“I did it!” Guidance Heart panted as she held up her hands, a tiny mote of light floating in between them. The light flickered out and she sat down on the gym bench, breathing hard.
Love Heart smiled and nodded at her. “Good job, Guidance Heart, now how about you, Anger Heart?”
Anger Heart grinned and snapped his fingers, producing a flame that he held in the palm of his right hand, “Easy, and this is just the start.”
Love Heart smiled as his two students, “That’s great. You two should keep at it, but we have more important things to discuss.” He turned to Confidence Heart Fennec, Flash Heart Bear, Independent Bear, Defender Bear and Truth Bear, who all stood behind him.
It had been a month since Love Heart’s fight with No-Heart and after a day of recovery he had been drilling the two youngest Magi in the use of their kinetics relentlessly. Love Heart folded his arms and addressed the three Magi, “Alright. Now that Anger Heart and Guidance Heart have grasped the basics the four of us need to step things up on our end. We need to start doing a better job of protecting the Kingdom of Caring.” Love Heart turned to Defender and Truth, who were both looking a little awkward at Love Heart’s address, “Thanks for coming, but you don’t have to do this.”
Defender shook his head, “No, you have a point. We’re not Magi but we should still help you protect everyone.”
Truth nodded, “Just let us hear all of it.”
Love Heart smiled, “Alright. First off, one of us needs to be in the monitor station at all times so we can be ready to respond to any threats from No-Heart, Cold Heart or any other supernatural enemies of ours whether they are up here on down on Earth. Second: one of us should join Bedtime Bear on his night patrol just in case another night attack happens.”
Indy raised a hand, “I can do that.”
“OK, thanks Indy.” Love Heart nodded towards his brother, “Third: each of us needs to spend at least two hours each day training.”
“If you need a more specialize place, I can make my broom closet training gym in the Hall of Hearts a more permanent fixture there.”
“I’m sorry, what’s this about a broom closet?” Confidence Heart asked, head tilted to one side.
Truth spoke up, “It’s a broom closet near the entrance to the Hall of Hearts.”
“I converted the space into a large gym where I could train alone when I wished to.” Defender said, “Normally I need to be there to make it work but I could add an enchantment and password to allow anyone to use it.”
Love Heart smiled, “That would be great, please do that if you can, Defender.” Love Heart turned around to look at Anger Heart and Guidance Heart. Anger Heart had a pained looked on his face and a hand on his tail until Love Heart spoke, after which he turned back to face him. “I’m going to keep training with you two until I think you’re ready to go on field missions, until then you can stay on standby in the Kingdom of Caring and learn how to fight with your weapon of choice. Until then, Confidence can you take morning monitor duty and Flash can you take Evenings?”
“Sure, works for me,” Confidence put her arms behind her head.
“I suppose I can handle that, but what about you two,” Flash Heart turned to Defender and Truth.
Love Heart interrupted, “I don’t want to force you two into doing our jobs on our schedule, if possible I would like you two to be on call if anything serious happens.”
“Yeesh, give us some credit, Love Heart,” Truth rolled his eyes, “We are going to help you guys protect the Kingdom of Caring no matter what so stop holding us at arm’s length. I can cover some monitor duty shifts in the morning and I can cover the night shifts on weekends.”
Defender nodded in agreement, “I can take two morning and two evening shifts from Confidence and Flash, so they can have some time off and help you train Anger Heart and Guidance Heart until they’re ready.”
Love Heart heaved a sigh of relief and placed a hand on both of the bears’ shoulders, “Thank you, both of you. I guess I can consider you two honorary or reserve magi or something?” Love Heart shook his head rapidly for an instant, “Actually can I do some training with both of you? I need it.”
“Of course, Love Heart,” Defender took Love Heart’s hand off his shoulder and held it in his own. Love Heart smiled and shook it then shook Truth Bear’s hand as well.
“Hey, can I go now?” Anger Heart raised a finger, “I need to see Take Care.”
Love Heart nodded, “OK. I’ll see you tomorrow for your tummy symbol training.”
OoOoO
“So how long has your tail been hurting?” Take Care stood in front of Anger Heart in the exam room.
Anger Heart shuffled on the exam table, “About a week, but it’s only gotten bad in the last couple days.”
“What kind of pain is it? Dull ache? Sharp Pain? Shooting pain?”
“Constant dull ache but sometimes shooting pain.”
“I see. Did you hurt your tail somehow or did you change anything in your routine in the last week?”
Anger Heart scrunched up his face for moment as he tried to think of something then shook his head, “Nope.”
“It is causing any problems?”
Anger Heart shrugged, “Not much, but the pain makes it hard to sleep. That’s about it.”
Take Care sighed, “Well I should give it a full exam, just to be safe. Let’s take your x-rays.” Anger Heart groaned but didn’t resist.
An hour of tests later and Take Care still couldn’t find anything. No fractures, no soft tissue damage, nothing. Stumped on this she gave Anger Heart a bottle of prescription painkillers. “Only take one of these per day and only if you absolutely need to,” Take Care had fixed Anger Heart with a look to ensure he paid attention, “I suggest only before you go to bed. These aren’t like normal Aspirin or Advil and I don’t want you to get addicted. Are we clear?”
Anger Heart scowled but then caught Take Care’s sever look and gulped, “Yes Take Care.”
Take Care relaxed, “Alright, you can go.”
Guidance Heart was waiting outside when Anger Heart finally emerged from Take Care’s hospital. “So…what did she say?”
“She has no idea,” Anger Heart held up the bottle of painkillers, “She gave me these in case it gets worse.”
“I see,” Guidance looked at the bottle then back up to Anger Heart’s face, “Did you tell her everything.”
Anger Heart sighed and started walking back home. Guidance watched him then jogged to catch up with him, “Anger Heart!”
“I couldn’t tell her!” Anger Heart’s raised voice caused he to flinch but she kept pace with him. “If I told her it gets worse when I use magic then she’d tell me to stop, I can’t stop! I love learning magic, I need to so I can help protect everyone, and protect you…” he slowed to a stop to let Guidance Heart catch up to him.
“Anger Heart, please at least take a short break or tell Love Heart about it,” Guidance Heart took his hands in her own.
Anger Heart tried to avert his gaze but found himself staring into her quivering eyes. “Guidance…I…” He took a deep breath, “I can’t…if I stop then what am I supposed to do? Just sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else fight?” Anger Heart was crying as he brought his hands up to her cheeks. “I…I…”
“Anger Heart,” Guidance leaned and kissed him briefly on the lips. “I understand, and I feel the same way, but what if this is something more serious? Just ask to take a day off of magical training tomorrow OK? Let’s just spend the day together while we can.”
Anger Heart smiled and released one of her hands to wipe the tears from his eyes, “OK, I’ll take a day off for us.” Guidance smiled back and they kissed again.
OoOoO
Confidence Heart was doing some exercises in the monitor room when Flash Heart showed up. “Dear sister of mine, I have come to relieve you of your duty.”
Confidence Heart stood up from where she was touching her toes. “About time, Flash.” She rolled her eyes, “I think you’ve been too relaxed.”
“On the contrary, I enjoy not having to be on my toes all the time and that there are so many new friends around,” Flash Heart smirked.
“You mean so many new girls, right?” Love-a-Lot spun around in the chair she was seated at in front of the monitors and sat with her arms folded with a similar smirk on her face. Confidence Heart headed out as Flash Heart took a seat next to her.
“Ah the matchmaker herself. How is your love life my dear?”
Love-a-Lot giggled, “I should tell you to knock it off on duty, but I’m in a good mood. Take a look.” She held up right hand to show off the silver ring with a Ruby in the shape of Tenderheart’s tummy symbol set in it.
Flash Heart gave the ring a close look, “Congratulations, Love-a-Lot. Silver? I see my sister’s proposal incident had an affect on the both of you.”
Love-a-Lot turned back to the monitors, “Not just that. I mean we have a portal to Pegasus Falls up her so we all just decided to ditch gold jewelry and go with silver instead, not worth the risk.”
“A prudent call.” Flash Heart leaned back in the seat, “As long as we’re not busy, do you see any prospects for my love life?”
Love-a-Lot snickered, “Well you certainly are popular with the unattached ladies up here, just don’t push it too far. Though I think Harmony Bear likes you.”
The pain in Anger Heart’s tail didn’t subside, in fact it only seemed to be getting worse as the day wore on and the sun started to set. Just sitting down or twitching it became agony. Anger Heart got up from where he and Guidance were watching a movie together and headed for the front door.
“Anger Heart, where are you going?” Guidance turned to watch him leave.
Anger Heart stopped, his hand on the doorknob, “I’m going to try burning off some magic, see if that helps.”
Guidance’s eyes went wide, “Anger Heart! You said you would take the day off!”
Anger Heart froze at the door and sighed. “Alright, but I need one of those painkillers now.” He turned to the kitchen counter and poured a glass of water then took one of the painkillers out of the bottle he’d left on the counter. Of course the painkiller didn’t take effect as soon as he swallowed it but it still helped ease his mind as he sat back down with Guidance Heart.
Guidance Heart smiled and leaned up against him, “Thank you.”
Anger Heart sighed and put an arm around her. He couldn’t help but smile and turned to give her a kiss on the cheek. Guidance Heart turned to face him and slowly crawled up his body to give him a kiss on the lips. Anger Heart turned and let himself slide down until he was lying on his back with Guidance Heart on top of him, their lips locked together.
Guidance Heart pulled back, a blush visible amid the bright blue of her fur. “Oh my! I just…” She saw the relaxed look on Anger Heart face, then smiled and lay her head down on his chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Anger Heart kissed her on the forehead. “Do you wanna get married?”
“Wh-what?” Guidance turned her head until she faced him. “I mean, yes but aren’t we a little young?”
Anger Heart snorted, “Why does that matter, and I didn’t mean right away.” He smiled, “I mean would that really be any different than what we have now?”
Guidance Heart kept blushing and giggled, “True. I mean by human standards we’re already common-law married.”
Anger Heart nodded, “All we need is a couple of rings, if you want them.”
“Maybe. Let’s just stay like this for now.”
“Or we can go to bed,” Anger Heart whispered in her ear. Guidance Heart was still blushing as she nodded. Anger Heart reached for the remote and shut off the TV before he helped her stand up and they headed for bed.
Guidance Heart shot awake at the sound of Anger Heart’s screaming in pain. Despite being far-sighted her night vision was good enough that she didn’t need to turn on her bedside lamp to see what was happening. Anger Heart was lying on his stomach and gripping his pillow as he grit his teeth against the pain.
“Anger Heart! What’s wrong?” Guidance reached out to touch him only for Anger Heart to sieze up.
“My AAAAAA Tail it feeeeeeels like it’s being torn in haaaaaaalf!” he screamed.
Guidance Heart scrambled to grab her cell phone from where it sat on their bedside table, “I’ll call Take Care!” Thankfully Take Care’s emergency line was 911 just like in North America and the phone started ringing. It took five minutes for Take Care to answer and despite the late hour she was to the point in her speech.
“Who is this, what’s the emergency!?”
“It’s Guidance Heart! Anger Heart’s in serious pain, it’s his tail!”
“What?” Take Care was about to speak when she heard Anger Heart cry out in pain again. “Alright I’ll be there right away.”
Guidance Heart hung up and then got up, “I’ll get the painkillers, just hold on!” She dashed to the bathroom as Anger Heart let out the loudest scream he had.
Terrified at what might have happened, Guidance Heart ran back into the room without even having grabbed the medicine. Anger Heart lay mostly still, panting and covered in sweat.
“Anger Heart?” Guidance approached cautiously, “Are you alright?”
Anger Heart carefully turned his head to face her. “Pain’s gone…tail feels…weird…is it…OK?”
Guidance Heart was afraid to look, but she took a deep breath and carefully pulled back the blankets. She gasped and stared then grabbed her glasses from the bedside table, just to be sure she wasn’t hallucinating.
“What’s wrong?” Anger Heart tried to turn his head around to get a look.
“Anger Heart, you have two tails.”
OoOoO
Take Care stood up from her emergency call examination. “As far as I can tell it seems just fine.”
Anger Heart scowled from where he still lay, “Just fine?! I have a second tail growing out of my ass! How is that fine?!”
Take Care glared back at him, “Does it hurt anymore?”
“No.”
“Are you tired?”
“Yes.”
Take Care nodded, “Me too. Now get some sleep and come see me tomorrow if you’re still worried.”
Anger Heart was about to protest when he was interrupted by his own yawn. Guidance Heart stumbled back into the bed where she collapsed, “Good night Take Care. Sorry we bothered you…” Guidance drifted off with her arm around Anger Heart. Anger Heart was too worn out to say anything and fell asleep too. Take Care left, hoping she wouldn’t sleep in tomorrow.
OoOoO
Guidance Heart had had the foresight to shut off their alarm clock after their midnight awakening and she and Anger Heart slept until noon. Anger Heart had hoped the whole thing had been a dream but when he got up and checked himself, he still found a second tail next to his first.
Anger Heart grimaced as he stepped out of the shower, feeling the extra weight of the water in his second tail as he grabbed a towel to dry off. “This is nuts,” he muttered. He could feel the extra bones, muscles, skin and fur that weren’t there the previous night, it was weird. When he was finally dry Anger Heart headed for Take Care’s hospital, telling Guidance that he’d meet her in the Hall of Hearts for lunch.
Take Care was thankfully in a better mood when Anger Heart showed up at her house, having slept in as well but let her frustration go as Anger Heart asked to be examined. Take Care was thorough and even took blood samples and an x-ray just to be sure.
“So?” Anger Heart bounced impatiently on the exam table as Take Care went over her notes one last time.
Take Care took a deep breath, “As far as I can tell, there’s nothing wrong with you medically. Your second tail is just like your first, even connected to your spine in the same way with all the same nerve endings, bones, muscles and fur your first one has.”
“But why did this happen?” Anger Heart’s anger at the situation was started to be replaced with fear.
Take Care sighed, “Honestly, I don’t know, but it reminds me of those mutli-tailed foxes, or kitsune, that are part of Shinto Mythology. If you want answers then I’d suggest asking Bright Heart, Soulful Heart or Guidance Heart. Just let me know if this happens again.”
Anger Heart nodded then got off the table, “OK. I’m going for lunch then, see ya.”
Because it was lunch time, Anger Heart enjoyed a solitary walk up to the Hall of Hearts. Every step made the fur of his new tail rustle and it sent shivers up his spine. He never took notice of how the wind pulled at his tail before but now with two he couldn’t help but notice. A feeling of dread filled his chest as he approached the Hall of Hearts, how was he going to explain this. He could always go home and just hide but then someone would come to see what was wrong. No, best to get this over with now and just try to carry on…and be a freak again just like back in school.
At first no one took notice of Anger Heart as he walked from the door up to the buffet outside the kitchen. As Anger Heart was loading up his plate with macaroni and cheese he heard a voice call out from behind him. “Hey Anger Heart, where’d that second tail come from?” The voice came from Chance Heart Liger, who was going up for thirds.
Anger Heart bared his teeth for a moment, then took a deep breath as he stepped away from the buffet, “I grew it last night. It hurt like hell.” Chance’s comment had attracted more attention from the rest of the family and now Anger Heart could feel eyes from over a dozen sources drilling into him. He swore he could hear Cheer Bear whispering something to Harmony and Share as he walked past and searched for a seat.
“Anger Heart! Over Here!” Anger Heart was relieved when he saw Guidance Heart stand up and wave to him and he made a beeline to sit next to her. She had a book open in front of her next to her empty tray and she pointed at the image on the page, “I think I know what happened.”
Anger Heart looked at the page, seeing a stylized picture of a white fox with nine long tails under the title ‘Kitsune’. Anger Heart looked up at Guidance, “I’m a kitsune?”
“Yes, well sort of,” Guidance pulled the book closer to her so Anger Heart could eat. “Kitsune is just the Japanese word for fox so the real term is bake-gitsune, or changed fox. In Shinto mythology all foxes are magical it’s just that the ones with one tail are too young to have developed magical powers.”
“What’s that?” Brave Heart had been passing by and stopped to listen to Guidance Heart’s explanation. “You grew a second tail, Anger Heart?”
Anger Heart averted his gaze from Brave Heart, happy that his red fur hid his blush, as Guidance Heart looked up at Brave Heart, “Actually his tail split into two identical ones.”
“Yeah,” Anger Heart said.
“Isn’t that kinda weird?” Cheer’s voice managed to cut across the main way. She had been staring at Anger Heart for a while now. Anger Heart bristled and was about to say something but Brave Heart beat him to the punch.
“Cheer Bear, we’re a race of walking talking plush toys, Swift Heart and Grumpy raised a pegasus queen from foalhood, Defender Bear has a phoenix spirit inside of him, Love Heart is half-unicorn, we fight a purple robed wizard and his little hairy monster and we have a permanent portal to a paradise world where shapeshifting winged horses live. Where exactly does ‘weird’ start for us?” Brave Heart had been staring down Cheer, who blushed and muttered a half-hearted apology before she turned back to what was left of her lunch.
Anger Heart looked up, “Thanks, Brave Heart.”
“Don’t mention it,” Brave Heart grinned, “So tell me, how does it feel to have a second tail?”
“I don’t know!” Anger Heart growled slightly, “how the hell do I even describe suddenly having a new limb I can feel and control?” Brave Heart didn’t flinch. He could see how distressed Anger Heart was as the fox dug into his lunch.
“I guess all you need is a blue hedgehog to run around with then right?” Chance had come to join his uncle and the two technically older magi. “So can you fly?”
Anger Heart swallowed and glared at Chance, “No I can’t spin them around like a helicopter.”
“OK OK sorry,” Chance held up his hands defensively. “So why did you grow a second tail.”
“No idea,” Anger Heart pushed his empty tray away, “My tail was hurting for a week then last night it just split in two.”
“Why don’t you ask Nova and Renegade?” Brave Heart pointed to where the unicorn and pegasus in human form were sitting with Hugs and Get Well Bear.
“Might as well, thanks,” Anger Heart stood up and walked over to the two immortals.
Nova looked up, her mouth full of mac and cheese, “Hey, Anger Heart, how’s it going?”
Anger Heart was averted his gaze from her as he answered, “well this,” He turned enough to show his twin tails to the table.
“Oh my gosh!” Hugs just stared at the sight before her.
“How does that even happen?” Get Well shook her head as if she was seeing things.
“Two tails?” Renegade was bewildered.
“A bake-gitsune!” Nova practically squeaked, “I’ve never seen a real one before.”
“So you know about this?” Anger Heart looked up to face Nova, “Can you tell me anything?”
“Not much, but Aurora and White Fang should know,” Nova finished shoveling the food into her mouth and swallowed, “Want to visit them?”
Anger Heart nodded, “Yes, if I can get some answers.”
“Alright then, let’s go!” Nova jumped up and grabbed Anger Heart’s arm, literally dragging him out of the Hall of Hearts.
“Hey, wait up!” Renegade shoved the last of his food in his mouth, “Bye!” he said through a muffled mouth full of food to Hugs and Get Well before he bolted after Nova and Anger Heart. Most of the family still eating in the Hall of Hearts watched them go before they turned back to their meals.
OoOoO
Renegade raced to catch up with Nova as they neared the portal, shifting into his pegasus form in order to keep up. Nova had released Anger Heart and shifted into her true form as they arrived at the portal. Nova spoke the password and all three of them stepped through the portal. The two guards just stared contemptuously at the group, until they saw Anger Heart pass. They both stared in confusion at the two-tailed red Care Bear Magi fox.
Anger Heart could feel their stares boring into him and he turned, growling at them which made them turn away from him. “Am I going to have everyone staring at my ass today?”
“At least they see you,” Renegade muttered, his head down.
“Huh?” Anger Heart turned to face the yellow and black pegasus.
Renegade sighed, “Sorry. So can you fly?”
Anger Heart bristled, “No I can’t spin my tails like a helicopter and fly!”
“What?!” Renegade recoiled slightly.
Anger Heart relaxed and sighed, “Sorry, just an old video game I used to love as a kid. No I can’t fly.”
“Well then, climb on, unless you want to walk all the way to the arctic region,” Renegade knelt down to give Anger Heart better access.
Nova watched the two’s exchange, his eyes quivering slightly at their reactions to each other. As her boyfriend took off into the sky with Anger Heart on his back, Nova transformed herself into an eagle and flew after them.
OoOoO
Guidance Heart had to excuse Anger Heart for missing Love Heart’s lesson that day. Inside the broom closet Defender had converted into a training room, Love Heart drilled her in the use of her tummy symbol to create objects, something she was struggling with even with his directions. After an hour of practise, Love Heart called for her to stop.
“Alright, that’s good enough for now.” Love Heart nodded to Guidance Heart, who dropped to the floor to rest. “Time for some more kinetic training.”
Guidance nodded, “OK.” She held up her hands and concentrated, then paused. “I want to try something different,” she whispered then she focused again.
“What do you mean?” Love Heart raised an eyebrow for a moment then gaped as the shimmering field of mana in Guidance’s hands changed into a small orb of water.
“I did it, see water!” Guidance was giddy but Love Heart just folded his arms and frowned at her.
“Guidance, you can’t change your element on a whim like that. If you don’t stick to one you’ll never get anywhere.”
Guidance let her little ball of water dissolve into mist and stood up, “But I can’t choose between light and water. Can’t I learn both?”
Love Heart was about protest when he saw the pleading look on Guidance Heart’s face. He sighed, “I won’t stop you, but this will slow you down. Now then we need to focus on how you’re going to defend yourself and what weapons you’re going to use.”
Guidance Heart twiddled her hands together as she thought for a moment, “Umm, actually I don’t really want to fight, not like that.”
“What?” Love Heart blinked.
“I don’t want to learn how to use a weapon or how to fight like you do. I just want to learn how to use my elements for that.” Guidance Heart looked apologetically up at Love Heart.
Love Heart groaned and pressed a hand into his forehead, “Oh for crying out…fine I can skip that part with you, but you still need to hit the gym and get in shape. Focus on cardio so you can keep up with the rest of us and talk to Flash Heart about learning some of the other aspects of light, OK?”
Guidance smiled slightly, “OK, thank you Love Heart.”
OoOoO
Nova stuck her head into the igloo and pulled the rest of her body along. “Aurora? White Fang?” she called.
“In here.” Aurora called from the adjoining room. Nova stepped forwards to let Renegade and Anger Heart follow her in.
Nova found Aurora lying on her side, as she had been the last few weeks as she approached her due date. She smiled up at her ward, “I hope this child comes out soon. I can’t wait to go for a walk again.”
“Me either. The kinderlach is taking his sweet time,” White Fang said. “So how was the Kingdom of Caring?”
“Good, actually we brought a friend home to visit for a bit.” Nova stepped aside and let Anger Heart through the doorway.
The fox stared at the pregnant unicorn in front of him for a moment before Aurora cleared her throat, directing him to focus on her face. “Hi,” he said.
“Yes hello. I remember Renegade talked about you before, the hotheaded fox named Anger Heart.” White Fang looked him up and down, “So what brings you here?”
Anger Heart clenched his teeth for a moment then turned and pointed to his backside, “This.”
White Fang started at the sight. “Oy gevalt! The little fox has a second tail on his tuches!”
Aurora also stared at the two tails twitching slightly with Anger Heart’s agitation. “Oh my, a bake-gitsune! I haven’t seen one of your kind in centuries.”
“Yeah well I haven’t either.” Anger Heart turned back to face her, “My tail was hurting for a week and then last night it split in two and it hurt like hell! Can you explain what the fuck happened to me!?”
“Watch how you speak to my wife, little kvetch, or neither of us will help you.” White Fang took a step forwards with his eyes narrowed.
Anger Heart wilted slightly and apologized, “Sorry. But please can you tell me why this happened?”
“It’s an oddity that’s for sure,” Aurora said. “If I remember correctly, you’re only 15 years old, am I right?”
“Yeah, so?” Anger Heart looked over at her.
“It normally takes at least a century for a kitsune to gain their second tail, and to do so at such a young age…” Aurora seemed to be mesmerized by the thought, but she shook her head to clear it. “Tell me, have you learned any magic?”
Anger Heart nodded, “I started learning kinetics a month ago.”
Aurora’s eyes brightened up, “Ahh, I see now.”
“What does that mean?” Renegade spoke up, looking at his teacher.
“Hush and she’ll tell you. What does it mean, Aura?” White Fang asked.
Aurora giggled at the pet name, “I take it you never met any bake-gitsune, did you Fang?”
White Fang shook his head, “I heard of them but I never travelled that far east.”
“Well, what the Shinto say about foxes is true. Foxes, or kitsune in Japan, are all magical creatures.” Aurora floated a snack from a nearby shelf and munched on it while she collected her thoughts. “Not all magical beings are obvious or apparent like unicorns and pegasus, some are animals that are natural channels for magic, kitsune are such creatures and from the moment of their birth their bodies are constantly absorbing magic from the world around them and when they have absorbed enough, usually after a century, their powers manifest and they become fully aware of the world around them and capable of using their magic.” Aurora turned to Anger Heart, who had his face scrunched up as he tried to process this and she swept a magical spell across his body, which made him shiver. “I thought so. Anger Heart, even as a Care Bear your body has the same magical currents running through it as any fox does, but you have a huge advantage over other kitsune, you have sentient intelligence. Most only become truly sentient when they become bake-gitsune and are simple animals before that, but you can think, feel and learn and by learning and by using magic from an outside source you have accelerated your transformation into a bake-gitsune. Tell me, have you tried to use magic since your tail split?”
Anger Heart shook his head, “No, I said I’d take a day off because it made my tail hurt even more.”
Aurora nodded, “Try something then.”
“OK,” Anger Heart held up his hand and a small fire appeared in his palm. “Doesn’t hurt.”
Aurora watched for a moment then looked back to him, “Does it feel any different?”
“A bit. It’s easier somehow.”
Aurora nodded, “As your magical skill grows you may grow more tails. Even with intelligence, learning pyrokinetics in less than a month is impressive. You may even become a kyubi no kitsune.”
“A what?” Anger Heart gave her a confused look.
“A nine-tailed fox, the highest potential of all kitsune.”
“Oh,” Anger Heart grinned, “Let’s see if I cCan give this some more fire!” He started pouring his magic into the fire in his hand, finding that it was flowing much more easily than he remembered, growing larger and larger until water suddenly soaked his whole body, extinguishing the fire. Anger Heart blinked then glared at White Fang who had thrown a ton of snow at him that melted and doused him when it came close to his fire.
“Hey!”
“Hey yourself. I won’t have you superheating my home with that facacta blaze in your hand!” White Fang’s glare was intense enough to make Anger Heart step back, then slip on the water beneath him and fall on his butt.
“Be careful, Anger Heart,” Aurora said. “I know it’s tempting to try and gain that kind of power all at once, even if you never had that thought before, but proceed at the pace you have been thus far and let the change come naturally. There are other things you can learn.”
Anger Heart rolled over and carefully used the wall to help him stand, “Oh yeah? Like what?”
Aurora smirked, “Kitsune are natural tricksters and masters of illusions. It might not be the same as the kinetics you are learning now but if you want I may be able to teach you some tricks like that.”
“Hmm… maybe…” Anger Heart was still trying to process everything.
Aurora grunted as she felt her foal kick, “But not anytime soon. We’ll have a foal before too much longer. Just keep what I’ve said in mind.”
“Thanks, I will,” Anger Heart shuffled out of the room until he was on packed snow again. “So, can I get a lift home? I really don’t want to walk all the way back.”
Renegade nodded, “OK. Want to stop and see my sister first?”
Anger Heart shook his head, “No! I want to go home.”
“Sheesh. OK Pouty Heart,” Nova teased. Anger Heart glared at her then followed Renegade out of the igloo.
OoOoO
“So should we start calling you Anger Heart Kitsune?” Chance Heart Liger had run across Anger Heart shortly after he returned from Pegasus Falls.
Anger Heart growled slightly, “Anger Heart Fox is fine thank you!”
“Yeesh, sorry I asked. No need to bite my head off,” Chance held up his arms defensively.
“Why are you even here?” Anger Heart didn’t turn to look at the liger as he started to walk home.
“Just wanted to see how things were going. I mean you got dragged away by the pony patrol so I just wanted-“
“Yeah well I’m fine, so thank you and good bye!” Anger Heart picked up his pace.
“Hey! I’m just trying to show that I care!” Chance called after him. Anger Heart stopped in his tracks and turned to face the liger. His eyes looked like they were literally burning, all things considered it wasn’t farfetched to assume they really were.
“Like you cared enough to tease me about how I was different!” hot tears started to leak from Anger Heart’s eyes, “I’ve always been a freak and now after I was just starting to fit in another tail is stuck on my ass and I’m a freak again! So go on! Tease me like Cheer Bear for being the two-tailed miles per hour wonder over here!”
Chance was taken aback but didn’t back down and tried to approach Anger Heart, “I’m sorry.”
“You should be, I just, I just,” Anger Heart’s rage was turning into despair as his emotions ran wild. He was about to turn and run when Chance closed the distance and gave him a hug.
“Look, dude, it’s alright. You’re not a freak you’re just different, the way me and my siblings are different or the way Renegade’s different. I’m sorry, please just…”
Anger Heart felt his emotions settle down and actually hugged Chance back. “I still don’t like you,” he mumbled.
“That’s fine. Just don’t go thinking you’re a freak OK?” Chance let him go and stepped back, “and ignore Cheer Bear, she doesn’t think before she speaks.”
“So she’s just like you then?” Anger Heart asked.
Chance wasn’t sure if the fox was being serious or joking but he rolled with it, “Yeah, I deserve that. So now what are you going to do?”
“Maybe go home, maybe go ask Soulful if he knows anything about this,” Anger Heart pointed to his twin tails with a thumb.
“Don’t know if he’d like that. Well see ya!” Chance took off and left Anger Heart on the path alone. Anger Heart stood there for a moment before he turned and walked towards Soulful’s house.
Soulful Heart was in the middle of a book when he heard a knock at his front door. He sighed and marked the page then called out, “Who’s there?”
“It’s Anger Heart Fox. Can I come in?” The voice was unusually subdued for the fiery tempered magi. Curiosity got the better of Soulful and he opened the door to let him in.
Anger Heart’s demeanor matched his voice. His face and shoulders were droopy as he stepped into the library that now made up the front of Soulful’s house.
Soulful immediately caught sight of Anger Heart’s second tail. “When they say your body changes a lot at that age, I don’t think that’s what they meant.”
Anger Heart bristled slightly but then sighed. “Yeah yeah, I know.”
“I bet sitting down’s a pain now,” Soulful smirked as he walked past Anger Heart.
The younger fox looked at a wooden chair then moved to sit down, watching as his twin tails poked through the gap at the back, “Not yet.”
OK, now Soulful Heart was concerned. Ever since he had met Anger Heart, the last word Soulful would have used to describe him was “somber” and yet here he was. It should have been a red flag that he came to visit him on a whim and despite himself, Soulful Heart decided to ask.
“So what happened?” Soulful Heart sat back down in his armchair.
“You want the whole story?” Anger Heart looked up at Soulful, who just nodded. “Well my tail was hurting for a week and it got worse when I was using magic. Then last night it got even worse and my tail split in half. Take Care said it was perfectly healthy, ya know other than having a second tail.”
“So you’re a bake-gitsune then?” Soulful asked.
Anger Heart dropped his head and groaned, “Just say ‘kitsune’ please. And yes, Guidance Heart and Aurora told me all about it. Turns out all foxes are magical and I just sped things up by learning magic.” He looked up at Soulful. “Have you ever used magic?”
Soulful flinched, Anger Heart hadn’t heard his whole story before so he decided to just be calm about it, “A couple of times but not the same way you do. The few spells I learned were reagent based,” he saw Anger Heart’s confused look and elaborated, “I mixed magic ingredients into a potion and the reaction created the spell effect. You draw magic through your body so it’s different.”
“Oh.” Anger Heart looked away for a moment.
“So is that all? Why did you want to come to talk to me?” Soulful sat back and watched the younger fox’s reaction.
“I needed to talk to someone smart, calm and down to earth and you’re the only one up here like that.” Anger Heart turned back to face Soulful.
“Thanks, but why?”
Anger Heart put his hands in his lap, “Because I don’t know how to feel about this. I just feel so… different now and I don’t know how to feel about all this.”
Soulful rolled his eyes, “Different is relative, kid, I’d say I’m more different than anyone else up here except even then I’d have to qualify that what with the two phoenix possessed bears and the half-unicorn not to mention the equine visitors we have here every other day.” He looked over Anger Heart, who seemed to be brightening up, “We’re all different and if anything, they’re going to ‘celebrate’ how different you are.”
“Some will, others just say it’s weird, like Cheer Bear.”
Soulful’s snort of derision drew Anger Heart’s attention, “Please, if you start listening to Cheer’s opinions on this stuff you’re already a lost cause.”
“Hey!”
“OK, that was a low blow but you get my meaning right?” Soulful gave Anger Heart a serious look.
Anger Heart sat back from where he had been leaning forwards a moment ago, “Yeah.”
Soulful smiled, “Good. So how does it feel, having a second tail back there?”
Anger Heart shuddered, “Weird. I mean how do I even describe having a new limb? I can feel it twitching and swaying and the extra weight is just off. I mean how would you feel if you grew a second tail?”
“OK you’ve got me there. But it feels normal right?”
“As normal as it can,” Anger Heart looked back at the twitching appendage. “Then there’s the whole effect it has on my magic.” It was Soulful’s turn to look confused and Anger Heart’s turn to explain, “When I tried pyrokinetics the mana just flowed more easily and Aurora said I could learn illusion magic if I wanted.” Anger Heart shook his head a moment to clear it, “What about you?”
“What about me?” Souful was still confused.
“Do you want to be a kitsune?” Anger Heart asked.
“I’m not going to actively pursue it, if that’s what you mean. But until now I didn’t know if the Shinto belief that ‘all foxes are magical’ was true or not.” Soulful folded his arms, “I guess if it happens it happens. As far as I know we’re immortal so maybe in 90 years or so I’ll grow a second tail whether I like it or not.”
“OK.” Anger Heart stood up and gave a faint smile, “Thanks for listening Soulful. I should head home.”
“See you around,” Soulful waved as Anger Heart headed out the door, his twin tails being the last to slip out.
It was certainly food for thought and Soulful wasn’t sure what else to make of it. It did give him something to look forwards to next century, he supposed.
Well after our chat I decided to go with the full Kitsune transformation because I was able to get a full chapter out of Anger Heart's exploration of what this change means to him.
Wait.... whaaaaat? Well after our chat I decided to go with the full Kitsune transformation because
Maybe, since this whole Kitsune story was thought up in a short time I don't know what's going to happen going forwards, all I can be sure of is that I want to keep writing to see where I take things.
full body 'channeling' what does that mean? Maybe, since this whole Kitsune story was thought up in
Ahh. Well only Confidence rellay reinforces her body with her magic and that's more instinctual. Don't know if I'm going to have many Shonen tropes in this series, probably in my other one though.
Ahh. Well only Confidence rellay reinforces her body with her magic and that's more instinctual. Don
