Back to the Wild Isle, Star and Hawthorn went to the Tailed Beast Temple. While they were walking, Star said:
“I knew I could play with those blocks with the level that I have.”
“Yes, that task was easy, but the next one won’t be that easy” Hawthorn declared to Star.
They arrive to a place where there was the head statue of Eight-Tails, just like it was with Two-Tails.
“And now it is statue of Eight-Tails” Star said.
“This is an entrance to another room where we’ll have our last training” Hawthorn said, while Star went to open the door just like he did last time.
The door opened and they get in a room equal to the one where they went so Star could learn how to get Nine-Tails energy without being possessed by him.
“It is time for you to learn the ultimate jinchuriki spell” Hawthorn said, while they entered. “Are you ready?”
“Of course I am” Star replied. “After all, I have to learn to control this power. What do I do first?”
“You will have to get in the Tailed Beast Mode, like this.”
And just like that, Hawthorn turned into Eight-Tails.
“This is the step one” Hawthorn said.
“But don’t you think it is too risky?” Star asked. “I don’t want to turn into the Tailed Beast state.”
“Don’t worry, you can do it” Hawthorn said. “You already extracted pure Tailed Beast energy, so there is no danger in you going on a rampage.”
“All right then” Star said, while he accessed to the Nine-Tails’ energy.
Then, he tried to focus, while the energy became more intense.
“Visualize your Tailed Beast.” Hawthorn said. “Only by doing so you will be able to turn into him.”
He did so and the energy became more intense. Then, there was smoke and Star appeared changed. He had some fox features and nine tails, but he still retained his pony body. Unable to contain that, he returned back to normal.
“Damn…” he said.
“Well, it is shame that didn’t work, but it is not like you are working with the Nine-Tails” Hawthorn said. “Because of that, it wasn’t a total failure.”
Inside his mind, Eight-Tails asked to Hawthorn:
“So, how are you going to teach him the Tailed Beast Bomb? That is something that a jinchuriki can only do in Tailed Beast state, Hawthorn.”
That was also a question that Hawthorn was asking to himself.
Exhausted from the transformation, Star laid on the ground and said:
“Oh, I am dead tire after that. You mean I used all that Nine-Tails’ energy for nothing?”
“By the way, shouldn’t you be telling him the risks of using that energy as well?” Eight-Tails asked to Hawthorn. “Remember, the risks for you and Star are fundamentally differents. You know what, I’ll explain it to him. Let me out.”
“Okay, if you insist so much.”
Ánd so Eight-Tails took control and said to Star:
“Hey, Star, this is Eight-Tails speaking, not Hawthorn. Now, listen closely.”
Star sat and then said:
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“First, I’ll tell you the risks of using the Nine-Tails’ energy” Eight-Tails said.
“Wait, there are risks for using the energy?” Star asked.
“Of course, and it’s very important that you know them” Eight-Tails replied. “So, be quiet and listen.”
And Star nodded his head.
“The main risk when you get access to your Tailed Beast energy is that, basically, when you are using it, the Nine-Tails is consuming your own energy” Eight-Tails explained. “That is because you put your energy aside to use his.”
“Okay…”
“And, obviously, if he drains your own energy to zero, then you are a gonner.”
“What?!” Star exclaimed. “But Lord Hawthorn is perfectly fine when he uses the Tailed Beast Mode.”
“Star, you merely took Nine-Tails’ energy from him” Eight-Tails remembered. “You haven’t truly tamed him. I used to be like that too, a long time ago. I used to reach others’ energy. Oh, and I wouldn’t advise you to use clones while on that form. The Nine-Tails will take an equal portion of energy from each clone, so you will be drained instantly.”
“But my own energy reserves are very vast because of me being an alicorn and because of all the energy I got from Nine-Tails during all these years” Star said. “So I’m not in immediate danger, right?”
“If I was you, I wouldn’t underestimate Nine-Tails” Eight-Tails advised. “He can absorb your energy just like that and it takes time for you to refill it, so be careful. If you get carried away and use only Nine-Tails’ energy during a battle, you will end up dead.”
That made Star adopt a more serious look and Eight-Tails continued:
“Normally, you negotiate with your Tailed Beast about an energy exchange. Not that I ever saw Nine-Tails doing that. Finally, there is a limit for the energy you pull from Nine-Tails.”
“So does that mean I will not be able to use the ultimate jinchuriki spell?” Star Knight asked.
“Yes, I think it is for the best to not use the Tailed Beast Bomb” Eight-Tails said. “For now, I think it is for the best if you just polish your own special move.”
“Tailed Beast Bomb?” Star asked. “What kind of spell is that?”
“It’s simple” Eight-Tails replied. “You just change your energy form, put in on your mouth, compress it and then release it. It’s just that. Basically, it just feels like throwing up.”
Listening that description, Star remember what Nine-Tails just did during their fight.
“I see, so it is how it is called” he said.
Knowing how powerful that spell was, Star realized he needed to learn it if he wanted to use his power to protect his loved ones. He accessed the Nine-Tails’ energy again and then said:
“Okay, so I just have to try while I’m in this mode.”
“It’s impossible while not being transformed into the Tailed Beast state” Eight-Tails said. “I explained everything. Now, I’ll give the control back to Hawthorn.”
And Hawthorn took control again, returning to his deer body, keeping only two tentacles.
“Well, as big Eight told you, you just have to perfect your special move on that form” he said to Star.
“But I can’t do the Spiraling Sphere without at least one clone” Star said. “It won’t work on this mode. I need two pair of hooves: one for energy release and one for rotation, compression and containment of the change of form.”
“The Nine-Tails’ energy is like an extension of your limbs, but it can’t be mistaken by your actual ones” Hawthorn said.
“Oh, I see” Star replied.
And from him appeared to claw-like limbs made of energy.
“That’s it, a very good start” Hawthorn said, while making the tentacles to disappear. “Now, try that spell of yours.”
“All right, here it goes” Star said.
And using his front hooves, along with the energy limbs he created, he started to execute the spell. However, something strange happened. Instead of the same energy rotating to create the Spiraling Sphere, blue and red energy bubbles appeared, similar to the ones of the Tailed Beast Bombs. They started to gather to create the exact same thing that Nine-Tails had used on their fight. Seeing that, Hawthorn said:
“Wait, but that’s… Changing energy, rotating it and compressing it…”
The sphere compressed, but then it exploded, throwing Star back. Hawthorn couldn’t believe how similar Star’s spell was with the Tailed Beast Bomb.
Star started to get up and Hawthorn asked:
“Hey, Star, who did teach you how to use that spell?”
“Well, you see, this spell was created by me” Star replied. “It got to me during one of my magic classes at the academy when Golden Paladin asked me to create a spell of my own. When Professor Knotgrass showed us magical manipulation I couldn’t help but imagining the aura rotating and compressing.”
“Intriguing…” Hawthorn said. “Your Spiraling Sphere is made in the same way as the Tailed Beast Bomb. They’re the same. It seems incredible, but it has to be the truth. It’s like that, even when you’re younger, you could sense the jinchuriki abilities that you have inside of you. It couldn’t be luckier.”
“Why do you say that?” Star asked, while standing up.
“Because it is easy to achieve in Tailed Beast Mode, but, in your pony form, the change in energy form is difficult, almost impossible” Hawthorn explained. “And also, if you add rotation, then that makes it even more impossible.”
“You may be right, but this is not working like my regular Spiraling Sphere” Star said looking to his hoof.
“Tailed Beast energy is a combination of positive energy and negative energy” Hawthorn said. “They need to be balanced. That’s the key. When you’re compressing it, if you make the negative to positive ratio as two to eight, then it will form a sphere. Go on, try it.”
“I’m on it!” Star exclaimed, with a smile.
He tried to do it again, but when he tried to form the sphere, it exploded and threw Star again, making him return to his normal form.
“No, your ratio is still not good” Hawthorn said. “You have negative nine point five to positive zero point five. It’s harder than it sounds to do the right ratio.”
“You know, it is already too hard to focus and keep the Spiraling Sphere” Star Knight said, while standing up. “How will I be able to be attentive to details like those? I may like learn from the book, but I prefer learning by doing it. So, to do this Tailed Beast Bomb I just have to do it and do it over and over again until get it right.”
But then he felt a great pain. It was his front hooves which were know burned because of the explosion.
“It’s much more difficult in your pony form and that’s because of the side effects it can have on your body” Hawthorn said.
“And like I told you, I can’t focus on little details like that” Star said with a faint smile, something that impressed Hawthorn.
Star accessed again the Nine-Tails’ energy again and prepared the energy limbs, while saying:
“Lord Hawthorn, you said the ratio should be eight to two, so keep watching me and tell me when I get it right. I’ll train by just feeling and then remembering it.”
“Well, you’re really persistent” Hawthorn commented, also smiling. “All right, then I’ll do what you’re asking.”
Outside the villains’ hideout, the General of Chaos was with Gentle Light who was focusing in not only mobilizing the reincarnated being, but also in the battle between the two commando units. It was then that she felt her control over Armored Forge and Sand Threads disappearing, what could only meaning that they were released from the curse.
Noticing her change of behavior, the General of Chaos asked Gentle Light:
“What is it?”
“Nothing special, but it seems your plan to eliminate the Alliance’s commando unit didn’t work very well. By the way, isn’t time for you to go to the front line? I can stay here and concentrate on the curse for now.”
But the General didn’t answered right away, remaining look at her. Although she was under his control, he couldn’t stop feeling a little uncomfortable by the advantage she had by knowing everything about her curse. Noticing that, Gentle Light said:
“I can see that you’re little fearful of me, even when I’m under your control.”
“You can’t blame me” the General of Chaos said. “After all you’re just as troublesome as Heartbeat. You two are the most unpredictable between the Generals of Order. Even if you’re under my control, nothing guarantees me that you’re plotting anything using your own curse. For that reason, I want you to tell me exactly what it takes to be enacted and all of its secrets, including how to stop it.”
“Where’s the need of that?” Gentle Light asked. “You know how this curse is risky if executed by somepony else that is not me. Even your master knows that. Besides me, only the two Lords of Order and Chaos can use it perfectly and, if one of them uses it, it is like giving the other permeation to react.”
“But I can’t have you taking advantage of your curse to send our enemies on the right direction on this war” the General said. “That’s the reason why I want to know. Tell me now.”
There was a pause and then Gentle Light said:
“Very well, if that’s your desire, I don’t have any other option but to comply. But you do realize that, in order to do what you’re asking, I’ll need someone to reincarnate and a living vessel to serve as sacrifice, right?”
And so the General made two captured deer to appear, with one of them being Cypress. They were completely subdued.
“If it is two guinea pigs you need, then I’ll give it to you” the General said, while using his magic to kill Cypress, throwing his body against the ground. “There, I killed one of them. Take his soul and now revive it in the other with the Reincarnation Curse.”
Having no other choice, Gentle Light approached Cypress’ body, while saying:
“Just for you to know, this curse is categorized as summoning magic, just like the normal summoning spells we all know. It involves summoning the soul of the dead back from the after-life, being it in Harmonia, Discordia or the Underworld, and bring it to the world of the living. To achieve that, you need a piece of the body of the one you want to revive.”
And so, she break one of Cypress’ horns with magic.
“Any issue that contains personal identification material can be used” Gentle Light continued. “Without it, the Reincarnation Curse won’t work. However, for spirits that cannot be found or are too much protected, cannot be brought back. I could have brought back Star Swirl the Bearded to help in this war of yours, as you ordered me to revive any strong beings that I could find, but the Lord of Orders has his soul, along with many others, well protected and out of reach.”
“I see, so there are limits for the souls that this curse can revive” the General of Chaos said.
“That’s right” Gentle Light confirmed, putting Cypress’ horn on the ground and involving it with a pale yellow light. “Even if I’m the General of Death, the Lord of Order is above, both in power and influence. Because of you, I revived many, but getting their personal material is essentially just grave robbing.”
The light dissolved the horn and then started to involve the other deer with tentacles of light, while pulling itself towards him, while Gentle Light continued:
“Sometimes, there are mistakes when it comes to the ones whose remains are not identifiable. Because of that, I had a lot of failures along the way.”
“So that’s how the curse is enacted” the General said, while observing the light trying to get in the deer.
After the light did so, Gentle Light used her magic and ash and dust started to cover the deer’s body. It seemed to be a very excruciating procedure, as the deer screamed in pain during the reincarnation.
“And this is how you turn someone into a vessel for the souls” Gentle Light said, as the ash and dust retreated to reveal Cypress, that whose body was an exact copy of the original, having including his mask and cloak, but having some cracks along the body. “And this is how you enact the Reincarnation Curse.”
Patting, Cypress, opening his eyes with dark sclera, asked, confused:
“What’s happening? Where am I?”
“Without any doubt, this is one of the most powerful and dangerous curses in all Creation, not only the Pony Reality” Gentle Light continued to say. “But of course the key of this curse is not bringing back the dead, but control them.”
She approached the reincarnated Cypress and, extending her hoof over his head, it started glowing and the reincarnated deer’s sclera darkened and the irises turned white, as she put him under her control.
“This part of the curse suppresses the free will and, by giving certain commands, the revived ones will get the abilities they will have the abilities they had in life, what gives immortal pawns created just to follow the caster’s orders, even rare abilities like combined natures or specific and unique powers” she continued.
“This is such an ideal curse” the General of Chaos commented. “I’m surprised that a General of Order would think in something like that.”
“That’s because you still don’t know Heartbeat’s curses” Gentle Light replied. “She is far more creative than me.”
“But, like you said, this curse has serious risks” the General said. “Every action is followed by a reaction. Now, what are they?”
“In part, that is the most brilliant part of this curse” Gentle Light said. “It doesn’t have that many risks to the caster, as it doesn’t require energy to work. Although the amount of control depends on the skill of the caster. The main risk is directed mainly to the soul of the one that casts it as something like that darks them, as we are talking about something that is against the laws of Nature.”
A coffin appeared around the reincarnated Cypress, closing and then disappearing.
“All right, I’m leaving now” Gentle Light said. “I have to go to a quiet place to focus.”
“Hold it, you haven’t told me how to stop the Reincarnation Curse” the General of Chaos said.
“Oh, yes, I almost forgot about that part” Gentle Light said, making a fake innocent look. “Killing the caster won’t stop this curse, so how can it be stopped? It’s simple. You just have to manipulate the caster to break the curse. You could that to me if you start to feel that I’m doing something that doesn’t please you or even your enemy so they don’t have to fight the reincarnated beings, but my mind has very powerful barriers out of my control as a precaution. That’s why you cannot control me completely. The other is to seal the reincarnated beings’ souls.”
There was a pause and the Gentle Light said:
“Now that I told you everything you wanted to hear, I thing I’ll go to my post and do what you enslaved me to do.”
And so she disappeared.
Back to the Alliance’s headquarters’, where the residential sensing warriors, including Boreal Blizzing, where sit around the great bubble and the residential ponies of the communication unit, including Diamond Glow where connected to a big device through helmets that obscured their eyes, Boreal Blizzard said:
“We would have missed this without the intel of the infiltration team. A large army is coming underground. We must extend our sensing range deeper. It seems they are planning in passing under our troops’ hooves.”
“Dig them out with an earth-natured spell” Aspen said, sitting at the big table with the regents that stayed behind, where others like White Light and Stone Quake were standing beside.
“We have to notify Obsidian Blade of this immediately” Hard Stone said.
Following the orders, Diamond Glow accessed to the members of the Intelligence Unit to transmit the intel to the responsible for communication in the Second Unit. They were at the Badlands. After receiving the message, he said to Obsidian Blade:
“There’s new intel from HQ. There are a large quantity of enemy underground the coordinates twenty five by thirty.”
“So that’s their plan” Obsidian Blade said.
Ash continued to run until he met with other reincarnated beings: King Grover, another deer and a female pony-wolf on her wolf form.
“Finally, reenforcements” Ash said.
“The Reincarnation Curse…” King Grover said, looking to his talon. “I never thought I would end up witnessing, much less be one of the reincarnated.”
“Yes, to be able to control this many, the caster can only be very skillful” the deer said.
“I don’t care about what is happening, as long as we keep serving the Lord of Chaos” the pony-wolf said.
While the Second Unit prepared themselves, some reinforcements from the Fifth Unit arrived. Rainbow Dash and Soarin landed beside Applejack and Big Mac.
“Rainbow, Soarin, it’s a good thing ya’re here” Applejack said.
“Eeyup” Big Mac agreed.
“We came as soon Gael told us to come” Rainbow Dash said. “So, where’s the enemy?”
“We’re about tah find out” Applejack, looking up.
Obsidan Blade and Quartz Blitz were in a more elevated ground and then they started to use their magic. And so, some kind of volcano erupted from the ground and launched a great quantity of Petal Sprout’s clones.