//------------------------------// // The General of Chaos' Surprise Attack // Story: Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// At the hideout where the elite class members were, the guards there were looking at every direction, looking or the enemy. But they didn’t notice Featherwing landing nearby. She laughed and then said: “I found them. They’re here.” And she jumped, taking flight, ready to attack, but a magic beam hit her and threw her against the ground. She was able to regain the balance, while Mystic Heart appeared. “So if I want to get those elite ponies, I need to take you down first, right?” Featherwing said. “I think you mean take us down” Mystic Heart corrected. And her team, along with the guards of the hideout, appeared next to her. Although outnumbered, Featherwing just laugh and flap her wings to create torrents of strong wings. A great fight started, with the guards trying to pass through the winds, but even if they get to her, they still had to defend themselves from her quick attacks with the claws and beak. With her strength, she broke pieces of the ground, throwing them against the enemy, but Mystic Heart was able to use her lava nature to melt those pieces. But she missed one that almost hit her. But she was saved by Bronze Dagger, who used his Twinsword to take her apart easily. “I won’t let you hurt Her Highness Queen Mystic Heart!” he exclaimed to Featherwing, always swinging his sword to break the pieces of the ground. But something caught her attention. One of the feathers she had left at the Enchanted Forest whose magic would let her to sense any of the enemy at the surroundings reacted and let her know about the presence of Star Knight and Hawthorn. They have emerged and that meant that she had to tell the General of Chaos about that. She then took one of her feathers, charging it with her dark magic, and then threw it, with it flying away on its own. At the villains’ hideout, the General was at the main chamber, looking to Discord, who was unconscious, while his power was drained to give more power to his army. “Ah, Discord, if only you remained loyal to our master” the General of Chaos said. “In that way, you didn’t have to be in this situation.” It was then that Featherwing’s feather appeared and landed before him. He took it with his magic, while saying: “A message from Featherwing…” And, absorbing the magic in the feather, the General was able to get the knowledge about Star and Hawthorn. “Finally, the Eight and Nine-Tails appeared” he said. “In that way, I don’t need those fancy ponies anymore. I only wanted to use them force the Alliance to use the Tailed Beasts, but that is no longer necessary. With those two in the battlefield, I don’t need to use indirect measures. King Aspen is no fool. He knows they don’t hold any value to me. If the Infinite Nightmare Curse succeeds, then it’s all over. Although I don’t need the elite ponies anymore, I can let Featherwing fight more, so Queen Mystic Heart can be entertained. As for me… It’s time to join the battle with a great entrance, stealing some power.” And he turned to the Demonic Statue that appeared there. At the bay, after a great struggle, Freeze Burn was able to attract Day Glow to a place where four unicorns put themselves in strategic points to create a cubical barrier around him. “Very well done” Day Glow said, looking around, while Freeze Burn recovered his breath. “Inside this barrier, I won’t be able to do anything, even being a reincarnated being.” Luna landed and, seeing Day Glow controlled, she said: “I believe there are no more reincarnated beings around.” “Yes, I think so” Freeze Burn replied. “But there are still some of those clones.” That was true, but everyone was doing their best to stop them, while protecting the Sealing Urn and the Crimson Gourd where Gavin and Grant were sealed. Finally, Obsidian Blade, at the top of dead clones, was holding one by the neck, while saying: “This… is the last one.” Arcing, finally being able to relaxe, looked around. Although they had won that battle, he couldn’t stop noticing all the lost they had, along with the injured. It was a good thing all that ended, as he didn’t know for how much would they be able to stand. It was then that, from the shadows, the General of Chaos appeared, saying: “Summoning Spell.” The guards that were close became shocked for seeing, but they didn’t have any time to react as, from the ground, the Demonic Statue appeared, catching all the atentions. The statue appeared with its full body, while the chains it had broke and the it roared. “What is that?!” Freeze Burn asked. “It’s even bigger than an adult dragon!” “I have a bad feeling about this” Luna said. “That’s not big” Arcing said. “It’s enormous!” Luna took flight, wondering how they would fight that. It was then that something animated her. It was Spike, who was approaching with the dragons that were at the First Unit, along with some of the rebel dragons who joined him. “Spike!” Luna exclaimed. “I’m so happy for see you. We need your help.” “But what is that thing?” Spike asked. “We don’t know, but it’s good to know that we have you and your dragons’ assistance” Luna replied. “So, the Dragon King lost, hein?” the General of Chaos said. “It doesn’t matter. Not even with the dragons you’ll be able to defeat the Demonic Statue. Go!” And the statue advanced, the General of Chaos attention went to the urn and the gourd. “There it is…” he said. As the statue advanced, Spike said: “Dragons, attack!” The biggest dragons that were there advanced and started to fight it. They tried to hit it with all their power, but it appeared to not do anything to it, not to mention that the shockwave also affected the soldiers that were nearby. It was then that the statue roared again and that was enough to push the dragons away. In the middle of the dust, the General of Chaos disappeared. That was felt in the bubble of the HQ. “What’s happening?” Celestia asked. “It’s an incredible energy!” Boreal Blizzard exclaimed. “An immense energy appeared near Prince Arcing Thunder’s First Unit. But… what is it?” “I have news from the First Unit” Diamond Glow said. “It’s like a two-legged stone monster. It’s ravaging our troops and appears to be controlled by…” But she didn’t finished, what made Aspen to ask: “Who is it?” “We believe it’s the General of Chaos” Diamond Glow replied. “If that’s true, then we need to revise our battle strategy right now” White Light said to the deer king. “It’s strange that the leader would join the battle” Ingrid said. “Why would he do that?” “We don’t have enough data to make an assessment” White Light replied. While Star and Hawthorn were moving, the former covered himself with the Nine-Tails’ energy with the latter then saying: “Star Knight, you really should keep that mode for the battle that we have in front of us. If you use it too much, you may end up being controlled by the Nine-Tails.” “There’s no time for me to waste” Star Knight replied him. At HQ, one of Diamond Glow’s underlings said: “In coming. Prince Star Knight and Lord Hawthorn had escaped. They broke right through the barrier together.” “They what?!” Aspen exclaimed. “I thought the barrier was indestructible, even for jinchuriki!” “It would be for one, but it was both of them” the informant said. “The barrier wasn’t just strong enough.” “Both of them?!” Aspen exclaimed, angered. “It seems your brother decided to join Star Knight” Ingrid said. Aspen stomped his hoof on the table again with anger, not wanting to believe that Hawthorn had the guts to do something like that again. “So what do we do now?” Celestia asked to Aspen. “I’m going to stop them myself” Aspen said. “Princess Celestia, you come with me. After all, we’re talking about your pupil’s son. Queen Ingrid, White Light, you are in charge of the headquarters while we’re gonne.” “Of course” Ingrid replied, while White Light nodded. “You can count on us.” “Come, princess” Aspen said to Celestia, while he headed to the exit. She then got up and followed him. At the bay, the attack of the statue had already caused a lot of damage. It had including knock out the four unicorns that had erected the barrier to contain Day Glow that had been also knocked out. The Demonic Statue continued to advance, so Obsidian Blade said: “Everypony, retreat to the coast line!” Then, focusing his magic, he started to raise two walls at each side of the statue, trying to crush it. But the statue, using his arms, was able to stop them. Obsidian Blade used all his power, but then the walls, subjected to the two forces, cracked. The statue roared again and then released powerful bolts of energy, devastating the battlefield further. At the beach, Luna, Spike, Freeze Burn and all the others were taking “What is that thing?!” Spike asked, while they endured another shockwave of its attacks. “Whatever it is, it has a lot of power!” Freeze Burn exclaimed. “Based on the intel gathered so far and based on the data that Chief Strongpaw gave us, I wonder if that thing is…” Luna started. Arcing, that was at some distance looking to the top of the cliff, noticing the approach of the statue and having the knowledge of the intel given by the leader of the pony-panther, came into the same conclusion than Luna. “Don’t tell me that thing is where they keep…” he started. Even after being crushed by the two walls created by Obsidian Blade, the statue was able to come from it, completely intact. Protected by a stone wall with a small hole for him to observed, Obsidian Blade asked: “That thing was able to defend my special spell that easily?” Arcing flight to one of the platforms of the cliff to get close. If that statue contained the Tailed Beasts’ power, then they just needed to defeat that thing to recover the Tailed Beasts the villains had captured. While everyone were distracted by the statue, the General of Chaos appeared at the place where the urn and the gourd were being watched. The two guards that were watching them tried to attack him, but they just passed through the General who then was able to defeat them by launching them to the sea. Arcing was able to spot that and said: “Damn it!” And took flight, going there. Taking the gourd and placing his hoof over the urn, the General of Chaos prepared to disappear when Arcing landed at his front and said to him: “Sorry, you won’t have those tools.” “I don’t want them” the General replied. “I just want what’s inside them. When I’m finish, you can have them back, if you want them so badly.” It was then that he felt his shadow being caught, what caused him to get immobilized. It was Luna who casted that spell, being her hoovering close by. “You ordered Gentle Light to use Gavin and Garth as a powerful weapon at the front lines and now that they have been sealed, you want to use them to store their Nine-Tails’ energy in that statue” Luna said. “So there is at least one alicorn princess that is still capable of thinking” the General of Chaos said, looking to her. “Am I wrong?” Luna asked. “It’s really a true shame you’re not Nightmare Moon anymore” the General of Chaos replied, confirming her suspects. “So that thing is…” Luna started. And so the Demonic Statue was able to get out of the debris of Obsidian Blade’s stone walls and then gave a big jump that brought it to the beach, right to the place where the General of Chaos was, ready to stomp them. The shock was able to agitate the sea and caused some water particles to rain over all the ones that were close. Luna was able to teleport herself and Arcing to safety at the last moment. “I’m sorry for bothering you with this, princess” Arcing said. “Nonsense, I couldn’t let you be stomped by that thing” Luna replied. “The great problem was that the General of Chaos disappeared with the Sacred Tools.” The Demonic Statue released another roar and then it disappeared. With them now gone, the others could start treating the wounded on that attack and put Day Glow back inside the barrier. Meanwhile, the Third Unit continued to fight the Swordsponies of the Mist, with Twilight by their side to help and Shining using the Executioner’s Blade. At the desert, the four former regents continued to advance calmly towards the Fourth Unit, while Strongpaw and Hard Stone watched at their direction. At Arimaspi’s territory, the Commando Unit and the reinforcements from the Fifth Unit continued to fight the remaining reincarnated beings. While observing the results of the battle at the coast line, Obsidian Blade said to Luna, Arcing and Spike: “The tide of battle is turning against us. We must contact HQ to rethink our strategy.” “Your right” Luna asked. “At that moment, the General of Chaos could have destroyed us all.” “But why didn’t he do it?” Spike asked. “He just wanted the tools” Arcing said. “Probably he didn’t even care if he destroyed us all or not.” “It’s almost dark” Obsidian Blade observed. “We have to be prepared for a night assault.” “Fortunately, I don’t have to raise the moon, neither my sister has to raise the sun, during the war” Luna said. “The Lord of Order said to us he could do that so we could focus on our mission to defeat the General of Chaos and stop his brother’s evil plan.” And, like she said, the sun set and the moon was raised without Celestia and Luna having to do anything. At the exterior of the villain’s hideout, the General of Chaos was at the top of the Demonic Statue with the Sealing Urn and the Crimson Gourd, saying while looking to where the war war happening: “No matter what, I will not lose this war. The Lord of Chaos prepared everything for far too long. I will not disappoint him. His Infinite Nightmare Curse shall be realized tomorrow.” Inside the hideout, Gentle Light was seeing how was everything with the reincarnated beings and said: “I can’t believe how fast they have been able to seal reincarnations like Sombra, Gavin and Grant. And he took the them for the Nine-Tails’ energy. But he only have a part of the Eight-Tails’ energy: one single tentacle. It seems he is losing his patient. But I will get along your plan. Not that I have other choice.” And with a swing of hoof, she took all the stones. With that, and for the amazement of every one of the Alliance, all the reincarnated beings that hadn’t been sealed were pulled back to their coffins that then disappeared. The changelings also retreated, along with the clones. At the Third Unit, Shining said: “Looks like they retreated for the night. But that doesn’t mean they can’t attack during the night. Thunder Night, if you and the other thestrals of the unit still can…” “The night is able to make us stronger” he said. “Even resting, our senses will be alert to any danger.” “Good” Shining said, turning then to the others. “The rest of you try to regain your energies. Mainly you, Twily. You faced Sombra and then all the other enemies. You need a good sleep.” “I think you’re right” Twilight replied. “Don’t worry, my love, I’ll stay by your side” Blue said, putting his hoof over his wife’s shoulder. The Second Unit decided to camp, as they didn’t have their captain and couldn’t risk advancing. At the desert, noticing that the regents weren’t approaching, Hard Stone said to Strongpaw: “They’re not coming.” “I’m not sensing anything at the sand neither” Strongpaw said. “We can safely assume they retreated.” Hard Stone sighed and told, while they got out of their standing place: “With the Reincarnation Curse, I think the wisest move would be keeping fighting.” “So you believe they have a better plan in mind?” Strongpaw asked. “Having in account who is our enemy, that’s a very good possibility” Hard Stone said. At the medical camp, members from all the units so the injured could have a better medical assistance and the tired could rest. Fluttershy and Cherry were between the ones who were serving soup to the soldiers. Meanwhile, at the bay, Obsidian approached Arcing, Luna and Spike, saying: “I already informed HQ that the General of Chaos took the Sacred Tools with the Nine-Tails’ energy.” “I’m very sorry” Arcing said. “This is all my fault.” “Don’t say that” Spike said. “You did your best. Also we’re talking about the General of Chaos who was able to defeat Golden Paladin.” “If only we have realized sooner” Luna said. “Maybe, but, like King Spike said, the General of Chaos is almost impossible to beat” Obsidian Blade. “But, in any case, we held the enemy for one more day.” At HQ, Diamond Glow took the helmet and said: “Approximately half of our army was our casualties.” “That was also the same for the enemy” Boreal Blizzard said, getting up. “Each side lost the same quantity of forces” White Light replied. “Yes, but we cannot forget that our side is made of living flesh” Ingrid said. “Meanwhile the enemy is… Well, you know what I mean.” Star and Hawthorn continued to advance towards the war, with the former saying: “Everyone… just hold on! I’m on my way!” The young prince was at the front and, while running, Hawthorn said: “Well, at least is good to have the Nine-Tails’ energy giving light during the night.” “Star Knight may have learned to use the Nine-Tails’ energy, but he hasn’t made the Nine-Tails his friend yet” Eight-Tails said to Hawthorn. “The Nine-Tails continues to absorb Star’s energy and if it reaches to zero, he’ll die.” “Yes, but, without it, I could end up tripping and, at the velocity I’m going, I could get really hurt” Hawthorn said. “I guess it’s okay using his energy as a flashlight” Eight-Tails said. “But stick close to Star! Don’t let him get out of your sigh!” “Of course” his jinchuriki replied. As Star continued to advance, he heard Nine-Tails calling for him: “Star Knight…” And Star went to inside his mind to Nine-Tails’ cage, where the Tailed Beast said, while lying on the ground with his head resting over his paws: “You waste my energy on something so trivial. I’ve been inside of you, watching you for a very long time. Star Knight, after all you’ve been through, you’re still so naïve.” “You know, you looked like you have gained some weight” Star observed. “Let me guess, you’re using my energy again, aren’t you? And what got into you to talk to me all of the sudden? Usually, you don’t tell anything to me at all unless I make you. Are lonely or something and you want somepony to keep you company or something? I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m busy right now. Let’s do this later.” “Do you seriously believe that you can end this war all by yourself?” Nine-Tails asked. “It’s simply not possible. I think you noticed by know how massive the enemy’s force is. This is the Lord of Chaos we are talking about. There is no telling what he will do. Not even his villains know all the extension of his plans. He used them only to then only discard them like they are nothing.” “You mean like he did to you” Star Knight said. Although Nine-Tails tried to hide it, it was obvious that Star’s comment affected him. The nine-tailed fox continued: “You’re only a little kid. You don’t understand how futile this fight is. But the Alliance’s not fighting the Lord of Chaos, but his General. He won’t be defeated that easily. Of course, if you want to borrow more of my power…” At that moment, Star remembered all the hate he felt when the Nine-Tails tried to control him at the time he got his energy. This time, he wouldn’t let himself be tricked by him. “I’m not falling for that trick anymore” he replied, turning his face to the evil fox. Nine-Tails laughed and then said: “I see you got a little smarter since last time.” “Thanks for the compliment” Star replied sarcastically, turning his back and starting to move away. “Now, if you excuse me, I have a lot to do. We talk after the war. Later…” That attitude really upset Nine-Tails, who said, while getting up and extending his nine tails: “If your friends are killed, hatred will arise from their deaths. Are you planning to defeat the enemy before that happens? Then again, if you take down the enemy, they’ll bear you hatred. Do you really think you can take all that by yourself? If you do, then you’re completely deluded.” Star then stopped walking and then looked to Nine-Tails with an intense look and exclaimed: “Stop treating me as I’m stupid!” “YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND A THING!” Nine-Tails roared back. “YOU’RE SO NAÏVE! DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN TAKE AND ERASE EVERYONE’S HATRED! The war has already started. I bet there are a lot of casualties by now. And the resulted hatred matches it as well. You’ve seen in the first hand. Your dear marefriend was consumed by darkness and even her had some hatred towards you, even though she loves you very much. That hatred was strong enough to subdue her own feelings. Not even you could stop that. And don’t come to tell me it was the Lord of Chaos’ fault or that siren’s, because I know perfectly well how things work. You can’t just make someone evil, if there’s not darkness in the first place. Since that day, you thought you couldn’t save her. You saw all the hate in her and you thought you couldn’t take it out of her. You know I’m telling the truth.” That caused Star to remember the day Moonlight was corrupted and what the fox just said was the truth. “It seems you do remember” Nine-Tails said. “So, what happen to Moonlight after that? What did she do with all that hatred? And do you think you were able to erase all that hatred? I don’t think so. In fact, that hatred can grew even stronger. Did you ever thought what could happen if you die during the war? She can return to be what she was before and it won’t be anypony to stop her. You won’t be able to protect her, just like when she was corrupted. No matter who you’re dealing with, no one can erase or fight all that much hatred and you for sure can’t take all to yourself!” All those taunts really tested Star’s patience, but he did his best to control all the feelings that were ravaging inside and asked: “Did you finish?” “What did you say?!” Nine-Tails asked. “I get it” Star said, advancing and getting inside the cage. “Are you just trying to scare me into doing nothing? That’s exactly what you want, right, Nine-Tails? You know what?” And he made a gesture and then golden chains erupted from the ground and wrapped around the fox’s neck, torso and tails, pulling him down and restraining him. “You’re the one who doesn’t get it.” “Why are you so confident when you barely could save Moonlight?” Nine-Tails asked. Taking flight, Star placed himself in front of Nine-Tails’ closer eye and, with a smile, he replied: “Once you question your own believes, then it’s all over. I don’t know yet, but I’ll find a way to defeat the General of Chaos and stop this war.” That made Nine-Tails grind his teeth, while remembering the moment Golden Paladin sealed him inside Star by the Lord of Order’s orders, the moment he and his jinchuriki first met face to face and the moment Star defeated him to take his energy. Who would guess that a little prince would come that far? But, loyal to his own pride, Nine-Tails just grunted at Star and then said: “So the little brat thinks he’s all grown up, hein?” But Blue kept looking at the fox’s red eyes with his glaucous and then said: “Hey, you know what, Nine-Tails? I believe I’ll come after all that hate that is inside of you someday.” He descended, while saying: “You made me miserable my all life, but I know just how bad it is to be at the mercy of your hatred and to feel ruined by it.” That made Nine-Tails exclaimed: “ARE YOU STUPID?! I AM THE NINE-TAILS! I can’t and I won’t be changed by some little brat. I am hatred!” “That’s fine by me, because I’m not a little brat anymore” Star replied, still with a big smile. “And it’s more challenging this way. See you later.” And he started to run towards the outside of the cage. Outside his mind, while flying, Star opened his eyes after his talk with Nine-Tails. He knew that Nine-Tails could be right about him being naïve. But what was funny was that he had been inside of him for fourteen years, knowing everything he feels and everything he went through as he was growing up, even if he didn’t like doing it, but he continued to watch over him. That was the reason why he wanted him to stay there a little longer and watch over him. “I’m going to end this war” Star said. “Hey, Star Knight, see if you don’t get too distracted” Hawthorn said, while keeping up with him. “After all, you’ll have a lot to do tomorrow.” He smiled and nodded to him and approached him so the two could bump their hooves. With that, Hawthorn noticed: “What’s this, my friend? Did you have a fight with Nine-Tails? You better be careful, don’t forget that tagging energy is a double-edged sword and if your energy runs out, then it’s over for you. So, don’t be too reckless, okay?” “I know that I’m taking a chance, but I have no choice” Star said. “I will not give up of determination, ever, because that’s the way I am.” Inside Hawthorn, he shared confused looks with Eight-Tails, as neither of them didn’t quite understood what he said. “Now hurry up” Star Knight said. “Let’s go!” And, with a flap of his wings, he recovered the front and they continued their way.