Among all the kingdoms of the Enchanted Forest, Stonult was the kingdom whose relationship with most of the other kingdoms was tense. It was a kingdom located in the mountainous region of the Enchanted Forest, built inside a rock formation, just like it happened with the village of pony-panthers.
It happened this kingdom was one of those that had its own Jinchuriki, an earth stallion named Black Granite that had Four-Tails within him. Due to his status as a Jinchuriki and to better understand and control the power of the Tailed Beast inside him, Black Granite left the citadel of the kingdom to move to a cabin located on the periphery.
After having infiltrated the Enchanted Forest, Ulysses and Grogar reached Stonult, ready to capture Four-Tails.
"It's finally my turn to capture a Jinchuriki" Ulysses said. "I can't wait."
"If I were you, I'd be careful with overconfidence" Grogar replied. "Have you forgotten that you were not able to defeat Prince Star Knight when he had four tails?"
"Don't remind me of that" Ulysses groaned. "That little prince will still pay for the humiliation that he caused me. But I got stronger since that time and I'll prove it to you by capturing the Four-Tails."
"Whatever" Grogar said. "But if you need help…"
"I won't need any help" Ulysses replied.
"I'm just saying this Jinchuriki has plenty of experience when it comes to control the power of the Tailed Beast" Grogar said. "Besides, we're on the same team and we want the success of our master’s plan. We should focus on capturing the Four-Tails instead of personal achievements."
Ulysses simply rolled his eyes, tired of hearing Grogar saying the same thing, over and over again.
"Let's just get this over with so we can get out of this damn forest" he said.
They followed their way.
In a cabin on the outskirts of Stonult, at the top of the rock formation that surrounded the citadel, Black Granite was cutting firewood. He was an almost middle-aged stallion with moderate raspberry coat with two rocks, with one partially melted, as Cutie Mark, moderate amarath mane and moderate orchid eyes. Dark Granite felt the presence of someone approaching and turned, seeing Grogar and Ulysses.
"You've got to be kidding" Ulysses said. "I have to fight with him? He doesn't look troublesome. He looks that he can be defeated with just a wave of my talon."
"Appearances can be deceiving, Ulysses" Grogar advised. "You should have known that by now."
"Who are you and what are you doing on my property?" Black Granite asked.
"We're here to end your miserable life as Jinchuriki" Ulysses said.
"If you don't struggle and give us the Tailed Beast that's inside you, we promise we will kill you as fast and painless as possible" Grogar added.
Black Granite limited to look at Ulysses and Grogar and then said:
"So you guys are villains working for the Lord of Chaos. I knew you would come after me when I got to know that Aeropolis lost its Jinchuriki."
"One more reason for you to surrender" Ulysses said. "If you don't, then I will force you to come with us."
Black Granite dropped his axe, throwing it to the ground and then said:
"It looks like you will have to do a little more effort, if you want to deliver the Four-Tails to your master."
Before that statement, Ulysses smiled. He really hoped that Black Granite said something like that.
"Grogar, I advise you to step aside" the griffon said to his partner. "He is mine. Don't worry, I can handle him perfectly."
"As you wish, but don't come to me begging to help you if things don't go as you expect" he replied, starting then moving away. "I'll be watching the vicinity."
After he was far enough, Ulysses and Black Granite started to stare to each other, waiting to see who would make the first strike. It was then that Black Granite began to move against Ulysses and he did the same thing. At that time, Black Granite accessed the Tail Beast energy inside of him and spit what looked like to be multiple portions of lava in large quantities. The lava portions quickly hardened into boulders of molten rock that were thrown at Ulysses.
Watching that, Ulysses quickly covered his body with electricity, what increased his speed to dodge from the boulders and he even used electric attacks to pierce one that nearly hit him. Retreating to a safe distance, Ulysses said:
"That was close one."
"You should have let the ram help you, griffon" Black Granite said. "As the Jinchuriki of Four-Tails, I possess the lava nature that combines earth and fire. I spent my whole life trying to enhance this capability. You don't stand a chance against me."
Ulysses giggled and then said:
"That's what you think. Do you think I can get intimidated that easily? Well, you're quite wrong."
"If you still want to challenge me, so you leave me no choice" Black Granite answered. "I will have to eradicate you."
At that moment, his tail turned into another one, being red in colour and with protrusions resembling spikes. After that, a blanket of lava covered all his body and Black Granite then went against Ulysses, preparing to give him a punch. Realizing the danger that lava armor represented, the griffon began to dodge and managed to do it in time, although just barely. However, the proximity to Black Granite’s lava coat caused a burn on one of Ulysses’ ankles who released a slight moan.
"Do you think flying will give some security?" Black Granite asked. "That won’t work with me."
With that, Black Granite launched his molten boulders that Ulysses tried once again to dodge, but one grazed the tip of one of his wings, causing him to lose balance for a moment. Because of that, Ulysses realized he couldn't stretch the fight too much.
"It's time to end this" Ulysses said to Black Granite. "I'd like to fight with you for some time, but I'd hate if Grogar started to think I was having problems."
After saying those words, Ulysses began to focus a lot of energy on his talons and said:
"It's time to light up the sky!"
And he launched the energy in the form of electricity to the sky. For a few seconds, it seemed that there was nothing happening, but it was then that black clouds appeared, covering the sunshine. They were storm clouds that thundered tremendously. Ulysses lowed one of the talons in Black Granite’s direction and a lightning bolt came down and hit the Jinchuriki. That lightning bolt had all the energy that Ulysses had concentrated and the damage and pain that was inflicted on Black Granite were immense. When the lightning ceased, Black Granite fell to the ground, unconscious, while the blanket of lava disappeared and the tail went back to normal.
Grogar was watching the neighborhood when suddenly Black Granite’s unconscious body fell to his hooves. Ulysses landed nearby and said:
"It seems that I ended up finishing the task within the allotted time. Surprised?"
"Only when I saw you using that last attack" Grogar replied. "Don't you think it was too flashy? That way, you're telling the Generals about what we're doing."
"Hey, at least it made the work done" Ulysses argued. "To beat him, I had to resort to the big tricks."
At that moment, rain began to fall.
"And now it's raining" Grogar said. "One of the consequences of using that attack."
"Don't complain" Ulysses said. "The best we can do is get out of here and go to the hideout. At least there it won't be raining."
"In fact, I just received a message from our master" Grogar said. "According to him, it seems Adagio and Moonlight managed to capture Three-Tails and the Lord of Chaos want to seal it along with Four-Tails."
"So they really managed to do it" Ulysses said. "Now my beak is open."
"You don't give to our fellow sirens the due merit" Grogar said. "They have great abilities. But before we can begin to ramble, we better get out of here before it happens some inconvenience."
And so, the two teleported with Black Granite.
In the villains' hideout in Arimaspi’s territory, Grogar and Ulysses entered the chamber where the Demonic Statue and the other villains, including Adagio and Moonlight, were. Echo Wing was already placed in the right place, ready to be sealed, and unconscious.
"I was starting to think you'd never get here" Adagio said.
"I don’t know if you’d noticed, but we were also trying to get a Jinchuriki who, by the way, has more tails that yours" Ulysses said, dragging Black Granite and placing him on the edge of Echo Wing.
"You better not waste your energies fighting" Chrysalis said.
"Chrysalis is right" Grogar said. "After all, we are about to seal two Tailed Beasts simultaneously. A task of this magnitude is going to take longer than usual, at least the double."
"Not to mention that now we are fewer in number than before" Oogie Boogie said. "Although Arimaspi is here to help us, we still resent the loss of an element that than the last time."
"Hey, with me here, that difference in the number is insignificant" Arimaspi said.
"Then I suggest you to take your places immediately" the Lord of Chaos’ voice said, with him appearing on his place at the Demonic Statue. "Hurry up, slowpokes! My time is precious."
The villains occupied their respective places and prepared the extraction ceremony. The statue had its mouth open and the dragon-like tentacles appeared and involved Echo, while the statue began to absorb the Three-Tails’ energy. While they progressed with the extraction, Adagio asked Grogar:
"So, Grogar, just out of curiosity, how do you feel for seeing the solo survivor of a kingdom that you destroyed now being killed for being what others chose him to be?"
"I don't have to answer that question, Adagio" Grogar said.
"What are they talking about?" Ulysses asked to Chrysalis.
"Our dear ram friend was responsible for the fall of the thestral kingdom that was able to seal the Three-Tails" she replied. "The Jinchuriki and his pregnant mother were virtually the only survivors."
"Is that so?" Ulysses asked. "Well, I have to say I'm impressed.”
"Can I interrupt and remind you that we're in the middle of an extraction process of two Tailed Beasts?" the Lord of Chaos asked cynically. "I demand nothing more than concentration from you."
"Yes, master" all the villains replied in unison.
And so they continued.
At Star’s training place at the Great Light Canyon, the young alicorn prince tried to master the darkness that he had absorbed in order to master its nature. However, this task was proving to be quite complicated. Controlling the darkness nature was something that Star was struggling to do. Contrary to his wind nature, darkness had its own way, something that Star would have to find to be able to perform that task.
Golden Paladin was watching Star’s training, but then he looked at the top of the canyon and saw Mirror Coat waiting for him. Noticing his face even more serious than usual, the General of Peace quickly realized something was wrong. So, he teleported to the edge of Mirror Coat and said:
"By your face, you can't have good news. You couldn't wait until after Prince Star Knight’s training?"
"This is an important subject" Mirror Coat replied. "It seems there was some confusion in Stonult."
"Don't tell me..." Golden Paladin started.
Mirror Coat waved, confirming his fears.
"It was Ulysses’ work" the General of Knowledge. "The lightning is unmistakable."
"That makes me even more concerned about Captain Thunder Night" Golden Paladin said. "I wonder how..."
"I also have information on that subject" Mirror Coat said. "Despite the efforts of Captain Thunder Night and his brother, I’m afraid that the sirens have been able to capture Three-Tails."
"That is bad" Golden Paladin said. “They are getting closer. And with the Jinchuriki being caught one after another, the kingdoms are still refusing to help each other."
"Apart from Maretonia, the Jinchuriki left belong to kingdoms of the Enchanted Forest" Mirror Coat said. "We know that these kingdoms have limited and strained relations between them. Create an alliance between them is not something you can do from nothing."
"I know that, but, for the sake of Prince Star Knight, the Light Kingdom and all Pony Reality, we have to keep trying" Golden Paladin said.
"Golden!" Star called.
The two Generals looked and saw, much to the surprise of both of them, Star surrounded by darkness, while the young alicorn handled it with his magic, causing it to adopt various forms.
"I'm getting it!" he replied.
Returning to the base of the canyon, Golden approached, while Star made the darkness disappear.
"I'm impressed, young prince" the General said. "You were able to learn a new nature in such a short time."
"Well, when I learned to understand it better, the rest was not difficult" Star explained. "Unlike wind, darkness is more quiet, but still complicated and complex. By the way, Golden, what were you talking about with Mirror Coat?"
"Nothing special" Golden Paladin lied, knowing how Star would react if he got to know that the Lord of Chaos had managed to capture two more Tailed Beasts, especially when it was Moonlight who captured one of them. "It’s just Generals issues."
"Whatever" Star Knight replied, while Golden Paladin sighed with relief that he didn't want to know more. "Now that I know how to use the darkness nature, how can I combine wind and darkness to create haze?"
"You simply have to make your wind and darkness energies to combine" Golden Paladin said. "Of course it's easier said than done. Try to find the perfect harmony between these two natures and you will see that your combined nature will appear."
"But how do I do that?" Star asked. "The wind and the darkness are two completely different natures."
"That's something you have to find out for yourself, young prince” Golden Paladin answered.
"To me, it seems to be something impossible" Star said.
"Combining the shape manipulation at its maximum with elemental manipulation change also seemed impossible, but, even so, you managed to create the Spiraling Star Spell" Golden Paladin remembered. "In addition, if I managed to create my own combined nature, so can you."
"Wait, you have a combined nature?" he asked, surprised. "What is it?"
"Well..." Golden Paladin said, a little unsure if he should say. “I don't like to reveal my secrets. But let's just say that if I did it, it was because I've become the General of Peace and that gave me the ability to create it."
There was a pause and then Golden Paladin said:
"Don't worry, you're going to make it, I know you will. Not only because of your own abilities, but also because of your motivation."
Star thought in Moonlight. Golden Paladin was right, he had everything he needed to be able to accomplish the task. Nothing would stand in his way to try to save Moonlight.
"You're right, Golden, I can do it" Star said. "I'm going to learn this combined nature and nothing will prevent me from doing so."
"That is Prince Star Knight I know" Golden Paladin said. "Remember, to get the haze nature, you just have to find harmony between wind and darkness."
And then Star Knight began trying to concentrate in order to combine wind and darkness to create haze.