With the return of Star, the General of Chaos, seeing his target, started to go to him, landing close to the place he was.
Star, unfamiliar with the place they were due to all the dust there was in the air, started to look around and asked:
“Where are we? I don’t get it.”
“Where’s the enemy we’re supposed to face?” Red Skin asked.
“Leaf Mane, what’s going on?” Star asked to the General of Nature. “Why didn’t you teleport us to the Light Kingdom?”
“I’m afraid this is the Light Kingdom” she replied.
That made Star look around, trying to find actual proof she was saying the truth.
“I don’t understand” Tough Skin said. “I know I never came to the Pony World, but I thought it would have buildings and stuff like that. What do you mean with that, Leaf Mane?”
“Just get a closer look” she replied.
When the dust started to settle down, the Light Castle started to appear. Seeing it was the proof that they were really in the Light Kingdom.
“There’s no way!” Red Skin exclaimed, seeing all the destruction.
“I can feel it” Leaf Mane. “The plants and the trees around saw everything. They told me it was the General of Chaos, the most loyal and powerful villain of the Lord of Chaos.”
Seeing how his kingdom had being destroyed just like that, all the pain that its citizens must have felt, including his family, made anger starting to appear in Star.
Nearby, a piece of a wall was moved to reveal a small hideout. It was a guard who moved it as he was able to protect Twilight, who was sitting in the ground, weakened, not only by the destruction, but also for the effort she used to protect all the ones who were at the citadel.
“Your Highness, are you alright?” the guard asked.
She started to get out and then noticed all the destruction, becoming astonished. Beyond that, there was others laying on the ground, unconscious, mainly guards who were fighting the dark ponies. She couldn’t believe in what she was seeing.
“What… What is all this?” she asked.
Although sorrow was the feeling she was feeling at that moment, it was rapidly replaced by anger and hate towards the one that caused all that.
“Damn you, General of Chaos” she said. “This is unforgivable!”
The guard looked to her princess and noticed how she painted and couldn’t barely stand. He knew she had used practically all her magic to protect everypony in the citadel and so she should be at her weakest state. He couldn’t stop but being fearful for her health.
All around, some ponies started to wake up, becoming also shocked by seeing the citadel of the Light Kingdom, its core, destroyed. Shining, seeing that, said:
“It can’t be… How is this possible.”
“It seems Twilight excelled herself again” Rainbow Dash saying, approaching.
She was full of scratches and was helping Soarin to walk.
“You mean my sister protected everypony?” he asked.
“You look like you don’t know your sister” Rainbow Dash said. “But I am concern how she is right now.”
In another location, some wreckage moved and Shadow Claw appeared, followed by Applejack, Apple Bushel and Cloud Chaser.
“Thanks fer holding us down there, Shadow Claw” Applejack thanked.
“Well, I think if it wasn’t Twilight’s magic, my pony-wolf strength wouldn’t serve that much” he replied.
Jonagold helped his father get out of some wreckage and asked:
“Are ya all right, dad?”
“Eeyup” he replied.
But when he tried to get up, he felt some pain. His hoof was bruised.
“Try not tah move, pa” Jonagold said. “It is for tha best if we get ya tah ma. Ah jest hope she is okay. She an’ Flower.”
His father then pointed to the intact Light Castle and Jonagold got it.
“Ah see” he said. “Tha castle resist’d tha attack, so that may mean tha Diamond Domain also resist’d. That’s a relief.”
“Big Mac! Jonagold!”
Thunder Night approached, also a little bruised because of the destruction.
“Thunder Night!” Jonagold exclaimed, happy to see him.
“Are you all right?” he asked, getting to their edge.
“Yeah, we are” Jonagold replied. “All thanks tah Princess Twilight.”
“Did you see Moonlight?” Thunder Night asked. “I can’t find her.”
“No, but don’t worry” Jonagold replied. “Fer sure she is fine. After all, Princess Twilight sav’d everypony in the citadel.”
“I know, but I can’t help it” Thunder Night answered.
Meanwhile, Gleaming Shield was curing some of Moonlight’s more serious injuries.
“Is it fine, to you?” she asked.
“Yes” Moonlight replied. “Thank you, Gleaming. But what was that light just now?”
“I think it is pretty obvious” Gleaming Shield replied. “That light is Leaf Mane’s. So that means…”
“That Star is back” Moonlight completed, smiling for a moment, only to become a little worry. “But the ones that did this are after him. If he is here…”
“Don’t worry” Gleaming Shield said to her. “We both know how Star is. He is gonna be fine, for sure.”
That gave Moonlight the courage to smile again.
The dust started to settle down and the General of Chaos approached the three great toads. Star’s eyes laid on him and the General said to him:
“Good, I don’t have to hunt you down.”
There was a dark glow and the five dark ponies with the undulated eyes appeared beside the General of Chaos.
“Those eyes…” Leaf Mane said, seeing their eyes. “Prince Star Knight, be careful. I have a bad feeling about this.”
It was then that Twilight appeared between the toads, Leaf Mane and Star and the General of Chaos and his dark ponies.
“Princess?” the General of Nature asked, surprised.
“Mom…” Star Knight said, not wanting to believe the state she was.
Twilight was staring at the General of Chaos and said:
“I… am… the Princess… of the Light Kingdom.”
“Princess Twilight!” a guard called, approaching.
“How dare you trample upon the crown jewel of the Lord of Order and that so many sacrificed to protect?” Twilight asked. “I won’t forgive you! I settle this down as the alicorn princess I am!”
“It appears that now you understand my master’s pain” the General of Chaos observed coldly. “However, I have no need of you right now. The one I seek…”
And the unicorn with the power of launching the destructive lightning started to run at full speed against Twilight, ready to attack her. But before he could anything, Star Knight appeared from above and, with a single punch, crushed the unicorn.
“Is me!” he exclaimed, looking then to the General of Chaos with his sage eyes.
Twilight couldn’t believe in her eyes when she saw her son protecting her with that kind of power.
“There is no need for the princess of the Light Kingdom to bother for the likes of them” Star saying, without taking his eyes from the enemy. “Just leave this to me, mom.”
“Star, my son…” Twilight said.
Gleaming Shield, who was able to cast a spell to enhance her vision, was able to see what happening.
“What’s going on?” Moonlight asked. “Tell me, Gleaming.”
“Amazing…” she said. “He took down one of the dark ponies with the undulated eyes with one blow.”
That made Moonlight give another smile. It would appear Star had really become stronger.
“Well, it really seems that one had really surpassed all of your students, Leaf Mane” Red Skin said.
“It would appear so” she replied, with a smile.
“So you’re Prince Star Knight” the General of Chaos said.
“Yes and now it’s time to settle this!” he exclaimed.
The General of Chaos thought of the best way to attack. His repulsive and attraction powers would need more time for recharge after destroying the citadel, what meant…
And the other four dark ponies adopted a formation, with Dark Night, the dark earth stallion and the dark unicorn mare at the front of the General and the dark pegasus behind him.
“Tough Skin!” Star called.
Tough Skin jumped and landed behind Star.
“I want you to take my mother to somewhere safe” Star told him.
“Of course, Star” he replied.
“Mom, don’t worry” Star told her. “I take it from here. Keep the others out of this. I can’t be worrying about everypony else. Not during this fight.”
Although it pained Twilight, she saw she didn’t have any choice but to give Star a chance.
“All right, but take this” Twilight said, extending to him a ball of light. “I’m sure this will come in handy. It has all the information about the General and the dark ponies’ powers.”
Using his magic, Star took and absorbed it, while Tough Skin took Twilight carefully.
“Don’t worry, princess” Leaf Mane tell, getting out of Tough Skin’s head. “I’ll keep watching on Prince Star Knight and help if he finds trouble.
“Thank you, Leaf Mane” Twilight said.
After that, Star said:
“Go, Tough Skin.”
And he jumped away, along with the guard. Immediately after that, the dark earth stallion summoned a gytrash that started to run towards him, ready to attack him.
Tough Skin jumped until he reached the place where Gleaming Shield and Moonlight were, along with the guard.
“Aunt Twilight…” Gleaming Shield said, seeing his aunt, while Tough Skin put her down carefully, going to her after that.
“Gleaming Shield… I need your help…” Twilight said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll treat you right away” Gleaming Shield said.
“But first, I need you… to tell a message to everypony” Twilight said. “I’ll tell you how to use the telepathy spell.”
At the fight, Star had stopped the gytrash with his bare hooves, thanks to the natural energy he had gathered, throwing it away after that. But the dark earth pony summoned two more gytrash. But Leaf Mane created some roots that hold them, while Star passed flying by them to reach the General of Chaos and the dark ponies. While doing that, he created two clones who started to form a big Spiraling Sphere on the original’s each front hooves, taking them later, while the original continued his way. They used the two Spiraling Spheres on the two gytrash that were also thrown away.
“Red Skin, you and the others know what to do” Leaf Mane said.
“Right” Red Skin replied.
And he and the two toads jumped high.
When Star was close, Dark Night advanced, charging his horn with magic. According to the information he had, that dark pony could absorb magic, then he only had to use… Frog Kata. He prepared to give him a punch, but he defended, so Star tried to give a kick but that was also avoided. He then noticed the others and was able to understand what the information about their eyes being linked meant. Retreating, Star realized he had to attack them with something they couldn’t see.
The three great toads were fighting the three gytrash and they seemed to be able to handle the ferocious dogs. They them used their weapons to stab on them and the spectral dogs simply disappeared.
Star tried a new punch on Dark Night, that also tried to attack. But then the dark pony saw Star’s hoof passing by the side of his face while he dodged, but, as if he had hit, the dark pony was thrown with force. Seeing Dark Night lying on the ground, the General of Chaos wondered how that happened when he had dodged. Leaf Mane, seeing that, smirked, as she knew Star had used the natural energy around him to give the blow, as that was the essence of the Frog Kata, without counting with the strength and wide perception he required in sage mode.
“Okay, that’s it” Star said. “I can’t wait any longer. It’s time for me to end this with my own perfected spell.”
And the summoned two more clones.
It was then that the General of Chaos noticed Star’s eyes.
“I see…” he said. “So you learned how to control natural magic. It is quite impressive how well and fast you’ve been able to perfect it. That only gives more pleasure to my victory against you so that the Lord of Chaos can bring true peace and order to this world.”
“Just shut up your mouth already!” Star exclaimed, while he and his clones executed the spell.
Star lifted with his right hoof the Spiraling Sphere with the wind energy that soon reshaped and became…
“The Spiraling Star Spell…” Leaf Mane. “No, he can’t be thinking in using it.”
At the place where Gleaming Shield, Moonlight, Twilight and Tough Skin were, Twilight had just explained to her niece how to execute the telepathic spell.
“Did you get it?” Twilight asked.
“Yes, my aunt, but now try to rest” Gleaming Shield said.
Then Moonlight seemed to see something and said:
“Gleaming, take a look at this.”
She then turned to the battle and saw Star executing the Spiraling Star Spell, what amazed her:
“Incredible…”
“What is it?” Moonlight asked.
“Star’s magic is forming something that looks like a star” Gleaming Shield said.
“The Spiraling Star Spell…” Twilight said.
“Wait, so that’s the Spiraling Star Spell?” Gleaming Shield asked.
“No, Star can’t be thinking in using it” Moonlight said.
“Why?” Tough Skin asked. “What is it?”
“A spell created by Star that combines both shape and elemental manipulation” Gleaming Shield explained. “It is so powerful that can even harm the user, that’s why Star was forbidden from using it.”
While Star stabilized the spell and his clones disappeared, he said to the General of Chaos:
“Everything you’ve done here… All this destruction… What part of all that is peaceful?!”
“You simply can’t see the forest” the General of Chaos explained. “You’re not able to comprehend the meaning of peace from my master’s point-of-view and compare it to the Lord of Order’s. That way, you can’t understand what we are trying to accomplish. Just let yourself be captured. Surrender and your death will lead to peace.
“I already told you to SHUT UP!” Star yelled, while throwing the Spiraling Star.
“Wait, he threw it?!” Leaf Mane asked, thinking how could that be as, according to Golden Paladin, Star didn’t have enough control to threw the Spiraling Star.
The Spiraling Star went against the General of Chaos, while doing the screeching noise that was characteristic of it. The General and the dark pegasus took off, while the dark unicorn mare threw the dark earth stallion to safety. Arriving close to the dark ponies, the Spiraling Star expanded, being able to get the dark unicorn mare.
“Incredible!” Leaf Mane exclaimed. “It expanded!”
The General and the dark pegasus landed, while the dark earth stallion remained stood after being thrown to safety. The Spiraling Star didn’t let the dark unicorn mare go after getting her and sliced her. The dark earth stallion summoned another gytrash that went after Star, but using his wings, he took off to dodge it, while the Spiraling Star turned into the wind vortex that destroyed what was left of the dark unicorn mare.
“It would appear the Lord of Chaos was right” the General of Chaos observed, while seeing Star landing. “This colt will be difficult to capture.”
Gleaming Shield, following her aunt instructions, tried to contact her father with telepathy.
“Dad, can you hear me?” she asked.
“Gleaming?” he asked. “Is that you? Are you fine?”
“Yes, I am” she replied. “And so is Moonlight and Aunt Twylight. Although she really needs to rest a little.”
“Gleaming, can you tell me what’s going on?” Shining asked. “We’re hearing loud noises”
“That’s probably from the battle between Star and the General of Chaos.”
“What?! You mean Star is fighting the General of Chaos all by himself? Is he crazy? That’s it, I going to join the battle.”
“But, dad…” Gleaming Shield said.
“No, sweetie, this is too big for Star to handle alone” Shining said. “The General of Chao practically destroyed the Light Kingdom. He is the most dangerous villain of the Lord of Chaos we ever faced and…”
“Please, don’t do anything, Shining” Twilight said, intervening in the talk by using Gleaming’s connection to talk with Shining, placing a hoof on her niece’s forehead.
“Twily?” Shining asked, surprised for hearing his sister, but recovering rapidly. “But what do you mean by that”
“I know it might sound a little strange, but Star can actually win this fight” Twilight said. “If he was able to master what Leaf Mane taught him, then he is our only hope. Please, you have to have faith in him, just I’m having.”
There was a pause and then Shining said:
“Okay, little sister, I’ll listen to you and have faith on Star.”
“Thank you, Shining” Twilight thanked, before cutting the connection.
After observing him, Rainbow Dash asked Shining:
“It’s everything alright, Shining?”
“Yes, except that my nephew is back and is fighting against the General of Chaos” he replied.
“Wait, what?!” Rainbow Dash asked. “Then what are we doing here?! Let’s go help him!”
“No, Rainbow, Twilight says for her to not interfere” Shining said.
“Why?”
“Because she has faith that Star will defeat the General of Chaos” Shining Armor. “And that means we should also have faith in him. Now, I need your help to notify the others about this.”
“Well, you can count on us for that, Shining” Soarin replied.
At the fight, the dark earth stallion had summoned more gytrash that fought with the toads. The problem with this ones was that they were faster and hitting them was like trying to hit white shadows. The gytrash that Star had dodged before attacked him again and Star took flight to defend himself, but there he found the dark earth stallion that had been thrown by the dark pegasus. The two shared a brief spar before landing again, each one on their respective side.
“You’re really starting to slow down” the General of Chaos commented. “It seems the natural energy is starting to fade away. Did you use all of it in that last spell of yours?”
Star Knight hated to admit, but he was right. He had used almost all the natural energy he had, but before that, he needed to take down one of those guys. Then, he got an idea and, secretly, told it telepathically to Leaf Mane who understood it. She turned to Red Tough that was fighting the gytrash, being then tackled by one of them and thrown to the ground. She teleported to his side and told him:
“Red Skin, listen to me. I am going to hurl right straight to Star, do you understand me?”
“What?” he asked. “You’re going to hurl me? But why?”
And Leaf Mane started to gather natural energy while saying:
“I’ll tell you, but we doesn’t have much time.”
Seeing that Leaf Mane was ready, Star concentrated and then he released his haze nature, creating a smokescreen that neutralized the General of Chaos and the dark ponies share of vision. With that, the General of Nature was able to lift Red Skin with her magic and then throw him.
The dark earth pony was trying to see through the smokescreen, when suddenly something happened, as everything about him became pitch black. It was then that something or someone started to beat him, ending up throw him to the ground. That was Star who, although in the darkness, could see him perfectly.
The smokescreen started to settle down and, when the General of Chaos was able to see again, he saw that at the place where Star and the dark earth stallion were was now Red Skin. He look around, but couldn’t find the missing ones.
“Where are they” he asked.
It was then that Star used two Spiraling Spheres to hit the dark earth stallion, creating a explosion that happened inside Red Skin’s mouth, who released some smoke. The General of Chaos was able to see through the trick, becoming really impressed. With the disappearance of the dark earth stallion, all the gytrash disappeared as well, much to the other toads’ relief.
Red Skin lowed his mouth and opened it and, from, rolling through his tongue, Star appeared, along with the body of the dark earth stallion. When Star turned his face, it could see that his eyes returned to normal, meaning he had used all of his natural energy.
“You exhausted all of your natural energy” observed the General of Chaos.
After that last attack, Star took his time to recover his breath, thinking in what to do next. Even with the sage mode, he could only use two Spiraling Stars. Leaf Mane realized they had to advance with their next step.
“Finally it’s my chance” the General said.
And he started to fly towards Star, who prepared to defend himself. He had to get in sage mode quickly, but with the General of Chaos pursuing him, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate to do it. Red Skin started to use his blade on the General, but he dodged, even with the succeeded blows of the giant toad. However, the General of Chaos ended up being able to put himself in front of Star.
“Come on…” he said.
Leaf Mane approached and said:
“I’ll do it, Prince Star Knight.”
And so, with Leaf Mane in charge of executing his plan, Star was able to worry about the physical fight with the General of Chaos that followed.
“Stay back, kid, and let me take care of this guy” Red Skin said.
“I’m going to enter sage mode” Star told him, while fighting the General.
“What?”
“Stay back, Red Skin, or else my Spiraling Star will hit as well. Go!”
And so Red Skin jumped to the edge of the other toads, wondering how Star would get in sage mode when he couldn’t get rid of the General to gather natural energy.
Star realized he could only recharge his natural energy two times, what meant he could only use four Spiraling Stars. He had to settle that battle before he ran out of natural energy.
Leaf Mane concentrated and then she summoned something…
In Animarium, at the Sacred Oil Fountain, two clones of Star were gathering energy at its edge, both in sage mode. Birds were resting on them. It was then that one of them disappeared, what scared the birds away, and reappeared on the battle field.
“I summoned him!” Leaf Mane exclaimed to Star. “Now you can release the spell!”
Listening that, Star did so and the clone disappeared, returning to the original. When the General was about to give a strong bow, it was easily defended by Star who looked to him with his sage eyes.
With the new charge of natural energy, Star was able to execute the Frog Kata and throw the General to the ground hooves away. He looked at Star, wondering how he was able to do that.
The truth was that Star had prepared clones beforehand, so they could gather natural energy and maintain it. The only thing he had to do next was to summon them from Animarium and then released the spell, so he could acquire its sage mode.
It was then that Star created another Spiraling Star and launched it against the General.
“It’s over!” Star exclaimed. “You’re mine!”
It was then that Dark Night appeared in front of the General and started to absorb the Spiraling Spell.
“What?!” Star asked, not wanting to believe.
“No way!” one of his clones exclaimed.
Dark Night absorbed the spell completely and the General of Chaos got up.
“Wait, that’s right” Star remembered. “He is the one that can absorb magic.”
“But I thought he already took care of him” one of Star’s clone said.
Star then noticed the dark pegasus that was at the same place where Dark Night was, who rapidly took his position beside the General and Dark Night. Was it possible he had something to do with that? After all, in the initial formation, he was the one that stayed behind. Maybe one of his abilities was to cure the dark ponies who were taken down.
But it was obvious the most troublesome was the General who, according with the information his mother gave to him, could attract and repel anything, from attackers to attacks. He hadn’t shown that power yet, what could mean that he, for some reason, couldn’t do it. But before dealing with the General, he had to take care of the dark pegasus.
So, for that, Star started to create two Spiraling Stars with his clones, holding them with his magic. After that, he created another smokescreen around himself. The General of Chaos waited for some time and then he saw a Spiraling Star getting out of the smokescreen.
“It’s useless” Dark Night prepared, starting to absorb the Spiraling Star.
It was then that, for his surprised, the Spiraling Star turned into Star. What Dark Night had absorb was a transformation spell and now he was being taken down by the prince.
“Tricky bastard” he told him.
And then another Spiraling Star get out of the smokescreen.
“There’s no time to dodge that” Star said to the General, while taking down Dark Night. “You’re done!”
But when the Spiraling Star was close enough, it just dissipated.
“It seems my power has finally return” the General replied.
The three great toads became astonished by that.
“You got to be kidding!” Red Skin exclaimed. “He repelled the kid’s Spiraling Star?”
Star then covered Dark Night’s eyes and said to the General:
“Just wait.”
It was then that the original appeared from above, using the two Spiraling Spheres he had made before to hit the dark Pegasus on his backs, finishing off.
“What?!” the General asked, looking behind and seeing another of his dark ponies being taken down.
“Yes!” Leaf Mane exclaimed.
“That was good work, kid” Red Skin told.
“And now there’s two more left” Star said.
“Ok, but I’m curious of how he exactly did that” Red Skin said.
“Well, the first Spiraling Star as actually a transformation spell performed by Prince Star Knight himself” Leaf Mane explained. “That dark unicorn was unaware of that and absorbed the spell.”
“I get it” Red Skin said. “That’s why Star appeared.”
“But that dark unicorn can only absorb magic, not physical attacks” Leaf Mane continued. “So he get a directed hit when Star tackled him.”
“Oh, I see, so that was the purpose of that three-staged attack” Red Skin said.
Seeing how easily Star had defeated one of his remaining dark ponies and subdued the other, the General of Chaos realized he had already took flight after he had released that smoke.
The clone that was subduing Dark Night prepared to finishing him, while the original prepared to attack the General. But, before any of those could happen, the General of Chaos used his repulsive power to push both Stars away, making the clone disappear. The original was thrown until he got to the edge of Leaf Mane.
“Are you all right, Prince Star Knight?” she asked.
“Yeah” he replied.
Dark Night got up and he and the General stared at Star Knight. Then, Red Skin and the other toads prepared to attack the two stallions, but they were able to dodge their attacks and go a few distance away.
Star, getting up and seeing the great toads trying to attack the General and Dark Night, realized that was the true power of his repulsive power. It seemed to be what destroyed the citadel and it was most likely that the reason why he couldn’t use so far was because he hadn’t recharged yet. The problem was he couldn’t use magic and physical attacks on them. So the only thing that was left…
“Leaf Mane, can you use some kind of illusion spell?” Star asked.
“Well, I am not as skilled as Mirror Coat in that, but I thing I have a solution” Leaf Mane. “I could create a special powder with a hallucinogenic effect.”
“Sounds good to me” Star said.
“But it will take some time to create it right now” Leaf Mane.
“Then start do it” Star Knight said. “We don’t have any time to lose.”
And so she started to concentrate.
The three great toads prepared a simultaneous attack on the General, with Red Skin attacking from above and saying:
“We have you corned, you can’t escape!”
But he took flight, dodging the attack and then used his repulsive spell that was strong enough to push the three toads away to three different parts.
“Red Skin!” Star called.
“Oh no, dad!” Tough Skin exclaimed, being able to perceive what was going on at that moment.
“It seems things are not going to well” Gleaming Shield observed. “I just hope Star can win this.”
That was also Moonlight’s desire.
“I can’t believe Red Skin and the others were blown away that easily” Star said. “Leaf Mane, you have to hurry.”
“I’m doing the best I can” she answered, while trying to create the powder.
“Then I will have to stick with the five seconds interval” Star Knight said. “I just have to be careful. I just have one clone left to use natural energy. I just wished to have more, but…”
“But if you did that, it would be too hard to manipulate natural energy” Leaf Mane said. “Without to mention that you need the energy to create clones to the battle field. If you create more, the clone that is gathering natural energy will be distracted. Just try your best and don’t take unnecessary risks.”
Star beckoned with his head and prepared to fight the General and Dark Night.
“I must say you’re truly strong, Prince Star Knight” the General of Chaos said. “This is the furthest that I have been pushed. But no more. It’s over.”
He extended his hoof and so Star started to feel a force pulling him towards the General. When he was close, Dark Night simple subjugated him.
“We’re going to end this right now” the General of Chaos said.
Leaf Mane wanted to help Star with his situation, but she had contined creating the powder.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you” the General of Chaos said. “You’re a precious Jinchuriki.”
“Do you really think you can stop me with this move?” Star asked, in a taunting way. “You should not underestimate the sage mode. And now it’s my turn to…”
But it was then that something started to happen. It was like he was starting to lose his strength.
“Yes, you’re right” the General of Chaos said. “You’re sage mode is troublesome.”
It was then that Star got it. Dark Night should be absorbing his natural energy. And that started to be shown, as the orange pigmentation around his eyes was starting to fade away, until it was all gone.
“The Nine-Tails has now been captured” the General announced.
Leaf Mane was almost over creating the powder, as it was starting to appear. She just hopped he would wait a little longer.
Star Knight looked to the General of Chaos and said:
“Not yet. I’m not done.”
“You’re quite disturbing, aren’t you?” the General asked.
Star wouldn’t let him get him that easily. He still had one move to play as a new idea was just formed in his head. Now that he was immobilized, it was the perfect opportunity to gather natural energy. And so he stood still, trying to gather natural energy. The orange pigmentation started to be formed again.
Seeing that he was not moving, the General said:
“It seems you’ve accepted your fate.”
But that was not the truth. As Star had just gathered natural energy, it was then absorbed by Dark Night and that was his plan all along, as, for the great surprise of the General, Dark Night started to transform into a toad.
“I guess you don’t know a lot about natural energy, but it is very hard to control” Star told him.
After the transformation was complete, Dark Night simply turned into stone.
“What is this?” the General asked.
Leaf Mane could see that Star used the risks of the natural energy in his favour. It was really amazing of seeing.
Star was then able to release himself, break Dark Night’s forelegs.
“It would appear that natural energy comes with its fair share of risks” the General of Chaos observed.
“And now we’re finally down to just you” Star said to him.
“That’s what we’re going to see” the General of Chaos replied.
At that moment, Leaf Mane was able to produce the powder and said:
“Okay, I’m ready now. Let’s do it.”
It was then that the General of Chaos made a gesture and Leaf Mane started to feel terrible pains. It couldn’t be, as that was… And she was surrounded by green light and disappeared.
“Leaf Mane!” Star called, after seeing that, turning then to the General of Chaos. “What did you do to her?!”
“What I did to the others” the Generals replied. “The expelling spell I cast before is still on and so I can expel any General I want, even the ones that escape it at the time it is casted. I just wanted to see how far you could get even with her help. And now, let’s see how you can handle me without any kind of help.”
Red Skin tried to get up, but the injuries stopped him from doing so.
“Damn it, it hurts!” he said.
“Dad!” Tough Skin called, approaching his dad. “Are you okay.”
“Tough Skin…” he said. “Yes, I am. I just wanted we were at home right now so I could recover.”
It was then that they both glowed with a green light and they and the other two great toads disappeared, reappearing in Animarium.
“But what happened?”Tough Skin asked.
“The General of Nature must have been expelled” Red Skin said. “Without her, we were just sent back to our home.”
“Oh man…” Tough Skin said. “I just hope Star is okay.”
The General of Chaos used his attraction spell to attract Star to him and then grab his throat and pressure him against the ground. Then, putting him face down and extending his front hooves to a single point, he summoned a black light sword that he used to pierce their base to pin them, what made Star groan in pain.
“Now, tell me, does this tame you just a little… Nine-Tails?” the General of Chaos asked.
That made Star look at him with anger.
“What are you?” the young prince asked. “What do you want? You don’t seem to be just like the other villains who serve the Lord of Chaos just for the thrill. Tell me why are you doing all this?”
“You ask why?” the General said. “Sometimes, things happen randomly and the reason ends up becoming apparent. But I think I can try to explain it to you. You asked me why I am doing all this. But even if I told you, I doubt the knowledge of it would change anything at all. But I guess I can take the time to explain it to you. But what do you think it will happen then?”
“I don’t have nothing to say to you” Star said.
“My goal is to fulfill this reality fate of being destroyed” the General explained. “After all, that’s the final fate of anything that is created. Otherwise, the existence of the Destroyer would be pointless. That is the peace that I’m trying to create.”
“Create peace?” Star repeated. “Just that? Are you kidding? Give me a break! You cause so much pain and misery, you destroyed my kingdom. After all the terrible things you have done, don’t you dare to talk about peace! Peace can only be created with the desire to protect others, to bring the light to where there is darkness!”
“Did Golden Paladin say those words to you?” the General asked. “Well, I guess he really have some talent with words. But now, tell me, Prince Star Knight, what is your goal?”
“First, I’m going to make you pay for all that you’ve done!” Star exclaimed. “And then I’ll bring peace to the Pony World!”
“Oh I see…” the General said. “A very admirable goal. But tell me, what about those who don’t want the same as you. Do you know why there are jinchuriki don’t you? They serve to win wars and cause destruction. However, the Lord of Chaos has nothing to do with that, as he was not the one to create the Tailed Beasts.”
“The Lord of Order created the Tailed Beast from the energy of the original one” Star replied. “Don’t distort his actions just to justify your actions.”
“Oh, but you see, that is the point” the General said. “The Lord of Order saved the Pony Reality from Ten-Tails, but what about after that, when ponies and others started to pursue the power of the Tailed Beast for themselves, starting wars just for that? He didn’t do anything to stop that, he just waited that everything found their respective balance. Balance is everything that he cares. However, when my master arrived to this reality, drawn by all the misery caused by the hate between the Tailed Beasts and the others, he wasn’t willing to share it. What we are doing is part of our nature, we seek destruction so peace can be achieved and that’s our goal, to create a world even more perfect than the one the Lord of Order invented, while you and the others try to protect it. While there is light, will always be shadow, and wherever there’s darkness there are always a spark of light. But that just creates more conflict, so we’re going to destroy one of the parts in this reality so that conflict can never happen.”
Although Star knew those were just empty words, he couldn’t help but find that some of those words were truly coming from his heart: his desire for peace. Not only that, he found himself comparing everything that he had said with what the General said and found out that, in some things he was right. Star was so focused in the goal of spreading peace to others that didn’t think there could be others who didn’t want it, that there was, indeed, shadows in the light. And there was no doubt that he and the others who served the Lord of Order protected what they thought to be right, while the villains and their master did the same.
“So, Star, I want to know what you have to say.”
But Star kept quiet for a while and then he said:
“I don’t know. I don’t know what to say.”
“But you see, that’s the reason why the Lord of Chaos is doing this: to create the world as he envisions it” the General continued. “We can put an end in this endless war between Order and Chaos in the Pony Reality. But we need the Nine-Tails. We must to get him in order to achieve that goal. We will use the Tailed Beasts to resurrect Ten-Tails and then everything will be equal.”
“But if you turn everything dark, then everything will be a lie!” Star exclaimed. “Peace need light to exist.”
“The ponykind is not ruled by reason, but by passion” the General of Chaos said. “This is the only way the true peace can be achieved. Everypony will see in time how the darkness is much comforting than light, how it is more soothing, they won’t want it anymore.”
“That will never happen” Star said. “The Lord of Order may have committed some mistakes, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about us. I know that you think what the Lord of Chaos is doing is right, but that doesn’t mean it is. As much one makes mistakes, the other also does it as well.”
There was a pause and then the General of Chaos said:
“It would appear we came into an impasse. But that doesn’t matter. You’re mine now and there is nothing that can change that.”