//------------------------------// // Reinforcements Arrive // Story: Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// Walking through the one of the darkest parts of the Enchanted Forest was Grogar. Although almost everyone wouldn’t dare to walk on that part, Grogar, being a loyal servant of the Lord of Chaos, didn’t fear any threat that could come to him. At some point, he stopped and then said: “You don’t have to hide from me. I came here in the name of Lord of Chaos. Our master desires your services.” And so he heard hooves and a figure hidden by a cloak with a hood approached. An asthmastic voice said: “Why should I accept that… when the Lord of Chaos abandoned me… goat?” “The name is Grogar” he said. “And should I remind you that it was because you weren’t able to carry on the master’s will that you let you all alone… doomed to wander the darkest parts of the Enchanted Forest while avoiding all the other kingdoms and without any power?” Another pause and then Grogar continued: “But a great war has started between Order and Chaos in Equestria and we need all the help to defeat the Lord of Order’s loyalists and turn real our master’s glorious plan. But, if you still have any doubts about what to do, here’s an offer to tempt you.” And extending a hoof, Grogar made appear on it an orb full of… “Wild energy…” the hooded figure said, while revealing a pair of arms with hands inside the cloak. “Something that can give you the power over nature while still giving you some of the strength you had” Grogar said. “What do you say now?” “If the Lord of Chaos is giving me something like this to join him again, then it’s settle.” And he took of the cloak. He was a centaur with dark sapphire bluish gray upper body and dark cobalt bluish gray lower body, dark grayish scarlet skin on the arms and face, dark azureish gray little horns, indigoish gray beard, light lime greenish gray hooves with amberish gray clefts and black eyes with light brilliant yellow pupils. He made a ball of energy between his little horns and started to absorbed the wild magic with his magic. After he did that, his body started to grow, while his upper body turned black, the lower body turned dark phthalo bluish gray, the skin turned moderate amaranth, the horns grew up in size and turned dark phthalo bluish gray and the beard turned light indigoish gray. “Oh, I can feel my power returning!” the centaur exclaimed, now with a stronger voice. “That’s good” Grogar said. “Now, we hope that you can help our master better than last time.” “Don’t worry” Tirek said. “I will… And they all will regret the day they dared to humiliate the great Lord Tirek!” At the Badlands, the Second Unit continued to fight both the clones and the changelings. The only problem was that they didn’t only to be careful of the changelings’ metamorphic abilities, but also the clones’. “Damn, Ah can’t tell who is who!” Applejack exclaimed. “Even tha ones Ah know very well can be tha enemy.” Rainbow Dash approached and then said: “I’m here to help, AJ.” “An’ Ah’m really needing, Rainbow” Applejack said, while looking around. Rainbow Dash approached Applejack and prepared to attack her from behind, but then the latter bucked her, throwing her against the ground where she turned into a clone. “Ah had a feeling ya were one of them” Applejack said. But that was not the only place where suspicion was present. By the shore, everyone was inside a circle, being an idea that Luna came up with to prevent anyone from attacking a comrade and to prevent the hidden infiltrators from attacking without being immediately detected. “Whatever happens, don’t get out of your circle” Luna said to everyone. “Do it and you’ll be considered a transformed enemy.” “At least, I can tell what dragon is a fake or not” Spike said, behind his circle. “Too bad I can’t prove that I’m the real me.” “We’re not going anywhere with this situation” Day Glow said, behind the barrier to Freeze Burn. “Yes, I know, but it can’t be helped” Freeze Burn replied. “So, we just have to keep waiting.” “Wait?” Day Glow asked. “Wait for what?” At the medical camp, a griffon guard exclaimed to all the other guards at the camp, with a spear ready. “No one moves until we can identify who is the disguised enemy! But be aware, ‘cause more of those reincarnated beings can show up as well. Anyone who moves will be considered an enemy!” Inside the big tent, Fluttershy and Cherry were listening that. “And in the meantime the number of our wounded will keep increasing” Cherry said. “We have no choice but to way now” Fluttershy said. At Neighagra Falls, Queen Mystic Heart and her team were still fighting Featherwing. The queen used her lava nature to melt down the pieces of rock that the harpie threw at her. “She never stops…” Mystic Heart said. At the place where the Third Unit was, Gina was flying through the trees with three heat orbs around her, trying to hit some of the guards. “Make sure you are not hit!” Twilight exclaimed to everyone. “Don’t worry, princess” Thunder Night said. “I won’t let that guy have any opportunity to use that explosive nature.” At the fight against Thunder Blitz, Armored Oath was preparing another sealing spell. Blue was there to help against that enemy capable of making others explode just with a touch. Nearby, Shining and other guards were trying to defeat Lake Splash who, although didn’t had her sword, was still very dangerous. “You better hurry with that seal, Armored Oath” Shining said, holding the Executioner’s Blade. “Yeah, I don’t know how much we’ll be able to stand this” Blue added. Gael, Godot and their griffons were also having some troubles, dealing with the reincarnated deer that had come with King Grover and the other, mainly due to his horns, what provided to him a very dangerous weapon to anyone who approached. “Our warriors can’t even get close” Godot said. “And long-rage attacks against a deer don’t work that well, due to their agility.” “But we can’t give up” Gael said. “We have to seal all the reincarnated beings.” At the HQ, the great bubble was bubbling and Boreal Blizzard said: “I detect a new group of the enemy. It’s a small unit, but their energy is unusual. I think… it’s the General of Chaos!” “What did you say?!” Aspen said, overhearing him. “The General of Chaos is now leading a small unit into battle” Boreal Blizzard said. “And can you tell me who is in this unit?” Aspen asked. “This energy is…” Boreal started. “Bubble Sweet!” “Do you mean the one that was a jinchuriki?” Aspen asked. “There’s no doubt about it” Boreal Blizzard replied. “And all the others are jinchuriki too!” That information was like a shock to everyone. “I can’t believe that he has more pawns under his control” White Light said. “And Star Knight?” Celestia asked. “Where is he?” Star was flying through a forest near the south border of Equestria when he was joining by Hawthorn running alongside him. “I finally caught up with you, Star!” Hawthorn exclaimed. “I had to ask Eight-Tails a little extra energy to get the speed to get to you.” “Well, it’s about time” Star said. “What have you been doing?” “I had trouble in the way” Hawthorn replied. “Yeah, I noticed that…” “By the way, one of clones contacted me earlier. He was pretty fast getting to Equestria. Anyway, how are the others doing?” “They should arrive on the front lines of every last battlefield right about now” Star replied. “Then all the fakes will stop being a problem” Hawthorn said. “Yeah, that’s the plan, but we have to hurry” Star answered. And they continued their way. The members of the First Unit continued stationary on their respective circle. “Princess Luna, for how long do we have to stay like this?” Spike asked. “Yeah, if that big statue comes back soon, we’re going to be toast” Nitelite said. “And it’s a dragon that is saying.” “Calm down, everyone” Luna replied. “It’s only until Prince Star Knight arrives. And until he comes, no one steps inside anyone else’s circle.” “I just hope he arrives soon” Flambeau commented. “I hate being in one place for too long.” “But can’t we ask personal questions to each other to confirm who we are?” Ember asked to Princess Luna. “No, and that’s because we already warriors doing the same thing” she replied. “Sometimes, a lucky guess can be right.” “Well, this is really dull…” Arcing said. Obsidian Blade agreed with him. “I’m sorry about this” Princess Luna said. “Just wait a little longer.” What she didn’t know was that a disguised clone with a form of a deer was waiting for the right moment to attack her. It was at that moment that one of Star’s clone landed there. “You made it!” Freeze Burn said to Star. “Yeah, I finally got here” he replied with a smile. Day Glow was openmouthed for seeing a male alicorn. The only one he had seen was King Cosmos. But the most amazing thing was his age, as he was still a teenager. “There you are, Star Knight” Luna said. “I was wondering when you’d arrive.” “And he got even brighter” Spike noticed. “Even for a light pony.” “Well, we already know about the new orders regarding you” Freeze Burn said. “But I have to say, knowing how King Aspen is, I’m surprised that he gave you permission” Arcing said. “You can thank Princess Celestia for that” Star replied. “She convinced King Aspen to let me do this.” “Celestia sent that boy here?” Day Glow asked. “But who is he?” “He has the Nine-Tails inside him” Luna explained to him. “Really?” “Beyond that, he’s also the son of Celestia’s most faithful student, whose talent and dedication made her to be elevated to the status of alicorn” Luna continued. “And he inherited his mother’s talent and dedication as well.” “Now, let’s see, now that I’m here, I can find all the enemies for you” Star said. “All those will be wiped out!” Everyone was very excited, except the disguised clone that was there. Star walked around everyone there, attentive to any negative feelings. There, he could one sense one clone. “We can start with that guy over there” he said, pointing to the deer who was actually the disguised clone. “The rest of you I know that aren’t imposters.” “All the ones that got Star’s approval can get out of their circle” Luna declared, looking to the imposter and charging her horn with magic. “Consider anyone else the enemy.” And she attacked the imposter. At the medical camp, Cherry and Fluttershy heard bustle out there, with a female voice saying: “Help me, please!” A unicorn mare was approaching the big tent holding an apparent badly wounded pegasus stallion. “Hold it right there!” the griffon guard exclaimed. “Don’t approach!” Cherry and Fluttershy got out and the former asked: “What’s the matter?” “My husband…” the mare said. “He can still be saved with a healing spell.” “Just stay put” the griffon said, pointing his spear. “I told everyone not to move. How can you prove you’re allies? You can’t and that’s the all point.” “I know, but at this range… he’s going to die without your help” the mare continued to said, with her husband moaning in pain. “Please, I beg you! Do what you can! Don’t let my husband die right here on my arms!” And then she used her magic to take the sword her husband had and pointed to her chest. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?!” the griffon exclaimed. “If you can’t trust me, then I’ll take my own life right here and right now” the mare replied with the eye full of tears. “But please, just save my husband!” “Hey, stop that!” the griffon exclaimed. That scene was hard for Cherry and Fluttershy to see, but they could relate as they both had their husbands fighting out there as well. It was then that Cherry said to her: “Come on.” “No, what if they’re enemies?” the griffon asked. “And what if they’re actually comrades?” Cherry replied. “I have to tend that pony’s injuries.” A smiled appeared on the mare’s face and she said: “Thank you…” And they started to advance toward the tent, but a slight wicked smiled appeared both in the mare’s and the stallion’s faces. It was then that they went to a surprise attack to Cherry, with Fluttershy screaming and the griffon guard trying to defend that. Cherry could see their faces changing and she thought that would be the last thing she would see. Suddenly, something hit the clones with the strength of a meteor. A lot of dust was raised up with trees irrupting from it. When the dust cleared, it was revealed that it was Star who took them out. “Are you okay, aunt Cherry Blossom?” Star asked. “It can’t be…” Fluttershy said. “It’s Star!” “Star… how did you…” Cherry said. “Well, you look alright to me” Star said with a smile. “And that’s a relief, as I wouldn’t want to tell Jona that I wasn’t able to save his mother.” At the battle of the second unit, Cloud Chase punched what appeared to be a member of his unit that turned out to be a clone in disguise. “I knew you were a fake” he said. Rainbow Dash approached him and then said: “Wow, cuz, that was pretty awesome. Of course not as awesome as me.” And she kicked a changeling that tried to attack her. After that, Soarin appeared and told: “Bad news that way! Applejack is in trouble!” Cloud Chase turned and saw Big Mac defeating another clone and told him: “Big Mac, Applejack is in trouble!” “But who do we know who to strike then?!” Rainbow Dash asked. And then Star appeared and said: “The two on your left!” Although caught by surprise by his sudden appearance, Rainbow Dash said: “You got it, Star!” “Wait, that’s Star Knight?” Cloud Chaser asked. “I think that can wait” Soaring aid. And they all advanced to the place where Applejack was dealing with three disguised clones who were about to attack her with swords. When they were about to hit her, Star appeared and stopped their attack with the hooves and some energy arms, saying then: “Sorry I’m late, aunt Applejack.” “Well, Ah’ll be damned” Applejack said. “Sure is nice tah have ya here, Star.” Making force, Star was able to break the swords and then cause a shock wave that threw the three fakes, turning them to their real form, and then hit two more that came to attack, knocking them out as well. Trees irrupted from all of those clones. “Are you okay, aunt Applejack?” “Of course, kid” she replied. At the desert, Platinum made a summoning spell and, from it, Grogar and Tirek appeared. “I see… So that’s why I was force to make a summoning spell” Platinum said. “You…” Tirek said, looking to Platinum and recognizing him. “I thought you were dead.” “Relax, Tirek” Grogar said. “This one is a reincarnation.” “A reincarnation?” Tirek repeated. “But the only one capable of using the Reincarnation Curse is…” “The General of Death, I know” Grogar completed. “But who do you think our master was able to enslave?” That cause Tirek to be surprised. “No…” “Yes” Grogar confirmed. “As you can see, we have everything to win this war. We just have to make our roles perfectly.” Tirek thought for a moment and then asked: “What do I have to do?” At the battle of the Third Unit, Armored Oath was about to finish his sealing spell. Thunder Blitz then appeared to attack him. “Don’t even think about it” Dark Knight said to Thunder Blitz, defending Armored Oath. He was able to make Thunder Blitz move away, but that exhausted him a bit. “All set!” Armored Oath said. When Lake Splash approached him, Shining sliced her with the sword and then exclaimed: “Armored Oath, now!” The light unicorn then activated the spell and the tiger he drew get out of the scroll and pulled her to the scroll, imprisoning her. Because of that, Gina and Thunder Blitz run away. “Good, now there’s only two more left” Blue said, approaching Shining. “Not counting with the ones Shadow Claw, Gael and Godot are dealing with” Twilight said. Shining turned to Armored Oath and asked him: “Are you alright, Armored Oath?” “Yes, I can keep going” he replied, folding the scroll. “You can keep drawing that I will protect you, kid” Dark Knight said. It was then that a group of clones appeared and advanced toward them. “Here comes the enemy reinforcements” Shining said. “It’s Petal Sprout’s clones” Blue said. “Don’t worry, I can deal with these plant ponies” Twilight said, starting to charge her horn with magic. But before she could do anything, Twilight felt a presence approaching. Although different, she would recognize it anywhere. “No, it can’t be…” she said. “What is it, Twily?” Blue asked. His answer was replied as Star appeared and landed before them, turning to the clones. “Star…” Blue said. “My son…” Twilight said. “You don’t have to worry” Star said. “I’m here to help.” Although caught by surprise to see his son there, even more surrounded by Nine-Tails’ energy, she smiled and said: “I wanted to keep you safe as long as I could, but it seems you’re too stubborn to keep down.” “Well, it runs in the family” Blue said. “And we now have our reinforcements as well” Shining said. “Or should I say reinforcement singular.” “Come on, Shining, we know that Star can turn into a thousand if he wants to” Blue said. “Not at this moment, dad” Star replied, while starting to move energy arms. “Today, I’m going for quality, instead of quantity.” Another clone was doing the same as he: a Spiraling Star. He was with Shadow Claw and his team, Gael, Godot and the other members of the Fifth Unit that was present.” “I’ll defeat you all, you can be sure of that!” he exclaimed to the reincarnated beings. “That kid is certainly strong” the reincarnated deer noticed. “Please, it’s just a little colt and we’re immortal warriors” Dusk Night sneered. “If I was you, sister, I wouldn’t underestimate this colt” Shadow Claw said. Another clone arrive to the battle between Queen Mystic Heart and her team against Featherwing. His arrival was able to stop the fight. “Here I am!” he exclaimed. “Oh great!” a light pony exclaimed. “Our young prince is here!” “Yeah, we don’t have anything more to fear” another one added. “Your young prince?” Mystic Heart asked. “I see… So that’s Prince Star Knight, Princess Twilight’s son…” At HQ, Diamond Glow declared: “It appears that Prince Star Knight has reached all the battlefields.” “That’s good” Aspen said. “He managed to join up with Chief Strongpaw, King Hard Stone and the rest of the Fourth Unit and all of their enemies, the former regents, had been successfully sealed” she continued. At the desert, Star asked to Hard Stone: “So what do we do now, Your Majesty?” “The most logical thing to do is joining up with another unit and keep fighting” he replied. “But our enemy isn’t the reincarnated being, but the General of Chaos.” “You’re right” Strongpaw agreed. “This war will not end until he’s brought down. Without his most powerful follower, the Lord of Chaos will not intervene with the fear of having his brother stopping him.” “Lord Hawthorn and the real me should be heading here right about now” the clone Star said. And so Star’s clones started to direct everyone to all the imposters, like the ones at the shores, something that Diamond Glow also reported: “The merged First and Second Units had detected almost all the enemy. They’re advancing with incredible momentum.” The Star that was with the Third Unit was also giving them a big help dealing with the clones. “The Third Unit also seems to be dominating their field” Diamond Glow informed. The Star with the Commando and Fifth Units threw the Spiraling Star that obligated the reincarnated beings to retreat as much as they could. “The Fifth Unit has gained the upper hoof as well” Diamond Glow said. At the medical camp, Star helped everyone detecting and exterminating all the imposters. “The medical unit has surpassed all their enemies” Diamond Glow communicated. “It seems the plan worked” White Light observed with a smile. “Indeed” Ingrid agreed. “The tide of war has undoubtedly turned. It’s overwhelmingly in our favor.” “I told you, King Aspen” Princess Celestia said. “Yes, you did” he admitted. “Now, all we need to do is stopping the General of Chaos who is approaching with the jinchuriki” White Light said. “We should concentrate our remaining forces there and hitting them with everything we got.” It was then that Boreal Blizzard sensed something that made him exclaime: “Please, hold on! Just wait one second!” “What is it?” Celestia asked. “I’m sensing a new enemy at Chief Strongpaw’s Fourth Unit” Boreal Blizzard said, who couldn’t tell what kind of energy he was sensing. At the Fourth Unit, a sensing warrior said: “Wait, what is that?” “What are you sensing?” Hard Stone asked him. “It’s way over there!” he exclaimed, pointing up. They all looked up and saw King Platinum appearing at the rock formation. “King Platinum…” Strongpaw said. “But I thought you have sealed him away, Chief Strongpaw” Star said. “Impossible…” Hard Stone said. “In that state, he was able to fragment himself?” “What do you mean?” Strongpaw asked. “My father is able to split his body and, in doing so, he can make clones” Hard Stone explained. “Well, no, not clones, it’s closer. He split his body into two pieces, although each one only have half of his strength.” “No, I don’t mean him” the sensing warrior said. “Someone else’s here.” And Grogar appeared by his side, what caught Star’s attention. “It’s Grogar…” And then Tirek appeared besides Grogar. Hard Stone was able to recognize him right away. “No, it can’t be…” “Who is that?” Strongpaw said. “The centaur demon who tried to conquer Equestria during Princess Celestia’s parents’ rule” Hard Stone replied. “But I thought he was defeated and weakened, being then isolated in the darkest part of the Enchanted Forest where no one lives. He’s one of the most dangerous villains that ever existed in the Pony Reality: Lord Tirek!”