//------------------------------// // The Fall of the Centaur // Story: Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// The night had started and, after creating thirty wood clone and diving them by the six regents, Tirek told them: “Wll answer me. Would you like all of these clones to use the Warrior of Dark Light? It’s your choice.” None of the regents said anything and Tirek said: “None of you have any answer at all, do you? Then I will have to provide an answer for you.” And then all the clones created a Warrior of Dark Light each. “Damn it…” Some said. “Well, let’s play then” Tirek said. And the clones started to advance. “Each of us has to take down five” Aspen said. “It’s five-to-one” Strongpaw added. “Not quite” Hard Stone replied to his fellow regents. “It’s six-to-thirty.” “King Hard Stone…” Mystic Heart started. “We’ll guard each other’s backs and coordinate attacks” Hard Stone said. “We are regents of the Alliance after all!” And they all nodded their heads in agreement. “Let’s go!” Hard Stone exclaimed. With that, the regents advanced with each one heading to face their own adversaries. As the battle continued, Mystic Heart was hit hard by one of the clones’s Warrior of Dark Light. Noticing that, Strongpaw used his sand to involve her and bring her gently to the ground. A Warrior of Dark Light took opportunity of Strongpaw’s distraction to attack him, but his Shield of Sand protected him. Others tried to attack him as well, what caused him to try to dodge, using his sand to protect from other blows that were too much strong and caused him to be thrown to Mystic Heart’s side. Ingrid was able to notice the other two predicament and went to help them, erecting an ice dome around them. But the fifteen Warriors of Dark Light approached and some tried to break throw her dome, what they manage to do, what caused Ingrid to fall as well. “They’re so strong…” Mystic Heart said. “Just how are we supposed to…” “Yes, you’re right” Strongpaw agreed. “At this rate, we’ll…” Ingrid said. Meanwhile, Celestia, who had been able to defend their attacks, casted a powerful blast on one, taking it down. Aspen, who as able to defend a fist with his horn, said to her: “Princess Celestia, you’re starting to become sloppy with your battling. You have to be careful.” “Don’t worry about me” she replied. “I can perfectly…” But a wave of weakness due to the great blow she suffered invaded her, causing her to fall on her knees. “Princess Celestia!” Aspen called. But he was caught by a Warrior of Dark Knight, turning him to the clone inside. The deer king looked up to him, but that was a mistake as he casted him an illusion spell. “No!” Aspen exclaimed. But it was too late, as he was put under Tirek’s illusion that put him immobile. While Aspen wondered how he let that happened, the Warrior of Dark Light put him on the ground. It then prepared to attack him with a light spear. However, a rock hoof erupted from the ground, grabbing Aspen and retreating to underground before the attack hit the deer king. Under the look of the original Tirek, the hand reappeared beside Hard Stone and released Aspen. Hard Stone approached him and broke the illusion spell the latter was in. When Aspen awoke, he told him: “Thank you, King Hard Stone” Aspen thanked. “That damn Hard Stone” Tirek said. “His wisdom in battle is beginning to show.” Turning then to the other regents, Hard Stone exclaimed: “Stand up, fellow regents! We fight a battle to the end! No whining and no complaining!” That really caught their attention and Hard Stone continued, while his words encouraged the others to stand up: “We are the regents of the Alliance! So choose your final words that will not shame your title! We entrusted Star Knight to fight his battle and we swore to win this battle that he entrusted to us, no matter what! Don’t forget that! And there is one more thing. Each and everyone who lives in our domains entrusted with one only duty…” All the other regents positioned themselves beside the King of Stonult who continued: “All of us has to be worthy of the title we possess.” While the clones with their respective Warrior of Dark Light reunited, Hard Stone prepared to execute a particle nature spell with Celestia healing him and giving him energy to execute it. Seeing that, Tirek said: “So Hard Stone is the problem after all. I have no choice but to break his will.” “Princess, I need more” Hard Stone said to Celestia, while still unable to use particle nature. “You don’t have to tell me, Your Majesty” she replied. “There’s not much energy in me, so this may be our last stand. Atomic Dismantling Spell!” And he threw a square that enhance in size to cover all the clones. It almost reached Tirek, who had to dodge, not being able to absorb that spell properly. It was then that, from the square, a water dragon filled with electricity appeared and tried to attack Tirek. But he soon started to absorb the magic in that water. The centaur couldn’t believe they had forgotten that only physical attacks would work on him, even if they distracted him with the particle nature while taking down his clones. At that moment, his body started to be covered by sand, followed by sand that started to involve him with a layer of ice following it. “You can’t hold us all for long!” Strongpaw exclaimed, while moving the sand. “It’s what happens when your own your own” Ingrid said, while using her ice magic. While sand covered his body, sealing tags appeared, with the ice covering them then. The only way for him to escape the ice and sand, was to stop absorbing magic, but, if he did, he would be hit by the electric water dragon and be immobilized and that would give them time enough to seal him and defeat him. “Do you see it?!” Hard Stone exclaimed. “This is the power of the regents of the Alliance!” Tirek was seeing it, while he was completely covered by sand and ice, recognizing that they were indeed worthy of the title they had. In that case, he should respond with full power. It was then that an explosion happened and Tirek, while being elevated on the air, said: “Even the regents of the Alliance are nothing compared to power that I possess!” And then a bigger Warrior of Dark Light appeared. But this was completely different. It was a fully pony covered by a cloak. “Meet the perfect Warrior of Dark Light!” The others couldn’t believe what they were seeing. “It’s huge…” Ingrid said. “I never thought it could be this big…” Celestia said. “Is this… the true Warrior of Dark Light?” Mystic Heart asked. “Not quite” Tirek replied. And then that an armor covered its body which formed a completed pony form, while the face was covered by a mask. The look was so intimidating that even Hard Stone was affected by its appearance as he ended the spell he was using. Tirek was now inside the body. “The big one’s energy has stabilized…” he said. “He’s just so strong…” Celestia said. “I can’t believe our parents fought someone like him…” Ingrid said to Celestia, without taking her eyes from the monstrosity that was in front of them. “Well, they were able to defeat me before I could use my best trick” Tirek replied. “But I can say that it works out better for you than I had planned for them, because…” And the Warrior of Dark Light summoned a light blade what it swung, hitting a nearby mountain, creating a shock wave so powerful that even affected the rocks around. The regents couldn’t stand something like that and they were thrown back with force. And then they saw how the mountain was slipped in two. “It’s just me…” Tirek continued. “So the maps will only need to be redrawn a little.” “Impossible!” Mystic Heart exclaimed. “He split the mountain!” “This is… Tirek’s strength?” Hard Stone asked, as he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. There was a pause and then Tirek asked: “Are you finished now?” And the Warrior of Dark Light started to advance toward the regents, who didn’t know what to do now. That was look that Tirek was enjoying seeing. It was then that Hard Stone, for his surprise, made a step ahead and said: “We may be stumbling in the dark, but we’re also close to the light at the end of the tunel. Here of all places.” That determination was starting to annoy Tirek who then said: “This Warrior of Dark Light is made by the perfect combination of light and darkness with a power capable of smash all things in all Creation. It rivals even the tailed beasts. Be crushed and be gone, regents, you and your pathetic philosophy.” At the Great Light Canyon, Gentle Light appeared along with Pandora and Scorpan. “Where are we?” the latter asked. “Wait, I recognized this” Pandora replied. “We’re in the Light Kingdom!” “Well, technically, we’re at its boundary with the Golden Desert” Gentle Light replied. “Although its light isn’t as stronger as the one in the citadel, but it’s still enough to prevent the Lord of Chaos from interfering. Thanks to you, I’m no longer under his influence and I can undo everything he made me do, including the Reincarnation Curse.” “Then this is it, right?” Pandora said. “The end for us…” “We knew it would come to this, but even so…” Scorpan said. “Don’t worry about that” Gentle Light said. “When I’m done, it will be like wakening from a bad dream… You’ll all return to your afterlife whatever it is.” Pandora and Scorpan looked at each other and then nodded to Gentle Light. She then focused, closing her eyes, while charging her horn with magic. “Release!” she exclaimed. A supernatural wind blew and then Pandora and Scorpan started to release a powerful pale yellow light. But it was only them as all the reincarnated beings, sealed and unsealed, started to release the same kind of light. King Platinum was still running from his pursuers when he reached a dead-end. “All right, we corned him” Oak said. Platinum then recovered his consciousness and, watching where he was, he said: “This is where I come back after regaining consciousness?” At that moment, he was involved by the pale yellow light. After defeating a guard, Gina advance, while being covered by the light. Gretel was there and, like Platinum did, the reincarnated being regained consciousness and said to her former student: “Gretel…” “Lady Gina?” she asked. Rothbart continued to protest for his freedom from the puppet he was in. Ivory and Smokewing were there to watch him. “Let me out!” the reincarnated pony exclaimed. “That’s it! I’m done! I’m completely fed up! I’m going to explode any second now!” “Please, we got you sealed with light nature so you can’t explode” Ivory said with a smile. “So can you please give some rest to our heads and shut your mouth?” That really irritated Rothbart who the exclaimed: “How dare you to say something like that?!” At that moment, Rothbart was involved by the light. Seeing that, Smokewing said: “Don’t tell me that he…” Ash, the other reincarnated deer and Dusk Night started to glow as well. “What’s happening?” Ash asked. “What’s this?” Dusk Night asked. At the shore, Day Glow was also glowing. “What’s happening?” Freeze Burn asked. “Looks like somepony has succeeded in undoing the Reincarnation Curse” Day Glow answered. The reincarnated jinchuriki, who were trapped by Gyuki’s tentacles, were also involved by the light. The General of Chaos also noticed that. “Star Knight, the jinchuriki are being released from the curse” Hawthorn said. “Looks like Pandora and Scorpan did it!” Star, who had some lines of blood coming from a corner of his mouth and a side of his head, smiled, while over Hawthorn’s head. Although he didn’t say it by words, the young prince thanked Pandora and Scorpan for being able to undo the Reincarnation Curse. “Now it’s our time to do our part” Hawthorn said. “You’re right” Star agreed. “Let’s go.” It didn’t last for all the reincarnated beings to be involved by the light. Platinum’s soul, while the body was decaying, got out and started to ascend with the eyes being like they were before his death. He turned to Oak and the other guards and told them: “Tell Hard Stone you all must secure the Alliance. Only then he can come to me and tell me all about it.” And he disappeared. Rothbart could feel that he was being pulled away. “I see…” he said. “Looks like the General got freed. That’s too bad for the Lord of Chaos. I just hope he can get a way to continue to have an advantage.” And his soul started to ascend, while he said: “Don’t think that this change this change anything. The Lord of Chaos will always prevail!” Ivory opened his puppet and the body of the vessel used to reincarnate Rothbart fell on the ground. Gina also ascended, while the body of the griffon used to hold her fell on the ground. “It seems at last I’m free from this curse” Gina said with a smile to Gretel. “Lady Gina!” Gretel called. “Gretel, make sure you don’t die in vain” Gina asked. “Milady…” Gretel said, with tears on her eyes. “You all have a future to look forward to” Gina said before disappearing. Drying her eyes, Gretel smiled before her teacher’s final words to her. While Dusk Night and the two other deer ascended, the former turned to her brother and told him: “Looks like you got lucky this time again, brother.” But then a smile appeared on her face and then she confessed: “However, I have to confess it was fun to have a last fight with you.” That caused Shadow Claw to smile and said: “I feel the same thing about you, sister.” And she and the others disappeared. Day Glow, while the curse was being undone over him, started to move his hoof and said: “As I suspected, I can now move my body freely now. Can you undo the barrier, Freeze Burn? It’s safe now.” “It looks that way” he replied, turning then to the unicorns who were making the barrier. “Hey, we don’t need the barrier.” “Yes, sir” they replied. And so the barrier was undone. After that was done, Day Glow started to make a spell while saying: “Freeze Burn, I’m glad you were able to give Ingrid a second chance for love. For that, I’m grateful.” “Let me guess, you’re going to use that spell, won’t you? The Ghost Transformation Spell… Ingrid told me about it. I understand. Please, hurry so you can be by Princess Celestia’s side.” “I never though a spell like this with so many risks would come in handy in a situation like this” Day Glow said. And he cast the spell and his soul started to ascend. “It’s just as I thought” he said. “The souls are being released with the end of the Reincarnation Curse.” And the souls of the three alicorn sisters, as well the one belonging to Thunder Spark, started to ascend as well. “You better go now” Freeze Burn said. “Yeah…” Day Glow replied. “Farewell, Freeze Burn. Thank you for everything.” And, having said that, he advanced toward the desert. At HQ, Boreal Blizzard, feeling a disturbance, said: “What is this? What’s going on? The energy signature from all the reincarnated beings is fading rapidly.” “Reports are coming in from every battlefield” Diamond Glow replied. “The reincarnations are all being turned into souls, even the sealed ones and the ones still fighting.” “The only way to explain all this is that the Reincarnation Curse has somehow been released” White Light said. “There’s no mistake” Boreal Blizzard said. “The Reincarnation Curse has been dispelled.” “Quick, relay this information to every unit!” White Light exclaimed. Using the telepathic spell, Diamond Glow proclaimed: “HQ reporting! The Reincarnation Curse is undone! I repeat, the Reincarnation Curse is undone!” “Amazing!” Boreal Blizzard said, while observing the bubble. “They are just… disappearing!” “Good, but… which unit managed to do that?” White Light asked. At the Great Light Canyon, Pandora said, while her and Scorpan’s body started to become instable and cracking: “I can feel it… I’m being… pulled away…” “Yes, I know…” Scorpan said. “I can feel the same…” “I have to thank you” Gentle Light said. “Yes, I was the one that made you be release from my control, but it was all you when it was to free me. For that, you have my gratitude.” “It was all thanks to Star” Pandora said. “Yes, you allow us to be released, but it was him who had the power to do it.” “Besides that, it was our will to help” Scorpan said. “We have done so much evil that we need to do this in order to make us feel heroes…” “Well, you are heroes now after this” Gentle Light replied. “The Lord of Chaos can no longer control me and so he can’t use my power to harm others anymore.” That made a great smile appear on Pandora and Scorpan, while their souls started to ascend. “Goodbye, Pandora…” Gentle Light said. “Goodbye, Scorpan… You can be sure that your actions will not be forgotten.” And they disappeared, while the bodies of the ponies used to reincarnate them fall on the ground. At the front line, the spirits of the reincarnated jinchuriki started to ascend as well. Star looked at them with a smile and said: “Gigi… Echo Wing… Black Granite… Vapour Fist… Bubble Sweet… Silver Mist… Just leave this to us.” And they disappeared. “They’re all gone…” Hawthorn said. With that, Star knew that all the other battles with the reincarnated beings had been stopped. The General of Chaos, on the other hand, couldn’t stop but cursing Gentle Light for being able to find a way to escape the control of his master had on her and undo the curse. Star get out of Hawthorn and landed between his father and uncle and asked to the General: “Hey, where do you think you’re looking at?! Did you forget already? You’re fighting me!” The General turned to them and then Blue said, with a smile: “I think I know you look so troubled.” “The Reincarnation Curse has been released” Shining said. “What means…” “Gentle Light is no longer under their control” Blue ended. “And what has that to do with this?” the General of Chaos asked coldly. At the battlefield of the regents, the Warrior of Dark Light was about to do the final blow to six regents that were facing Tirek. “King Hard Stone… it’s unfortunate, but… I think this is the end” Mystic Heart said. “Don’t say things like that, Queen Mystic Heart” Aspen replied. “I’m not going to give up yet!” The warrior was about to swing down its blade when it suddenly started to dissipate, returning to its skeletal phase. They all looked and so they saw Tirek was being involved by purple smoke that was making him getting weak. And then a powerful sound blast hit him and that caused him to lose complete focus and the Warrior of Dark Light disappeared with Tirek looking exhausted. “What just happened?” Celestia asked. “It seems we arrive right on time” a familiar voice commented. They looked and, for their amazement, over the debris of the two meteorites, were Purple Smoke and Melody. It was Purple Smoke who had said that and continued: “And who would guess we would face the great idiot centaur.” The regents were so caught by surprise that they didn’t know what to say. Tirek, by his turn, exclaimed: “No, it can’t be! How are you…” “How are we here?” Melody asked. “Well, I think we could answer you that question.” “But we really don’t want to spend out precious words with you any longer” Purple Smoke continued. And with that Melody used her powerful scream to continue to disorient Tirek. But he was still capable of firing a blast of magic. Ingrid and Mystic Heart tried to erect a barrier, but they wouldn’t make it in time. It was then that Celestia took flight and, charging her horn, she dispelled the blast. However, the damages she suffered from before, along with the side damages from that last attack, made her moan in pain. “Sister!” Ingrid called. “I’m all right!” she replied. But then Tirek found the energy to create the ribcage and a foreleg of the Warrior of Dark Light what made a light blade to appear. Celestia tried to defend, but it was too weak to do it. She would be impaled. Seeing that, Purple Smoke tried to use his smoke, but he wouldn’t hit Tirek in time. Aspen tried to jump to reach Celestia, as well as Hard Stone who tried to fly to her. When it looked like she would be hit, a light appeared on her and then Celestia was able to dodge it, landing on the ground nearby. Seeing that, Ingrid couldn’t believe it. That was the Ghost Transformation Spell, what meant… “Day Glow…” she said. When Aspen landed and Hard Stone went down, the former asked: “What just happened?” “I thought she had completely lost consciousness” Hard Stone said. “Don’t worry” Ingrid said to them. “She’s all right.” Celestia wondered how she was able to dodge that, when a voice said to her: “It has been a long time, Celestia…” Inside her mind, Celestia finally met with Day Glow. “It’s me…” he said to her. Celestia couldn’t believe that she was looking at the first pony she ever loved. “Day Glow…” she said, with tears coming to her eyes. “How are you here?” “The Reincarnation Curse has been undone” Day Glow told her. “I used my Ghost Transformation Spell to fly here. Although, that sure was a close one.” “But Day Glow…” “You haven’t change, Celestia…” “But, Day Glow, I always…” Celestia started. “There’s no time” Day Glow said. “We can’t talk about sentimentalizes, because… I have to go soon.” “Please, Day Glow, I have to say this to you” Celestia said. “I always loved you, even after what happened. You were always in my heart, even after I took my parents’ duty of ruling Equestria. For some time, I tried to occupy my head with my royal duties, but all those tries failed. Knowing that I lost the stallion I loved and my dear older sister at the same time, was a painful blow, something I had to revive after losing my younger sister… But even that memory always haunted me, I couldn’t forget the love we shared, even after…” But her voice failed. She couldn’t tell that out loud. However, Day Glow guessed: “You fell in love again, didn’t you? Well, I guess he is a lucky stallion.” “Was” Celestia corrected. “But the Lord of Chaos took him from me.” A silent and Day Glow said: “I’m sorry, Celestia… You really pass through for more than anypony else. And that’s what I admire in you: your strength. And knowing that you managed to connect with Ingrid again even after what happened… Well, that makes me very happy. But I can’t stop thinking that I made you pass through all that pain. I’m sorry…” There was a paused and then Day Glow advanced and then said: “I hope we can meet again. But don’t try to rush that moment, okay?” And, having said that, he kissed her on the forehead and then he said: “My first attempt to save you ended up giving you centuries of sadness and guilt, but it seems, in the end, I was able to save you and make up for all the pain I put you through. So I guess something good came out from being reincarnated.” Having said that, he disappeared, while giving a last smile to Celestia. She then returned to reality, now renovated. “Princess, are you all right?” Aspen asked. “Her vitality seems have returned” Purple Smoke noticed. “I’m okay” she said. “I got to see an old friend.” Celestia trade a look with Ingrid, who returned the smile to her. But Tirek, still disorientated by Melody’s scream, couldn’t help but laughing. “You ponies are really naïve” he said. “Do you really think you can win this war? Give me a break. You can barely defeat me.” Purple Smoke appeared by his side and then replied: “Well, at least, we have a start.” And, having said that, he launched a magic beam to Tirek and started to absorb his magic. “No…” he said. “Don’t do that!” And the magic that Purple Smoke took from Tirek was gathered in a ball of energy. While the magic was being drained, Tirek was becoming smaller until he returned to his weakest form. “Give me my magic back!” he exclaimed, trying to attack Purple Smoke. But Melody used her voice to subdue him again. “I’m sorry, but this is going to be scared as soon as possible” Purple Smoke replied, while making the magic disappeared and then summoning the cell blaster. “Meanwhile, I believe it’s time to give you a new home. King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia were too benevolent in banishing you too the Enchanted Forest. It’s time for you to go to a place fitted for you.” And he started to be sucked to the life cell. After that, Purple Smoke put the life cell inside the prison-book. “There, a very cozy cell in Tartarus for a powerful weak centaur” the General of Talent replied. After that, the Generals approached the other regents and Melody said: “You don’t have to worry about him anymore. He’ll not get out of Tartarus that easily. After all the break-outs, we enhanced the security.” “That’s very reinsuring” Hard Stone said. “Thank you, Generals.” “That’s another thing” Aspen said “How can you be here?” “Yes, you were affected by that spell of the General of Chaos” Mystic Heart said. “Let’s just say that talents had blossomed to their full potential” Purple Smoke said. “While great voices started to spread a much powerful music” Melody said. “All that gave us the power to overcome the spell.” “And the others?” Celestia asked. But Purple Smoke and Melody just nodded their heads. “I see…” Celestia said. “But at least now we have your help on this war.” “I’m sorry, princess, but we can’t” Purple Smoke said. “Why not?” Aspen asked. “We are in great need in order to stop the General of Chaos.” “We know, but the Light Kingdom needs our protection” Melody said. “Beyond that, the Lord of Order ordered that way. He says that we still have the light of hope shining on us.” “But with you…” Aspen started. “There’s no need to try to persuade them, Aspen” Celestia told him. “Yes, they will never disobey the Lord of Order” Ingrid continued. “Besides, we have to have faith in the Lord of Order.” “I agree with Princess Ingrid” Strongpaw said. “The Lord of Order never let us down.” “Yes, I think I can agree on that” Hard Stone said. Mystic Heart nodded, agreeing as well. Aspen sighed and then said: “Very well, it will be like you say.” “Good” Melody said. “No you better rest a bit to gather your strength. You’ll need them for the battle you have ahead.” “By the way, Generals” Mystic Heart said. “My platoon had been able to capture Featherwing and…” “Don’t worry, before we return to the Light Kingdom, we’ll go there and book her as well” Purple Smoke said. And, having said that, they disappeared in a blast of light. At the front line, the General of Chaos was using the Demonic Statue to attack. Shining and Blue, for their turn, were doing their best to prevent it from getting to Star. The General of Chaos could observe the effect of the spell he used with Discord’s magic was starting to be lifted on Blue, as his power was starting to increase, but not to a level of concern. While the two unicorn were able to make stop the Demonic Statue, Star, involved by the Nine-Tails’ energy, gave a powerful punch on it that caused it to fall. The General landed nearby it and then Star asked with a smile: “What’s wrong? You don’t look too happy.” “What do you mean?” the General asked. “Well, I can’t really see all of your face, but I can guess how you’re reacting” Star said. “But if you think I’m wrong, you can always take that helmet out to prove it.” But the General didn’t say anything. “Star, I don’t think you should insult the enemy” Shining said. “It only makes worse.” “Yeah, I have to agree with your uncle” Blue agreed. “It never ends well. But thinking about it, when does things never get worse?” It was then that the General of Chaos summoned the Sealing Urn and the Crimson Gourd. “I have no choice but using this…” he said. “What is that?” Shining asked. “Looks like a giant gourd and an urn” Star observed. “I would prefer in bringing it back in a completed state, but…” the General of Chaos thinking about the Nine-Tails’ energy that was in those objects and also the tentacle of Eight-Tails he had sealed before. The statue took the gourd and the urn and swallow them. “It is only a fragment, but it doesn’t lack in power” the General of Chaos said, charging his horn. It was then the statue’s eyes opened, with both of them completed, while it started to roar. “It’s taking too long and now was the time” the General continued.