Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox

by Rakoon1

Octopus VS Kelpie

The General of Chaos was on a beach looking to sea, as if waiting for something. It was then that his wait was over, as from the waters began to emerge something that addressed him after leaving there.

He looked like a pony, but very scrawny and with fins on all legs. The coat was dark gray and the mane and tail were a sickly green, being soggy. At the face, he displayed yellow eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth. On the back, he carried a large sword shrouded in bandages with a yellow hilt, where the base had a small skull.

Arriving at the edge of the General, the latter said:

"I hope your trip went well, Kelp."

"Let's just say that coming to dry land is not a quite appreciative act for a kelpie as me" Kelp answered. "However, for the Lord of Chaos, I am capable of doing anything."

"I'm glad of hearing that, because the mission that he has for you is in the Enchanted Forest, more precisely in Thicket" General of Chaos said. "And I hope that your skills are as good as the Lord of Chaos said they were because you will need them.

On the outskirts of Thicket, Hawthorn was dueling with another deer that had brownish fur with a underbelly of a lighter tone and golden eyes, whose name was Birch. Using the horns, they fought the good old-fashioned deer way. After one more fight, Birch said to Hawthorn:

"I must say I'm surprised to see you in such great shape, Hawthorn. I thought you'd been rusty after spending for so long limited to the capital and start doing your brother’s every wish."

"Okay, for starters, you are talking about my older brother who is also our king" Hawthorn said. "And second, you know me. Do you think I would be quiet for so long? The problem is that you're the only one, apart from Aspen, able to compete with me in head fighting."

"So true" Birch said.

That's when they noticed the presence of someone approaching. Looking, they saw Kelp.

"What's that?" Hawthorn asked. "It looks like a pony, but, at the same time, it's not."

"I've heard of it" Birch said. "It's a kelpie, but it is a sea creature. What is he doing here?"

Coming to them, Kelp said to Hawthorn:

“Finally, I found you, Eight-Tails. You don’t know how hard it was for me to leave my sea just to come here.”

Hawthorn rapidly realized who he was.

“You’re working to the Lord of Chaos” he said. “Well, if you came here to capture me, I’m afraid you’ll fail, just like the other one.”

“We’ll see about that” Kelp replied. “You know, my sword, Shark Sword, loves powerful energy and yours seems to be very delicious for it. For that reason, I will feed you to it and give the rest to the Lord of Chaos. But don’t worry, I won’t let it kill you.”

“And that’s because I will be the one to kill you” Hawthorn affirmed. “You’re no match for me, mainly out of your element. So prepare yourself.”

“You’re sure are chatty for a jinchuriki, just like the General said” Kelp commented.

And, all of the sudden, Birch tried to attack Kelp, but he rapidly went to his sword and hit him with it, throwing back against a tree. Hawthorn went to see if he was right.

“Are you’re alright, Birch?” he asked.

“Yes, I am” Birch replied. “But that sword of his…”

They looked to the sword, whose bandages at the end were ripped off, revealing a blade comprised of downward-facing scales. It seemed to be making a strange noise.

“That sword is not an ordinary sword” Birch said. “When it hit me, it was like it was able to rip off my energy.”

And then Kelp advanced, ready to use the sword again on them. The two deer moved and then Birch used his horns to block Kelp’s attack and then Hawthorn charged his horns, ready to attack the kelpie. Before that, Kelp used his forced to throw Birch against the floor and then used Shark Skin to block Hawthorn attack. The jinchuriki became surprised for seeing that his tips charged with light nature were not being able to pierce Kelp’s sword.

Realizing he had not choice, Hawthorn summoned the Eight-Tails’ cloak and prepared to give him a kick, but, for his surprise and Birch, Kelp was able to block the attack easily and that was because the cloak had disappeared. Now Hawthorn realized why his attacks didn’t work, along with what Birch had said.

“You’re stealing my energy” he said to Kelp.

“Now I see” Birch said. “Hawthorn, that sword it’s sucking away your energy, just like it did with me.”

The sword’s movements started to increase, while the noises became more audible.

“It seems my sword is taking quite a liking to your octopus flavor energy” Kelp said. “It’s very rare for Shark Skin become this excited. That means you’re worth of its shredding.”

“You’re really are very prepared, but I will get the best on you” Hawthorn said.

Hawthorn made his distance from Kelp and then said:

“My name is Hawthorn. What about you?”

The movements and noises of the sword were such that the bandages were ripped off completely, revealing a sword completely made of bluish scales and with a wide mouth at the end from where a big tongue started to appear.

“I’m Kelp, it’s a pleasure to me you before our battle” Kelp replied.

Hawthorn took his hoof to his mouth and took some black ink that then he used to write on a tree Kelp’s name so he wouldn’t forget it after the battle.

“You have ink in your mouth” Kelp observed. “So what the others said is true. You’re really are an octopus.”

After finishing, Hawthorn said:

“Now it’s better for you to prepare yourself, because you’re about to lose!”

And he summoned the cloak again, revealing seven tails. Birch, seeing that, saw that he wasn’t really serious yet.

“Hey, did you know?” Hawthorn asked to Kelp.

“Did I know what?” Kelp asked.

And Hawthorn started to rush towards Kelp, while saying:

“In the wild, octopi eat shark!”

He tried to use his horns again, but then Kelp used Shark Skin to block Hawthorn and then throw him away, while shredding his energy cloak.

“Hawthorn!” Birch exclaimed, while his friend, landed on his hooves, with now only with one tail.

Shark Skin had become a lot bigger after absorbing Hawthorn’s energy, with a great smile appearing.

“It seems this time the shark shall devour the octopus” Kelp replied to Hawthorn.

Realizing that form wouldn’t work, Hawthorn realized he should use another and made the cloak disappear.

Placing the blade of his sword on the ground, Kelp said:

“This is the first time Shark Skin had ever grown this big. And its appetite is also bigger.”

“What will you do, Hawthorn?” Birch asked.

“I’ll help” Eight-Tails said to Hawthorn in his mind. “Enter in the Tailed Beast Mode.”

“Now way” Hawthorn replied him in his mind. “Our transformation is to powerful and will destroy the all area. Don’t forget that Birch is with us. Plus, I just managed to escape my brother. If I transform, mainly still in Thicket, it will be like putting a sign revealing my location.”

“It’s not like you making excuses, Hawthorn” Eight-Tails said. “So, what are you going to do? You’ll fight in the second phase?”

“You bet” Hawthorn answered. “But most of my energy was taken away during that exchange of blows with that Kelp. That means you’ll have to lend me some of yous.”

Eight-Tails sighed and replied:

“If it was’t for me, you’d already been lost long time ago.”

And the cloak started to appear again with eight-tails and Hawthorn said:

“And for that I am very grateful, my eight-tailed friend.”

And the tails involved him and then he get in the second phase, with bull horns instead of the antlers.

“I see, so you’re going serious” Kelp said.

Birch was surprised for seeing Hawthorn in the second phase, something he hadn’t seen for too long.

It was then that a bull skull and spine started to be formed, with the skull appearing next to Hawthorn’s head. Before that, Shark Skin started to get so excited that its scales started to move. Kelp noticed all that excitement of its. He realized that the energy that Hawthorn was releasing now was even greater than before. It was impressive how he could control all that energy without losing his mind.

And then Hawthorn started to go against Kelp, who noticed that Shark Skin wouldn’t be able to absorb that many energy. The deer then hit the kelpie with skull and the later used the sword to defend himself, but the force was such that threw him away, while he dropped the sword that continued to absorb Hawthorn’s energy, making him return to the first phase with eight tails. Kelp went against a tree with serious injuries, while Shark Skin landed close.

“Yes, you did it!” Birch said. “He’s still alive. Hurry up and finish him off.

Kelp looked to Hawthorn and said:

“Well, you really are strong.”

And then Shark Skin made its hilt extend to its owner’s hoof and all his injuries, much to the two deer’s surprise, started to heal.

“The thing about me is that the stronger my opponent is, the stronger I become as well” Kelp replied, while rising up. “I will not tire. I will not fall.”

“That blade of his steals the enemies’ energy and transfer it to its master in the form of stamina” Birch realized.

“That’s right, and that’s why I was summoned by the Lord of Chaos to deal with you” Kelp replied.

And then, from his mouth, a great quantity of water started to get out, flooding everything around and washing the two deer away. A great water dome was created and Hawthorn and Birch were trapped there with Kelp. The latter could breathe underwater, but the others not.

“The longer this battle drags on, the more energy you will lose and weaker you’ll get and the stronger I’ll get by absorbing your energy.”

And then he and Skark Skin started to merge and Kelp took the form of what appeared to be a combination of pony and shark. Hawthorn realized he did that to prevent him from taking the sword from him.

“You’re ready?” Kelp asked to Hawthorn. “Here I come.”

Using the power of the cloak, Hawthorn started to swim away, taking Birch with him. He had to take him out of the dome or else he would drown. For that, he get into the second phase again to increase his velocity.

“You cannot escape from this water spell” Kelp replied. “Besides, in this environment, I have the advantage over you.”

And he started to follow Hawthorn.

The jinchuriki tried to see the boundaries of the dome, but there was too much water for that. He then noticed Kelp getting closer.

“Stop doing what you’re doing” Eight-Tails said to Hawthorn. “The water dome is in motion with that kelpie as its center. Pay attention. He’s faster than you under water, without mention that he has gills. If you just run around, we’ll catch and kill you.”

“So what should I do?” Hawthorn asked him.

“You’re his target, Hawthorn” Eight-Tails replied. “Leave Birch and swim at the opposite direction. He’ll chase after you.”

“I get it” Hawthorn said. “And then he’ll be safe.”

“Yes, as he chases after you, the water dome will move with him and then he’ll get out at some point” Eight-Tails continued.

Following Eight-Tails’ idea, Hawthorn dropped Birch and started swim at the opposite direction, passing through Kelp. He hoped he would follow him so Birch would be safe, but Kelp decided to go after the latter.

“What?” Hawthorn asked.

“My orders are to capture Eight-Tails alive” Kelp said. “But there is no order against killing this one along the way.”

Hawthorn tried to prevent him by swimming back, but then Kelp turned, with spikes appearing on his body, and tackled the jinchuriki, saying:

“I got you.”

When he pierced him with the spikes, Hawthorn’s energy was drained and he returned to his first phase form. Instinctively, Hawthorn summoned some of Eight-Tails’ tentacles that involved Kelp. With that, Hawthorn started to move Kelp away from birch. Because of that, the dome started to move and eventually it let Birch get out.

“All right, he’s out” Eight-Tails said.

Birch, recovering from the time he spent inside water, was able to land on a tree branch strong enough to hold him. Inside the dome, Hawthorn tried to attack Kelp, but the lack of air started to affect.

“You seem to have trouble breathing” Kelp taunted. “I see you’re getting to the end of your air supply. And since our bodies and touching each other, I’ll be still absorbing your power.”

And the cloak was also absorbed by Kelp and the tentacles disappear. After that, the kelpie back off, feeling Shark Shin trembling with joy. Furthermore, inside that dome of water, it was just a matter of time for him to be able to bring Eight-Tails to his master.

Hawthorn was trying to find a way to get out of there. If only he could use his horns charged with light nature against him…

“No, you can’t match his speed under water” Eight-Tails said to him. “And he raised his guard because you used the octopus legs. Just retreat for now. Use my ink nature as cover.”

Kelp then noticed that Hawthorn was about to use something and then he released from his mouth a great quantity of ink that quickly darkened everything around. Taking advantage of that, Hawthorn tried to swim out of the dome, now that Kelp was immobilized and couldn’t see because of the ink.

“It’s ink” Kelp said. “I see, so this is the result of mixing water and darkness. Inside of water, it can be use like a smokescreen. However…”

And he started to swim, while tackling Hawthorn one time and another.

“My body is merged with Shark Skin” he continued. “I can detect energy though my skin.”

After all those attacks, Hawthorn stopped moving and Kelp said:

“And now I believe your energy is close to zero.”

Birch was able to get down of the tree, still weakened because of the time he spent inside water.

“Hawthorn…” he said.

He saw the dome being undone and tried to get up to go help him, but he was too tired for that. He got the strength to stand and start running.

Kelp was now facing Hawthorn who was lying unconscious on the ground. The kelpie then said:

“Eight-Tails turned out to be disappointing.”

The merging with Shark Skin was undone and then it reappeared besides him.

“It will be annoying if he gets conscious and goes into tailed beast mode” Kelp said, while approaching Hawthorn. “So I think I’ll remove your legs, just to be safe.

Inside Hawthorn’s mind, he was floating unconscious and Eight-Tails said:

“He stole away most of my energy too. Damn it. Get up, Hawthorn!”

“It’s a shame that my blade doesn’t cut clean!” Kelp exclaimed.

And he swung the blade to cut Hawthorn’s leg, but, suddenly, the sword just stop, while its scales started moving again. That really let Kelp’s surprised, who asked:

“What? What’s the matter?”

And spikes appeared on the hilt of Shark Skin that made Kelp to release it with a groan. Then Shark Skin extended some of its scales in a threatening way that made Kelp retreat a little. Before that, Kelp said:

“Don’t tell me that you became attached to the Eight-Tails. You really did take a liking for his energy, Shark Skin.”

And then it extended its hilt to one of Hawthorn’s hoof and started to transfer some energy to him.

“You’re giving him energy that you stole from me?!” Kelp asked, in a burst of anger.

And he gave it a kick and throw it against a tree, what made it get pinned to its sharp scales, and then fall on the ground. He then turned to Hawthorn, who was moving to drag himself.

“Very well, I think I’ll have to improvise” Kelp said.

And then he involved one of the fins of the forelegs with water that molded into a blade.

“This will do fine” Kelp said.

And he prepared to slice Hawthorn’s legs when he turned and throw with his mouth a twig that he charged with his light nature, but it just scraped him and went to hit a tree.

“That was so close” Hawthorn said.

“Close enough for you” Kelp said. “That was what you were trying to get, uh.”

But then he sensed a presence and saw Aspen with Blackthorn and the other guard appearing. Birch was also with them.

“Hawthorn, I am sorry we’re late” Blackthorn said.

“My brother…” Hawthorn said.

“The king of Thicket…” Kelp said, turning to Aspen. “I heard so much about you. How did you find us?”

“Such bubble of water can even be seen at the naked eye” Blackthorn replied. “And I could sense Lord Hawthorn and Eight-Tails’ energy mixed in it. Furthermore, I could also sense you absorbing it. It was to obvious.”

“Found out after all” Hawthorn said.

Shark Skin’s hilt appeared around his shoulder, giving him more energy that allowed the cloak to appear.

“Damned Shark Skin…” Kelp said. “It is giving Eight-Tails more energy.”

“Let’s do it” Aspen said to his brother.

“Okay, brother” Hawthorn said, rising up.

And the two brothers advanced against Kelp at the same time, while he prepared to do another spell of his. But before he could do it, the two deer brothers hit his neck with their respective horns charged with light magic and his head just detached from the body that fell on the ground.

After that, Aspen looked to Hawthorn that said:

“Hey, brother…”

But before he could say anything else, Aspen hit Hawthorn with his only horn, making kneel and then placed his hoof over him to stop him from getting up.

“How dare you go wandering on your own?!” Aspen asked Hawthorn.

“Please, brother, you’re hurting me…” he replied.