//------------------------------// // The Regent's Decision // Story: Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// With the escape of six villains from Tartarus because of the plan the General of Chaos and Oogie Boogie executed, both the Pony World and the Enchanted Forest were even more vigilant than ever. This turn of events has made it clear to the regents that they couldn't underestimate none of the capabilities of their enemy. Spike and Ember were much too busy to ensure that the dragons didn't follow the previous Dragon King and soothe those who feared him, because, after all, most of them knew of his tendency to control his subjects, preventing them from having the freedom they deserve. In order to ensure a quick response having account Kraken and Featherwing, it was not uncommon seeing in Griffonstone and Equestria a lot of the guards watching the marine coasts and the sky. The Wonderbolts had even offered to help. At the Wonderbolts Academy, Spitfire was giving orders to her colleagues to look the skies for Featherwing. "Wind Maker and Silver Zoom, you two are going to Las Pegasus "she said. "Misty Fly and High Winds, to Manehatten. Surprise and Fire Streak, to Filly Delphia and Baltimare. Rainbow Dash and Soarin, you stay with Canterlot and Ponyville. Fleetfoot, you come with me to Vanhoover. Let's all make sure that Equestria is not attacked by no villain before the war began. So, what are you waiting for? Move it!" And all took flight. "I just hope we find that harpy" Rainbow Dash said to Soarin, while they overflew Ponyville. "I can't wait to kick her butt and put her back in Tartarus." "Don't forget that only the Generals of Order and Twilight can do that" Soarin said. "Beyond that, we cannot ignore the fact that Featherwing is quite dangerous." "Don't worry, Soarin" Rainbow Dash said. "After all, we are the strongest duo of the Wonderbolts." When she heard that Icy, Darcy and Stormy had escaped from Tartarus, Cherry became very worried. Big McIntosh was able to see it. Once, at Sweet Apple Acres, Cherry was in the kitchen watching Apple Flower playing outside when Big McIntosh put his hoof over her shoulder and said to her: "Don't worry. Everything will be fine." "Maybe, but I know those witches, Big Mac" Cherry said. "They are very persistent and obsessed with revenge. I'm afraid that they may appear here and…" "If they show up, we will deal with them" Big Mac said. "As we always do. And don't forget you have ponies that can help you." That made a smile appear on Cherry’s face and she said: "Thank you, Big Mac." And the two gave a hug to each other. In Thicket, a meeting was happen between King Aspen and his council, where the topic of discussion was the approaching war. Hawthorn was also present, but absent in his mind. Those meetings were something that always bothered him. However, unlike him, there was someone who was paying attention to every word that was being said in that meeting. Hidden inside Shark Skin, Kelp managed to realize how strong the power of Thicket’s military force was. That meeting concluded with Aspen saying he would summon a meeting with all the other regents. After a few days, this meeting was held in the Thicket castle. Each of the regents had brought someone to serve as both bodyguards and adviser. Aspen had Blackthorn by his side, Twilight had Blue, Cadance had Shining, Celestia had White Light, the former captain of her royal guard, Luna had Thunder Night, Spike had Ember, Hard Stone had Stone Quack, Mystic Heart had Arcing Thunder and Ingrid, Gael, Strongpaw, Godot and Kyrippos had one of the guards who had accompanied them to the Summit. “You all came quickly” Aspen commented. “The situation calls for swift action” Cadance said. “Mainly after what happen in Tartarus” Hard Stone said. “It’s hard to believe that a place that should be secure ended up having so many escapes. Perhaps your General of Peace is losing his touch, Princess Twilight.” “Golden Paladin’s capabilities as General cannot be questioned” Twilight replied. “This was a plan from the General of Chaos and Oogie Boogie taking advantage on our duty that is to defeat and capture every threat to our worlds.” “For sure that what happened in Tartarus is bad, but we couldn’t expect anything less from the General of Chaos” Celestia said. “I knew something was wrong when I captured Oogie Boogie” Luna said. “I should had realized before.” “You cannot blame yourself, sister” Ingrid said. “How could you know what would happen.” “Furthermore, we cannot waste anytime thinking about that” Mystic Heart said. “What is done is done. We can only try to deal with it.” “That’s why that we already started by putting guards in high alert both on the see and the sky” Gael said. “If any surprise attack coming from Featherwing or the Kraken, we will be ready for it.” “Well, organizing something like that in such short time really is impressive” Godot said. “A little rushed, but impressive.” “About the three witches, I and my Generals already faced them” Twilight said. “We know all of their strengths and weakness, as well as what drives them. In that way, we may be attentive of them as well. Spike, what about you? How are things in the Dragon Lands with the return of the former Dragon King?” “Well, things are better than I expected” he replied. “Some dragons have already joined him.” “And how can that be good?” Kyrippos replied. “Because the majority hasn’t done that” Spike answered. “The ones who did it were the ones who were loyal to him in the past or the ones who are not very pleased with me in charge. The majority is still on my side, mainly because they didn’t forget the way the Dragon King used to control them. My role as king is still a little shaky, but the help of Lord Torch has been vital. I hope that, in time, I can prove myself as ruler to them.” “The main problem with the Dragon King is that most of the dragons that went to his side are old, strong and savvy” Ember continued. “But we also have on our side warriors like that.” “Well, that is a relief” Twilight said. “But also of great concern. I expected that they started to act at the moment they escaped Tartarus.” “Perhaps they were ordered to stay put until the war” Celestia said. “If the reason why the General of Chaos took them from their cells was to gain strength for the war, he wouldn’t be using them only to have them captured again.” “But we cannot risk let down our guard” Luna said. “The enemy can take advantage of that to star the war by surprise. And you have to think about the innocent that will not participate in the war.” “For that, we must create places where they can go and be safe until the end of the war” Gael said. “Maybe we can let the students of the Thee Great Fairies Preparatory Academy under the care of the fairy headmistresses or to the Wonderbolt Junior Academy due to its location in the sky” Aspen suggested. “We can even sent there other children there and increase their respective security in order to ensure their safety. I also suggest to create safe-places in our respective kingdoms where the others can be until the end of the war.” “That seems to be a good idea” Shining said to Cadance. “We can send Gleaming and Topaz to the academy.” “Yes, I agree with you” Cadance said to him. “I agree with the idea too, princess” Thunder Night said to Princess Luna. “Mainly because my daughter is there.” The other regents also agreed with Aspen’s idea. “I think it is for the best if we advanced to a more serious subject, like the Eight and Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki and the battle strategies” Aspen said. “Purple Smoke used is tracking skills and he thinks that he may have found where is the villains’ hideout” Twilight said. “It is located in Arimaspi’s old territory. However, it is protected by the Lord of Chaos. Even if we are able to break in, it is for the best to gather more intel first.” “Very well, then we must proceed to share all the information each kingdom possess about the enemy” Aspen said. “I suggest creating a separate unit in the alliance that only handles intel” Mystic Heart suggested. “Now that’s a good idea” Hard Stone replied. “It will make the share more efficient.” “Yes, I agree” Aspen said. “We cannot allow greed and self-interest to slow us down. But let’s us now focus in other things.” “Like where we gonna hide the two Jinchuriki” Hard Stone said. “It must be a place that the enemy cannot expect” White Light said. “Well, then I guess that leaves the Light Kingdom out” Blue said. “You’re right, Blue” Twilight said. “They would expect us to hide them there.” “The same can be told about the Crystal Empire” Cadance said. “And my oasis” Strongpaw said. “We cannot hide them in a place that is protected by the light of the Lord of Order.” “And Equestria is also out of question” Celestia said. “It is very likely that it becomes a battle field.” “And that only leaves the Enchanted Forest then” Kyrippos said, turning then to the regents of the Enchanted Forest. “Do any of you know the perfect place?” There was a pause and then King Aspen said. “I got just the place in my kingdom. It is a place that belongs both to Thicket and Aeropolis.” “Wait, are you talking about…” Godot started. “Well, that really seems to be the best idea you had in this meeting, Aspen.” When the meeting ended, Twilight asked to speak with Aspen alone and he consented. “And why do you want to speak privately, princess?” Aspen asked, when they were alone. “Because I need a favor” Twilight said. “I understand that your young brother Hawthorn has Eight-Tails under control. According to Golden Paladin and Mirror Coat, your kingdom has been the one to be able to have Jinchuriki with a better control over their Tailed Beast, however the same cannot be told with Nine-Tails. Heartbeat already lost control of him once and that resulted in him breaking free from her and my son, even though he has been able to hold Nine-Tails in check during this years, he also lost control and was close to let the beast get out completely as well. My hope is that your brother can train Star and teach him how to control the Nine-Tails.” “What are you asking is something that my ancestors have been try to remain secret, because of the dangerous that it could represent to the peace of the Enchanted Forest” Aspen replied. “If any kingdom learned how to control their respective Tailed Beast, then they could try to overcome Thicket from the status as main kingdom.” “I understand your concerns, but this is not the time to wonder about that” Twilight said. “Your kingdom is the only one in the Enchanted Forest with a jinchuriki. Even if we defeat the Lord of Chaos and each kingdom regain their respective Tailed Beast, the secret would remain secret. Furthermore, we may be forced to use Hawthorn and Star’s power. Not mentioning what the Nine-Tails can do to my son if he doesn’t control him. You’re a parent just like me, Aspen. Would you want to see Bramble in the same situation as Star?” “I don’t have that worry in my mind” Aspen said. “My son was always fated to become a king and not a jinchuriki and Eight-Tails is no longer a threat to Thicket and the rest thanks to my brother. But you’re right, Princess Twilight, I wouldn’t like to be on your hooves. And, because you’re Star is my son’s best friend and his parents are a princess and a General with noble hearts, I’ll accept your request.” “Thank you, Aspen.” “And I also accept your request because I also predicted we could need my brother and your son’s power.” “You did?” Twilight asked. “What are you saying?” “To where I am sending those two is not just some secret place where they can both hide” Aspen replied. “Long time ago when we were younger, Hawthorn and I trained in that island. It is a place created by Thicket and Aeropolis, who possess a strong alliance for centuries, to train their respective Jinchuriki.” “I see…” “Now the only think you have to ensure is that your son goes there without knowing what really is happening.” “You don’t have to worry about that” Twilight said. “I and Golden have already planned everything.” A few days later, the end of the exames had come to the students of the Three Great Fairies Preparatory Academy. The students felt quite relieved, not only because of the end of the exams, but also because of the approaching summer. They could feel the days start getting warmer and sunny. But, to a student in particular, that meant something else. Star had arranged his saddlebags and went to meet with Golden Paladin in the place where they used to meet for their trainings. Finding the General of Peace already waiting for him, Star said: "I'm ready, Golden." "I can see that" he said. “But there is a great difference between being ready on the outside and ready on the inside. I have to ask the latte to you." "Yes, I am ready, but also quite nervous, I admit" Star said. "Do you really think I'm going to be able to control the Nine-Tails? You know how bad ended all the times I've tried to do that, don’t you?" "I have faith in you, young prince” Golden Paladin answered. "You have a strong will. In addition you will have all the help possible to finally tame the demonic fox." "Hey, can’t you just give me a clue to where we're going to?" Star asked. "Well, that will be a surprise" Golden Paladin said. "Believe me, to where we're going, the secrets of how to control a Tailed Beast will be revealed to you."