//------------------------------//
// Confront of Jinchuriki 
// Story: Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox 
// by Rakoon1 
//------------------------------//

After the shock between Star Knight and the General of Chaos, they both were throw back. Star was caught by Hawthon who then landed on the ground.

“Just chill out, Star” Hawthorn said, releasing him.

The General of Chaos landed and then Star said:

“Damn it, that helmet is really hard to get out.”

“I could just pass through you, but I guess it doesn’t matter if you can’t even take my helmet off” the General of Chaos replied. “That cannot be the best you can manage. What about your Nine-Tails power.”

And then the six jinchuriki that were with him under his control appeared. After that, Black Granite executed his Scorching Stream Rock Spell, throwing the boulders of molten rock against Star and Hawthorn. They did their best to dodge and then they prepared their attacks, with Star preparing a Spiraling Sphere and Hawthorn charging his horns with light nature, directing them to Echo Wing. That made him cast the Water Reflection Spell where replicas of the two living jinchuriki emerged also executing the same attacks that collided with them. 

When Star and Hawthorn retreat after that, they were surrounded by bubbles created by Bubble Sweet with her bubble tube. When one bubble touched Star, it exploded, what caused him to be thrown back, but he was able to get his balance. Hawthorn approached him and asked him:

“Are you okay, Star?”

“Yes, I am” he replied.

But then more bubbles surrounded them and, with a gesture Bubble Sweet made them explode. To escape, Hawthorn used a tentacle to catch a branch and pull himself and Star up.

“That was close” Star replied. “Thanks a lot, Lord Hawthorn.”

At that moment, bright powder started to fall on them. They had come from Silver Mist who then activated his Hiding in Scale Powder Spell, what cause a blinding light to involve them. But didn’t prevent them from noticing two enemies approaching. It was Gigi, who had her claws longer and sharper, and Vapour Fist and they attacked Hawthorn and Star respectively. However, the two were able to defend that double attack. When Vapour Fist prepared to use his Eruption Propulsion Fist and Gigi her other talon, Star and Hawthorn retreated.

“It is good that my ears are as better as my eyes” Hawthorn said.

“I can still sense their evil intents too” Star said.

The light disappeared and their vision was recovered.

“I can see Gigi is here too” Eight-Tails said to Hawthorn, who was over his muzzle in their place inside his mind. “It seems this guys are all former jinchuriki. On top that, they all have strange eyes. It must be something the General of Chaos must have added to them. Not only did they lose their lives, but they were turned into pawns and then had those disgusting things planted on them. Poor Gigi… If things had gone differently, you could have ended like that too for real.”

“Something like that feels my heart with anger and grief” Hawthorn said. “But it is a relief that I didn’t end up like that.”

“Your senses may have saved you this time, but don’t forget you can end up like that if you are not careful” Eight-Tails advised him.

“The dark ponies he used to attack the Light Kingdom had the exact eyes they have” Star said. “But it seems that not even with the power I had back then I can’t take that helmet and see his face.”

“This help was specially made by the Lord of Chaos to support great damages, even the ones of a war” the General of Chaos replied. “After all, I’m the most important piece in the Lord of Chaos’ game to unleash the magnificence of his curse.”

“You mean one of them” Star Knight said. “I know all about Tirek.”

“Oh, I see…” the General of Chaos. “Grogar was finally able to find him…”

“What are you talking about?” Hawthorn asked. “What does that demon have to do with all this?”

“The Lord of Chaos called him to help in the war” Star replied, turning then to the General of Chaos. “But the question I want to be answered is: who are you?”

But the General laughed and then replied:

“You can call me whatever you want. With the beginning of the war, names are irrelevant. But to tell you the truth, I don’t want to be anypony. I just want to fulfill Project Eye of the Moon. That will be enough. It is not worth living in this world full light and order just to cover despair. You jinchuriki had tailed beasts forced upon you. All you ever experienced was despair. A I wrong? Sure you understand my despair… at least a little.”

“And just who the hell is you to decide… that having a tailed beast makes me despair like that?” Star asked.

Those words were listened by Nine-Tails, who opened his eyes, who couldn’t believe that his jinchuriki had said something like that. Hawthorn, in his turn, smiled, because he felt the same thing about Eight-Tails.

“Even if you, like your master, believe that this world is worthless, did you really think you can get away with starting a war like this and then just come along and try to play you’re nopony?” Star continued. “You piss me off! I’m going to tear that helmet right off your face!”

“Sounds good, but me first” Hawthorn said with two tentacles.

“Try to remove this helmet… and you’ll end up into pieces” the General of Chaos replied.

And the six reincarnated jinchuriki revealed a tail of their respective Tailed Beast, with Silver Mist having two insect wings. That really shocked the two living jinchuriki.

“Eight-Tails… Nine-Tails… You shall be mine” the General of Chaos declared. “And then… I will achieve Project Eye of the Moon!”

“Guess again” Star replied. “We’ll not allow you to have the Nine or the Eight-Tails!”

“Hold up!” Hawthorn said, looking to the reincarnated jinchuriki. “What’s going on? I thought the tailed beasts were extracted from them.”

“I can only assume they were made back jinchuriki after they were reincarnated” Eight-Tails replied. “You know, I can feel the tailed beasts are a bit different than before too… Be careful, Hawthorn.”

Even Shark Skin could feel something wasn’t right by the noises it did on Hawthorn’s back.

“You too, hein?” the deer said to his sword. “This all situation is giving you bad vibes. It is for the best to be aware of our lives like Eight-Tails suggests. But if you’re ready, Shark Skin, then I’m ready too.”

And he advanced to attack.

“Hey, wait, Lord Hawthorn!” Star exclaimed.

Silver Mist also advanced, with his insect wings allowing him to fly. He tried to hit him with Shark Skin, but he was quick to fly up. However, Hawthorn with a blow allowed Shark Skin to reveal itself and open its mouth, ready to attack Silver Mist. The jinchuriki of Seven-Tails was quick to dodge, what caused the big sword to bite a nearby tree, but then he threw a missile of light nature against his blind spot, having certain he would hit him. However, he dodge it. Hawthorn tried again, but Silver Mist dodged again, much to the deer’s shock. Star approached him and told him, while Shark Skin returned to the latter’s back:

“That won’t work on them, Lord Hawthorn. This is just like when I battled the General of Chaos and his dark ponies when they invaded the Light Kingdom. It’s their eyes… they’re linked to each other.”

“And what does that mean?” Hawthorn asked.

At that moment, Black Granite advanced against Star with his Lava Coat activated.

“All six can see what each other can see…” explained Star, who then noticed Black Granite. “Damn, I can’t even talk!”

He tried to dodge it, but, although was able to do, he got a burn on his face, what cause him to start falling from his flight. At that moment, Gigi appeared and shot a blast of blue flames against the falling young alicorn. Hawthorn recognized that from the times he and Gigi spared at the Wild Isle. It was her Mouse Hairball Spell, where the fire blast took the form of a mouse. The deer used a tentacle to caught Star and then try to run from the attack that then exploded and shot multiple blasts that were directed to them. While Hawthorn was trying to avoid those blasts, Star exclaimed:

“They’re following us!”

“This attack is like a guided missile” Hawthorn explained, while dodging the blasts. “We can only run and dodge.”

Gigi advanced toward them and prepared her sharp claws. Noticing that, Hawthorn made a sudden move to hide under a bush nearby, but without having a part of one his horns took out, while defending and counterattacking her.

In their hidden spot, Hawthorn noticed how different Gigi’s moves were from before, with her even being able to cut down part of one of his horns, something she never was able to do before. With him and Star hidden, the reincarnated jinchuriki where know standing still looking everywhere to find them, with Gigi having a great scratch on her chest.

“Those eye…” Eight-Tails said to Hawthorn. “It must be the reason why they can chase you so tightly and have their jinchuriki abilities enhanced. With their share of vision, the six jinchuriki are able to position themselves with more precision and time their attacks to their greatest advantage. Hawthorn, let me talk to Star.”

He then raised his hoof to him and Star bumped his on it, what allowed Eight-Tails to talk to him.

“Star, their clearly combining the power of those eyes and their jinchuriki abilities” Eight-Tails told him. “They probably know we’re here. What do we do?”

“We have no choice but to stop each jinchuriki one at the time” Star replied with his mind. “If it is the same as the General of Chaos used before, then they are controlled by his magic. After the invasion, Leaf Mane examined one of the dark beings used by him and discovered that they had a black rod implanted acting as energy receivers.”

After getting that information, Eight-Tails said:

“Okay… So if we extract and destroy those things, then his spell will become undone. But that’s going to be a problem. It’s hard enough to lend a blow on them at all, much less targeting black rods. Especially when we don’t know where they are.”

“I know when one is” Hawthorn said.

“Where?!” Eight-Tails asked.

“There!” Hawthorn replied, pointing.

He was motioning to Gigi’s chest  that was healing and they could see it. The rod was at the left side of the chest, being covered by the fur that was covering the regenerated area.

“That’s it” Star said, while the rod disappeared under Gigi’s fur. “Okay, I’ll go check out the others too.”

“Star, wait!” Eight-Tails exclaimed.

But it was too late, as Star already advanced. Seeing him get out of his hiding place, Black Granite advanced with his Lava Coat and tried to attack him and Star defended it. However, Star couldn’t stand touching him of so hot he was. And then, with the help of an energy arm, he made a Spiraling Sphere and hit with it on Black Granite’s chest. When he was able to get rid of the coat, he was able to see the black rod. And now he just had to destroy it. 

When it started to crack, Vapour Fist appeared and hit on Star, throwing back, while Black Granite deactivated the Lava Coat. Hawthorn, appearing, caught Star with a tentacle, but the force the latter was hit with was such that even Hawthorn was taken away along with him. They hit the ground with a lot of strength, while Black Granite and Vapour Fist watched them, with the latter having vapor getting out of his furnace.

“Are both of you okay?” Eight-Tails asked to Star and Hawthorn, while they got up, and, after seeing they were okay, continued. “Hawthorn, we have a great disadvantage fighting them in the woods. Your field of vision is narrow. You know what I mean, right?”

“You bet!” Hawthorn exclaimed, starting to get in the second phase of transformation. 

Noticing that, the General of Chaos took flight to avoid what they were planning.

“Blow up with the forest around us away!” Eight-Tails exclaimed.

And Hawthorn turned into his tailed beast form, while saying:

“Let’s rock this!”

He roared. Star was on his head, still unsure what he would do.

“Hold on tight, Star” Hawthorn told him. “The real fight is about to start!”

And he coiled himself and Star with his eight tentacles and, extending them with an enormous amount of physical strength, he started to spin rapidly, resulting in the generation of tremendous gusts of wind that buffeted everything in the surrounding area. That was so powerful that all the jinchuriki were caught in it and Star was able troubles to be able to hold on, even being inside.

Something like that was sensed in the sensing bubble of the headquarters.

“Lord Hawthorn has now gone into tailed beast state” Boreal Blizzard said. “I’m sensing the mighty energy of the Eight-Tails. It feels they are under some pressure and on the defensive.”

“It doesn’t feel things are going to well right now, does it?” one of his subordinates said.

“However, the regents are holding their own against Lord Tirek” Diamond Glow said. “I’d said it’s all okay so far.”

“Well, they are the regents from both the Pony World and the Enchanted Forest” White Light said.  “I assume they have the edge over him. And what’s the status of each unit?”

“The First and Second Units had almost completely annihilated the enemy” one of Diamond Glow’s subordinates said.

That was true. After defeating a clone, Arcing said:

“Only twenty-seven two go.”

And he defeated two more while saying:

“Twenty-six… Twenty-five…”

When he noticed more clones ahead of him, he said:

“I’m feeling dull. But I’m not going to give up.”

Obsidian Blade had also some clones ahead and he was starting to feel tired.

“Just a few more and we’ll finally be done here.”

It was then that Quartz Blitz appeared before him and defeated two clones in an instant.

“Hey, don’t act on your own!” Obsidian Blade exclaimed to his daughter. “Stop, Quartz Blitz!”

“Face it, dad, you’re way too slow” she replied with a smile. “I can handle all these guys, so leave the rest to me.”

Having said that, she focused her magic and then executed an earth nature spell that created rock spires under the clones, ending up taking them down.

The Second Unit were also taking down clone after clone, mainly with Star’s clone that was capable to notice any attempt from the clones or the changelings to sneak attack the members of the Alliance.

“The Third Unit is down to two reincarnated beings” Diamond Glow’s subordinate continued. 

Blue and Shining were back to back while looking to the clones that were surrounding them.

“I’m starting to get bored fighting all this clones” Blue said to Shining, who was holding the Executioner’s Blade with his magic.

“I agree with you” Shining agreed.

And they advanced to fight the clones. Twilight, at her side, was helping Armored Oath and Dark Knight sealing the remaining reincarnated beings. Defending one of Gina’s attacks, she said:

“This is starting to get annoying. These two are really slippery.”

“I know” Dark Knight said, after making Thunder Blitz retreat with one of his attack. “Everytime Armored Oath is ready to seal them, they run away.”

The Fifth Unit and the Commando Unit were also facing the reincarnated beings on their battlefield.

“Let’s clean this battlefield once and for all” Godot said.

“We have to be careful” Gael said, looking to the reincarnated deer and Dusk Night.

“King Gael is right” Shadow Claw said. “With them, everything can happen.”

“The Fifth Unit appears to need a little more time” Diamond Glow’s subordinate said. “But there’s no doubt they’re getting the upper hoof.”

“All right, get in contact with the First, Second, Third and Fifth Units after their finished with what they have in hooves so they can lend support to Prince Star Knight and Lord Hawthorn!” White Light exclaimed. “Now, Boreal Blizzard, their coordinates!”

When Hawthorn stopped and uncoiled his tentacles, Star became astonished to see that he had leveled the terrain within a large range.

“No way…” he said.

He then noticed all the jinchuriki laying on the ground, damaged from all that twist.

“They’re all knocked out!” Star exclaimed.

“Hawthorn, this is our chance!” Eight-Tails said. “Seal them away!”

“Lord Hawthorn, you know a sealing spell?” Star asked.

“It doesn’t matter if those rods are controlling them or not” Eight-Tails said. “We’ll just trap them with ink clones.”

“Octopus Hold Spell!” Hawthorn exclaimed, while barfing a large quantity of ink.

That ink quickly turned into six clones of Hawthorn’s deer form and started to head toward the six reincarnated jinchuriki. When they started to get up, the ink clones hold them up.

“That’s it!” Star exclaimed.

“That’s just one of Hawthorn’s sealing spells” Eight-Tails exclaimed. “It only takes three seconds to work. The ink will completely cover their bodies and get harden, incapacitating them. Once they’re immobile, we can just pull those rods out.”

“One!” the clones started to count. “Two! Three…”

But before they could finish, a hoof emerge from the ground and made a gesture, what cause all the jinchuriki to get into the second phase of transformation, getting all the ink out and destroying the clones.

“What happened?” Star asked. “I thought the sealing spell…”

“They got a power up!” Eight-Tails exclaimed. “But how?”

His question was answered when the General of Chaos immerged from the ground with his hoof risen, using the power that allows him to pass through objects.

“Go” he said to the jinchuriki.

They obeyed and advanced.

“That coward…” Star said. “He had just hidden in the ground!”

The jinchuriki gave all big jumps and prepared themselves to attack Hawthorn and Star. The former tried to attack them with the tentacles, but they just dodged. Hawthorn was able to caught Bubble Sweet with a hand, but Silver Mist pass through him and hit Star with a blow, followed by Gigi who used her talons. From Hawthorn’s closed hand, a liquid started to get out, burning it, while Bubble Sweet started to get out with a slimy body.

“Ah!” Hawthorn exclaimed in pain.

“It’s a super alkaline fluid!” Eight-Tails said. “Your skin’s melting!”

“Lord Hawthorn!” Star exclaimed, still recovering from the attacks he just suffered.

But, with his concern for Hawthorn, Star didn’t noticed Echo Wing approaching from behind and hit him, throwing off Hawthorn, while coral started to grow from the place where the thestral hit him, holding his wings.

“Star Knight!” Eight-Tails called.

On the ground, a pool of lava created by Black Granite immerged. Eight-Tails, taking control, tried to put his hand under Star to catch him, the lava splashed over him, burning them. But, even so, he managed to hold it until catching Star and close the hand where he fell on. Eight-Tails knew their situation wasn’t good, mainly because he didn’t think those jinchuriki would be able to get in the second phase of the transformation in those condictions.

“Star, we need to retreat and regroup for now!” Eight-Tails exclaimed.

It was then that Vapour Fist appeared on his tailed beast form. Five-Tails had a white equine body with a dolphin's head. It has two pointed long horns and two shorter horns in front. The ends of the horns, hooves, and tails were tan, with some of the same-colored spots before the tan areas of the horns and hooves. The tailed beast also had red markings under the dark blue-green eyes. Vapour Fist stabbed the horns on Eight-Tails’ arm and then threw him back some hooves of distance.

After that, the General of Chaos flew over the place where Eight-Tails was, with the hand where Star was opened, revealing him. The dark alicorn approached him and, when Star saw him approaching, tried to move, but the coral that he had on his back was glued to Eight-Tails’ hand. The General descended and, when he was in front of Star, the latter used an energy arm, but the dark alicorn dodged it and then said:

“Even if you are a jinchuriki, six against two is bad odds.”

The General of Chaos extended his hoof and said, while approaching it:

“When I touch you, I win.”

The hoof was about to touch Star’s forehead, when two ponies suddenly teleported there and one of them hit the General with the Light Sword Spell, forcing him to use the spell to pass through objects, what caused his hoof pass through Star’s head, while the other took Star and then two ponies retreat. Those ponies were Shining and Blue, with the former being the one that attacked the General of Chaos and the latter the one who took Star. The General stood up while saying:

“They used Star Knight as bait, waiting for the moment I materialized… What a nuisance.”

“Uncle Shining!” Star exclaimed, seeing his saviors. “Dad! You’re here!”

“Your mother also wanted to come, but we convinced her to stay with the unit” Blue said.

“Don’t worry, Star, with us here, you can be sure you won’t be taken” Shining said.

The General turned to them, while saying:

“Two more joining the party won’t change a thing. Not against my power and the one of the Tailed Beasts.”

“I’m also a General, you know?” Blue said. “I may not have my full powers, but I still have the power to face you.”

“And don’t forget about me” Shining said. “We won’t let you touch anyone of our family.”

And so that battle was ready for its next phase…