walk back home felt slower. She opens the library door with her magic and hey hooves clop the steps leading to her bedroom. Twilight feels like sleeping off her depression, and her friends probably have the same idea. Spike runs after her, instantly remembering something.

"We gotta write a letter to the Princess!" he exclaims.

Twilight turns around. Her purple eyes are corrupted with bags hanging below them. "Oh yeah," she replies groggily. "Take a letter." Spike digs around for a quill and paper, and finds it. He points the quill at the paper, ready to write. Twilight starts to form his written words.

Dear Princess Celestia,

We went to Everfree Forest as you requested. The rumors were true. There really was a creature dwelling there, and she had the courtesy to identify herself. This creature calls herself the Moon Fox, a bipedal being that resembles a fox. She has blue fur and black markings on her face. She also has seven tails, which she had proven to be able to control as if they were tentacles. Overall appearance? She wears a black coat with white robes underneath, speak in a woman's voice, and has eyeballs that are black as night. When we encountered her, our presence bothered her. She wanted to be left alone. Rainbow Dash tried attacking her, but she was suppressed with ease. Don't worry, she's fine now. The Moon Fox was not pleased with us, and we weren't either, so we used the Elements of Harmony. To our surprise, it didn't work. In a fit of rage, the Moon Fox displayed her power by destroying a mountain with an unlikely form of magic. She threatened to destroy Ponyville if we bothered her again. So far, there's no note of her causing any other harm. We are not sure how to react to this, so I'm hoping you would.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

"Man, that's hurting my wrist," complains Spike. He rolls the letter up into a scroll and blows a puff of green fire at it. This sends the letter into oblivion and off to the presence of Princess Celestia. "Now we wait."

"Yeah," agrees Twilight. She's still nervous about the Moon Fox, but still hoping that the Princess will find a proper solution. "Wait..."

                                                                   *                            *                          *

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Princess Celestia is lying on a couch in her palace. Even for a goddess, she looks weak. Her mane is slightly messy, and she has a bunch of wine glasses scattered over the floor. There's also a bottle lying at the center of the mess. 'Twilight and her friends should be back by now,' she thinks. The anticipation is killing her, an immortal. She always watched over Equestria with unquestionable power and authority, but she's afraid. She's afraid that she would be unable to control the Moon Fox.

The letter arrives, perking up the Princess for a second. Then she thinks about what's inside. It's the moment of truth. For her. For Equestria. She uses her magic to slowly open the scroll. She closes one eye, thinking that the letter could be a time bomb that could explode if it's yanked too hard. Princess Celestia reads Spike's familiar handwriting, muttering Twilight's direct words. She reads slower and slower, and her eyes keep widening. Every word adds more into her sense of panic, but she must keep calm. When the ruler panics, so does everyone else.

"...not sure how to react to this, so I'm hoping you would," she reads. Celestia tosses the letter away and turns to her other side. Her ever-beating heart beats faster. What she fears has probably been realized. She keeps picturing Twilight's description. To her, it's like a nightmare. She's the day, but the Moon Fox is the night.

Princess Luna walks in, and notices her sister in a paralyzing trance, a state of thought that completely cuts her off from the real world. "Sister, what has happened to thee?" asks Luna as she shakes her. Celestia leaves her trance, and her eyes spin. It's an extremely rare moment, for Luna to see her sister, the godess, the sun of Equestria, looking like a mentally disabled pony for a second. Luna notices the letter she tossed. "From who is that?"

"Twilight," answers Celestia. Luna uses her magic to pick up the letter and skims through it. Her reaction is the same as her sister's: terrified.

"The Elements did not work?" she exclaims, panicking.

"Afraid not."

"This Moon Fox. Why would she be so aggressive?"

"Maybe it's her nature."

"I do not think so, Sister." This makes Princess Celestia have wide eyes again. "It says her that one of Twilight's friends has been spared by her. That does not sound like pure evil to me."

"Are actually sympathizing for this monster?" says Celestia. She can't afford to be mad at Luna right now, so she tries to bottle it up. Also, a fit of rage would probably destroy Canterlot. "She's going to destroy Ponyville!"

"Only if bothered," adds Princess Luna. "But I am not sure I can put up with her either. She stole my job." Celestia knows exactly what Luna is talking about. Rising the Moon is her duty.

"Well, sorry for your sudden insignificance," replies Celestia, rudely. Luna ignores the remark.

"Twilight Sparkle anticipates your advice," she says. "What will thou do?"

Princess Celestia thinks for a moment. Her mane reflects the moonlight across the room. She grows sadder as she keeps thinking. "I don't know. The problem with the Moon Fox is not just because she threatened to hurt my little ponies. It's that she might be more powerful than both of us."

"I am not in the mood for competition, if I must say."

"A competition among gods is deadly. Equestria will only get stuck in the crossfire."

"According to Twilight Sparkle, she won't bother anyone as long as they don't bother her. I suggest we go to Ponyville and make an announcement." This slightly cheers up Princess Celestia. She she gazes deep into Luna's eyes.

"Could you do it for me, please?" asks Celestia sweetly.

Luna nods, only more than glad to see her sister happy again. "I will go to Ponyville tomorrow and make an announcement," she responds.

Princess Celestia leaps off the couch and wraps a hoof around her sister. "Thank you!" she says sentimentally. "But try not to scare them."

They both laugh, as if they completely forgot about the issue. Their laughs are one of the few manifestations for happiness left at the moment. Far away, sitting on a tall tree, the Moon Fox gazes at the elegant buildings of Canterlot. She's too far away to notice the Princesses, but she can hear their laughs. They echo loudly across Equestria, so it wouldn't be surprise if anyone else would, too. The Moon Fox doesn't speak. She just stares at the castle while eating more fruit.

                                                                   *                            *                          *

The next day, Princess Luna sticks to the favor her sister asked for. The rumors are still bouncing from pony to pony, but she's about to put an end to it. All the ponies stop at stare at the sight of her carriage landing on the streets. Princess Luna and all her grace, emits an aura of the night, even in the morning. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are among those who immedately saw her. The Princess gracefully spreads her pegasus wings and emits her world-famous Royal Canterlot Voice. All of the ponies bow in her presence.

"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE, THOU MUST NOT BE ALARMED FOR WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY!" she announces. Luna's voice echoes far past the boundaries of Ponyville. Everyone can hear her. "THERE IS NO NEED TO SPREAD THY RUMORS NOW, FOR WE NOW POSSESS THE TRUTH! THE CREATURE EXISTS, AND SHE SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE MOON FOX! SHE'S MIGHTY LIKE MY SISTER AND I, BUT SHE IS ALSO DANGEROUS! I ADVICE THAT ALL OF YOU TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. FROM NOW ON, THE EVERFREE FOREST IS OFF-LIMITS! THE MOON FOX STATED THAT SHE WILL DESTROY PONYVILLE IF SHE IS DISRUPTED! FOR THE SAKE OF THY TOWN, STAY AWAY FROM THE FOREST!" She drops the Royal Canterlot Voice. "That will be all," she adds.

As she lands on her carriage and flies away, she leaves Ponyville with a citywide conversation. It spreads more curiosity than panic, a direction that Luna intended on most. They consider her advice, and the Everfree Forest will be out of bounds. As Luna heads back to castle, something strikes her left side. She falls off her carriage. Something tackled her, and she is now plummeting into a bushel of trees. Luna opens her eyes, and they widen. Her jaw drops at the sight of the Moon Fox o top of her, pinning her down. Her expression is as unwelcome as ever, but this time, her eyeballs are white instead of black.

"Hello, Princess," says the Moon Fox in a sly tone.

"You must be the Moon Fox," answers Luna. She tries not to show fear by shrouding it with curiosity. "I thought your eyeballs were black."

"It's only at night, pony."

"Why hast thou attacked me?"

"Attack? You're getting the wrong idea, and what's with the old world talk?"

"Then what are thou doing?"

"I just wanted to thank you for giving me some alone time." Princess Luna can't believe the sight of the moon-stealer. The Moon Fox sounds so polite, yet she looks like she's about to kill her. Her tails are kept away from Luna, but Luna notices all seven of them. Twilight was not exaggerating at all. "How strong are you, pony?"

"I'm a goddess, like my sister."

"Oh, what a coincidence. So am I." This makes Luna's heart stop. There's no doubt they're both on the same league.

"Please! Unhand me!" shouts Princess Luna.

"Fine, then. If you ever wanna fight, you know where to find me." With that, the Moon Fox darts her way back into the Everfree Forest, leaving Luna on her back, confused and curious. Fear is now a feeling that is minimized, but still there. The Moon Fox sounds so daring and rebellious to her, but not threatening. She heads back to Canterlot with a claw mark on her wing. A present from the Moon Fox.

                                                                   *                            *                          *

Fluttershy opens the door of her cottage and slowly walks out with a saddlebag. She stares at the Everfree Forest. The only person living closer to that place is Zecora, and she's within the forest in her own, little hut. She keeps staring at the forest. Her teal eyes sparkle and they keep sparkling. It's like Fluttershy is having a staring contest with the Everfree Forest. Her eyes change to one of her rare emotions: determined.

Flutter shy turns around and says to Angel, "You're in charge while I'm gone, okay?" Angel, her disliking pet, nods in agreement. Fluttershy turns around and spreads her wings. She slowly flies through the thick leaves that border the now-forbidden Everfree Forest.