A/N: Just a heads up, this story will now contain minor spoilers for Kirby Star Allies as well.

Chapter 10

Dahlia and Dianthus

Magolor and I travelled with the Guardians back to the Realmworld; the land beyond space and time where I was rescued. While the Guardians had more important tasks to attend to that were not mentioned to us, I travelled aside Magolor for the next several days, mainly trying to figure out what the Guardians were up to and collecting special crystals, as well as possibly causing minor mischief. But it was on our sixth Morning Star-rise when I recalled that terrible yet meaningful dream that I had over a full moon ago. Not that I've forgotten about it- something like that would be impossible for me, it was so vivid. But even though he hadn't had a harsh panic attack in the previous two years, I didn't tell Magolor about the nightmare, nervous he would fall into another one. About an hour past waking, we both started our travels, when Magolor brought up an upcoming event within the next two moons; the Festival of Wishes, where a comet, often thought to be the great Galactic Nova, was visible in the Halcandran skies of twilight for fortnight every five-thousand years. It was a very treasured occasion amongst the Galaxy Soldiers and Star Warriors, as it was a time for them to take a break from the constant wars against Dark Matter. But I've never attended it myself, being not from Halcandra…and the thought of seeing what a legendary craft of the Guardians could've been was thrilling to me.

Anyway, I'm getting off topic- an hour after waking up, Magolor began scouting this particular region of the Realmworld, called the Crag Realm, for anything in general that didn't seem quite right, either to fix it or report it to the Guardians when they returned. On the way, he mentioned how excited he was for the Festival of Wishes, even though he attended it many times before. Feeling impatient for it myself, I asked exactly what it was like to attend.

"I'm afraid you'll have to figure that out yourself, my friend." he answered. "The experience is different for all of us, but I can tell you how my first festival went."

"Oh Magolor, please tell me! I'd love to hear it!" I begged.

"Well, when the Guardians first told me about it, I wasn't all that enthralled, thinking that it wouldn't be much more than an ordinary comet sighting. But after they persuaded me endlessly, I decided to join in, and to this day I don't regret it one bit. It was the brightest comet I've ever seen; enough to burn out most of the night sky itself. And to think legend speaks of it granting one's greatest desire…it brought so many good memories to my head."

It took me a moment to process the last sentence, and I remembered words of his from that nightmare- "Not after all we've done" -followed by some of Midnight's last words: "All of those times we spent together will always stay with me." It brought a thought to my mind…could those times mentioned by them both have been those memories?

"Well…that somewhat reminds me!" I started a bit nervously. "I had a bit of a strange dream about a Halcandran moon ago…and it looked like you were in it."

"I was in it? Nothing happened to me, did-" Magolor never finished the sentence, as his ears perked up in awareness of the world around him. "Wait- I just heard something! It's coming from over there!" he stated, pointing to the left with his staff. He rushed in that direction with me close behind.

We both stopped behind a rock and peeked out from behind it to find a startling and sad image- a long-bodied creature with shiny red fur and pointy ears…and a barbed wire wrapped around its chest and neck. Panting, it stumbled as it slowly crawled across the rocks…before collapsing onto the ground. Magolor gasped and we ran over to it only to find it unmoving, splotches of red in its white patches of fur. I was a bit disgusted at the sight of blood, but I had to see if it was alright. And upon closer inspection, I realized it was a fox…with three tails! At this, I began to wonder if this could've been something that I've recently read about…

"Lucky, this is really bad! Check its auras!" Magolor commanded. I did as he said and saw that its auras were present but emanating at a slow pace. I reported this to him at once.

Magolor then placed his hand on the unconscious mammal. "Looks like she was caught in an ancient trap!" he spoke.

"Ancient?" I questioned.

"Many animals spread rumors about a warrior tribe that fled the main universe millennia ago. It's told in so many forms that I'm not sure what to believe, if it's even true." Magolor replied. "In any case, a trap would certainly be set up by man, and this vixen needs care right away!"

I then flew higher into the air to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding land, spotting a small cave not too far away. I looked down to Magolor, who held the wild creature in his hands, and shouted down "Follow me; I'll guide you to the nearest shelter!" I then led him from above to the cave.

By the time we reached shelter, Magolor's mittens were soiled with blood and dirt, worrying me. "The wire didn't get you, did it?" I asked him in concern as he set the vixen onto the ground.

"No, I think it's just from her fur." he answered. "Anyway, we should get that wire off fast!"

I searched the floor, quickly finding a red fire crystal and a solution. I snatched the crystal up in my teeth and flew back over to the fallen fox. Using my telekinesis, I bent the wire around her until a section of it no longer touched her, then I slid the crystal beneath it, allowing the heat from it to warm the wire. After the next minutes of silence, that part of the wire was bright orange, just as I wanted. I telekinetically yanked the crystal through the wire, snapping it in two. From there, I slowly untangled the barbed wire, freeing the mammal from its harsh grasp. I was mentally exhausted but couldn't rest yet when something still didn't seem right.

Magolor closely inspected of the broken barbed wire. "Worse than I thought! This was a poisoned trap!"

I gasped at his words, but thankfully knew how to fix this from years of studying crystals with the Guardians. Again telekinetically, I held the now powerless jewel against one of the fox's open cuts. Slowly, slowly, the poison seeped out and into the crystal, turning it hot violet. I set it onto the ground when I sensed all the venom was removed from her system.

"Of course; How did I not think of that?" Magolor exclaimed. "Great work, Lucky!"

Now all we had to do was sit and wait patiently for the fox to awaken.

Taking a short nap from exhaustion as we waited, an endless hour passed before we heard a small whimper from the fox. Alerted, Magolor and I began to approach her quietly, only to be startled. Out of nowhere, Magolor was smacked out of the way- by a clone of himself! And when I say that, I mean everything about these two were the same- except, this second Magolor had wider ears, darker eyes and more paw-like hands. The real Magolor took a closer look at the clone before falling backward in shock. "AAHH!" he shouted.

The clone gave me an enraged glare, shaking his head. He then scooped up the injured fox and stroked her chin…when I noticed an unusually dark shadow trailing behind the clone…in the shape of a three-tailed fox standing on its hind legs. Wait a second…I wondered. I then launched a weak pink sphere of energy at its shadow. With a red flash, it revealed its true form: another fox, also with three tails.

The second fox stood in front of the injured one, still with angered eyes. "Don't either of you come closer!" he snarled, baring his teeth. But as he spoke that the injured fox woke up.

"Please, Dianthus…" she moaned, "I think they're trying to help…"

"But Dahlia, just look at them! They must be members of that clan!" the dog responded.

"I knew it!" I realized. "Foxes with multiple tails that can take on the shape of a person…you two are kitsune!"

Magolor managed to pull himself together and off the ground. "Kit-soo-neh?"

"I read about them in a book back at the library!" I stated.

"So, you know about us? Then you certainly are members of the clan!" hissed the dog. "Why do you want my sister? To make a trophy out of her?"

"What are you talking about?" Magolor inquired, frustrated. "That clan is only a rumor!"

The male fox looked rather shocked, but that did anything but stop him. "You liar…you and your birdy are a danger to us! With those ears, you're nothing but one of them!"

"Quit it, Dianthus!" the vixen yelled at him. "I heard every word of theirs; they are trying to help, and they don't know the clan! Now would you shut your muzzle about this nonsense!"

The male, Dianthus, eyed the female before eyeing us. "Just what did you do to her?"

"Magolor and I found her caught in a poisonous snare!" I told him. "He took her here and I removed it and the poison. We were worried."

The hostility faded from the dog's eyes. "You really mean it?" he managed to speak.

I nodded.

"Oh, please forgive me!" he pleaded. "Forgive me for suspecting you were from some other dimension!"

"Now, now, Dianthus…" the vixen said, pulling herself off the ground "No need to go overboard."

"How suspicious…the nurse around here is the one who needs a nurse!" she said, making me laugh.

I then realized something the dog mentioned. "Hold on…did you say something about a clan here?"

"Wait…so it isn't just a rumor! You've seen them?" Magolor exclaimed.

"Correct; as kitsune, we transform into them and watch what they do!" the vixen responded. "We've learned quite some knowledge from them, and it turns out, they worship us!"

"Only, it leaves me a bit suspicious that they might try to catch one of us to prove to them we exist." Dianthus added.

"So that must've been how we found you!" I figured out. "Only, who exactly is this clan?"

"No, please don't say it!" Magolor quickly squeaked out.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Well, in truth…I've been studying this clan from any books I could find, although it's been hard. Back in Halcandra, we're actually forbidden from speaking of them for a further forbidden reason. If I get caught by the Guardians mentioning them…I worry…I might be exiled from Halcandra!" he confessed slowly, unable to look at us.

"So, does that mean that you aren't from around here?" Dianthus questioned.

"And you know the Guardians of Nebula? How exciting! I've always wanted to meet them my whole life!" the kitsune vixen cheered.

Magolor looked to her. "Actually, they should be returning rather soon, so maybe I can introduce you two."

"I'd really appreciate that!" she jumped for joy.

"Dahlia, are you sure about this?" Dianthus rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Dianthus!" the vixen, Dahlia, complained. "When are you ever any fun? Besides, they are the Guardians after all! You think they'd seriously do anything to hurt us?"

Dianthus took a deep breath. "You know what…you're right, sis."

"Well, I'm sure they'd be thrilled to meet you…Dahlia and Dianthus." Magolor responded.

"Whatever happens, though…let's not mention the secret tribe." I reminded everyone.

"So, your names are Dahlia and Dianthus?" spoke Chenoa upon reuniting with her later that day and introducing our new friends. "Those are lovely titles for little foxes."

"We can't believe you've found two rather rare creature in this realm, Magolor and Lucky!" spoke Aurora. "You two should be proud of yourselves!"

"Is it true that you can take on the form of other creatures?" questioned Rivara.

Dianthus responded transforming back into Magolor's form, while the real Magolor stayed calm this time.

"You can indeed!" Aurora nodded. "Now we have a favor to ask of you…Do you mind attending a special festival of ours? You can also test your transforming ability there if you'd like."

"Oh, it would be an honor!" Dahlia jumped for joy. "It's been so long since I've attended a special event anyway."

"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt, if that's what my only sister wants." Dianthus shrugged.

"I'm just wondering; it's the Festival of Wishes, right?" I inquired.

Chenoa giggled. "That's right, and it's only two moons away!"

Little did I know there was more than a treasured occasion headed our way.

A/N: Well, I did it last year, and I'm doing it again...I'm uploading this on my birthday! But please don't ask how old I am; I don't feel comfortable saying it online.

Also, for those of you wondering, a kitsune is a fox from Japanese mythology depicted to have multiple tails and the ability to take on the form of a human, often leaving some trace of their identity (long fangs, tail, silhouette, etc), possibly the inspiration for Zorua from Pokemon.