Showdown Against The Nightmare Part 1...!

Chapter 12 - Showdown Against the Nightmare Part 1...!

Naruto and Twilight continued their run down the dark hallways of the castle. They pushed their way through large double doors into one of the castle's many chambers when they encountered one of the last creatures Naruto expected to counter.

"Ashby." He murmured as his face nearly went white from shock. To think the Nightmare's power was even capable of Necromancy. Standing between them and the other chamber the Satyr hands flickered with hellish flames which indicated he got a little upgrade as well.

"From no point further will you travel. Her majesty wants you dead and I shall oblige."

The Satyr was nothing more than a mere undead servant. "Twilight go." Naruto began to step forward as he prepared to challenge the creature one on one.

"I understand…" Twilight nodded, and kept running.

The Satyr attempted to strike down Twilight with one of his fireballs only for Naruto to body flicker between the two of them and slammed his hands into the ground raising a slab of earth to block the attack. He then lowered the slab as he got into a fighting stance. "This time I'm making sure you stay dead."

Ashby reacted by increasing the intensity of the flames in his palms. The smoldering embers lit up the room with Yellow and Orange amber hues. He then began hurling the fireballs at him to which Naruto dodged with each, the impact from the balls with intensity strong enough to form cracks on the ground. Even though the flames were only hot enough to cause external cracking that was still more than lethal enough to a flesh being if the Satyr nailed him in the right location.

"I'm going to pay you back twice fold mule for killing me and humiliating me. Her majesty has promised me the local town if I eliminated the warriors accompanying the five bearers. I'm going to enjoy breaking in its inhabitants and finding out which ones you had ties to." The Satyr taunted as he continued hurling the flames at the blond.

'She knows!?' That was the only thing that came to Naruto's mind. How the hell did Nightmare Moon know…wait. Five? As he continued dodging the blasts he relaxed slightly, so Nightmare Moon didn't suspect that Twilight was the Element of Magic? He was going to have to end this as quickly as possible, get to Twilight and the Elements and get them to a safe location. If something happened to Twilight before the sixth element could be sparked it would be all over.

Leaping off one of the columns Naruto gripped the chandelier hung above and with a tug dislodged it. The blond landed against one of the columns and watched as the Satyr dove out of the way of the decorative objects. The object's bottom bent and caused a large fraction in the ground's foundation.

Ashby hurled yet another fireball at Naruto who this time merely ducked under the blast. He then drew back his hand and launched a punch only for the Satyr to quickly drop his head down and blocked with his horns. A vibration coursed through Naruto's arm from the force of the attack and causing a cramp in his arm. He mentally suppressed the desire to yelp and dropped back as he launched a strike with his left arm and punched the Satyr in the gut causing him to stumble back slightly. He responded by changing up his strategy and firing a stream of fire at the blond.

The sudden intensity from the heat and its closeness caused Naruto to stop in his tracks and shield his eyes. This gave Ashby the opening he needed as he charged through the flames and attempted to ram into Naruto only for the blond to throw his hands out and grip him by the forms.

Naruto flung him upwards and struck the Satyr in his throat making the satyr stumbled backward in pain. "Like before Ashby seems like you didn't learn your lesson don't ever, threaten my precious people." He said as he began walking towards the Satyr.

Ashby recovered and with a roar threw a punch to which Naruto was unable to dodge. With a solid strike the blond was sent flying against the ground. "You damn arrogant mule. I am lord Ashby and I won't lose to the likes of you again!" he roared as he the flames of his hand went from red to cold blue fire. He hurled the ball of flame where Naruto was and it exploded it a showy explosion of blue fire.

As the smoke cleared, Ashby saw that the ground was melted and not an inch of Naruto remained. "Goodbye…trash…" he remarked as he began making his way where the mare went. Suddenly he found himself enveloped in an explosion as he was sent flying on his back. He found himself lying on…paper?

Naruto wanted to save this on the off chance the fight with Nightmare Moon didn't go as planned, but seeing as there was a zombie running out similar to an Edo Tensei summon he had no choice but to use it now. Leaping down from the ceiling Naruto slammed his palm into the Satyr's chest as his hand and the seal he had inked on his hand began to glow.

Ashby let out a scream as he was enveloped by an aura. When the aura died down three seals appeared on the scroll that Naruto had used. He wiped the sweat from his brow. "Whoo…"

Suddenly large volumes of mist began to gather. The mist began pouring out of cracks in the floors and walls and through the open windows of the ruins. The mist began forming the shape of large body. Aspects of the creatures began to thin out and expand with long bat-like wings, and scaly body. One the shape finally finished its transformation it was a charcoal scaled dragon, mulatto eyes, and violet paper see through wings. The creature let out an intimidating roar that caused cracks to appear in the foundation and the building to shake.

"Damn, I thought that was a bit too easy. Fine then, I'll take you on as well." The blond said as he charged forward holding out his right arm, a spiraling blue sphere suddenly came into existence within the creature's hand. Lunging forward he shoved the glowing sphere within the side of the creature's face. The sphere of magic the creature prepared was sent flying at an awkward angle creating a hole in one of the walls creating a staircase.

Then dozens of Naruto flickered into existence with clouds of white smoke erupted across the room. When they dissipated each cloud revealed an exact copy of Naruto, their combined total taking up almost half the room.

The creature proved itself deceptively fast as it claw tore through an entire group of clones. The clones charged delivering a legion of powerful punches, kicks, and Rasengans only for the dragon's scrapes and abrasions to magically repair itself. Naruto had to admit while he missed his old body this equine one had some advantages. Combining the natural features of an equine with his already impressive Uzumaki heritage meant taking advantage of a new found powerful breath control to use fire jutsu in a way he couldn't before.

With an exhale he let out a giant fireball that connected with the creature letting out a fiery and combust explosion. The smoky embers of his attack soon thinned out and remaining upon the scorched marks and cracked land was the form of Nightmare Moon.

"You have proven to be a larger thorn than perceived. Tell me, why do you fight so ardently for a battle you cannot win!?"

"Because I refuse to live the life of a coward and let someone like you do as they pleased." He answered as the Alicorn made her move, turning into mist which thinned out the room of the rest of his clones. 'fast' he thought as he came to a stop and quickly spun to face his enemy.

"It is laughable that you think you are even a challenge to me."

Okay this was good, maybe he could keep her talking. "Tell me Nightmare Moon why even try and send the world into an Eternal Night?"

"Since you've managed to entertain me thus far I shall oblige in your little curiosity, if only because you and the little foals attempts at stopping me proved to be quite amusing. The peasants of this nation held no appreciation for my night. For its beauty and for its importance to the world and merely shunned or ignored, and even fought its presence out of ignorant and fear. Soon all aligned with darkness was treated with contempt and loathing. The Moon…my moon treated as nothing more than a rock as everypony loved and appreciated the sun. Loved and appreciated her." Suddenly the Alicorn's powerful magical began flooding the room.

Naruto found himself cursing as he was suddenly ensnared by vine like shaped tendrils of magic. Like leeches they were draining him of his energy. Despite his training he still felt himself caught off guard by some of the thing magic could do. If he didn't break free quickly she was going to kill him.

"Do you think of me so barbaric?" the dark mare let out an amused chuckle. The stallion proved to be both strong and rather resourceful. That sparked in idea in the mare, she decided simply killing the stallion was a waste when she could simply make him her toy. "I will succeed Celestia and become the Queen of this world and this queen wouldn't mind a King." Nightmare Moon removed her armor piece by piece in a slow fashion that made Naruto anxious and fearful at the dark mare's advances.

Even now the reason he was able to adjust as well as he did was because of how human like the ponies were here. "Tell me Naruto, do you not have desires? Desires that have gone on…unfilled." She whispered in his ear as she trailed around him. Naruto couldn't help but shiver, the more he adjusted and became used to this form the more apparent certain things became. "Join me and I can give you your greatest desires. I can even help you get home."

Before Naruto could even protest or question how she could possibly know the Dark Mare pressed her lips against his. Home was only one place and it was her.

And with that a memory came to mind. He was gently rocking back and forth as the little bundle in his arms fell back asleep. A hand touched his shoulder. He loved up and it was his beautiful wife.

"Hinata…" He whispered as to not disturb the baby.

"You have an important meaning tomorrow… why are you up?" She asked softly.

"Its only fair I do my fair share if you can lose some nights of sleep he said as quietly as he could. Hinata just smiled and kissed his cheek.

They walked the baby back to the nursery. Naruto laid Boruto gently down in the crib. Hinata tucked a thin blanket around Boruto. The couple stood there watching the sleeping child. Hinata wrapped her arm around Naruto's and smiled. It was clear that the baby was fast asleep and showed no signs of waking up.

"Honey lets go back to bed." Hinata said softly. Naruto just nodded and let her take his hand. They went back to their bedroom and Hinata started to take off her robe. Naruto hugged her from behind and buried his face in her hair.

"I love you." He said into her hair. Hinata blushed a little and smiled. Hinata moved out of Naruto's arms and turned to him. She put her arms around him and kissed him on the lips.

"I love you too." She said pulling out of the kiss. She let her fingers graze over his cheek.

Nightmare Moon hissed angrily when his response was to bite her lip. How dare they ungrateful nave do something like that to her? Refuse her? And after going as far as offering herself, a pony no common mare could ever hope to court. Either way she would not be denied. No matter how long it would take she would break him.

"This has gone on long enough." She remarked as her horn glowed with magic. "One way or another you will bend to my will." She remarked as she reassembled her armor in a burst of magic and sent a focus blast of magical power in his direction. Naruto rolled to the side, quickly dodging it and charged forward, ramming into the dark mare sending her tumbling back a few steps.

Using her wings the Alicorn prevented herself from being knocked over. "You'll have to do better than that."

"How dare thee. This one will take enjoyment from your suffering like the finest wine." She said as she charged forward with incredible speed. With a leap her hooves came down where the orange pony once was, leaving a rather considerable dent as the floor beneath her cracked.

Naruto was sure as he was now, in straight battle of speed the mare would easily stomp him, but thankfully his natural agility, reflexes, and experience allowed him to keep a step ahead of the dark mare. Not to mention he was sure his Shinobi arts gave him an edge since she undouble never fought a user of them before.

"You are only delaying the inevitable. If you believe he can defeat me then…" during the dark mare's boasting Naruto took the opportunity to charge and slide kick the legs from right under her, rolling to the other side of her as she fell. "You are truly testing my patience." She growled as she took to the side.

"So tell me, are you the same as you were a thousand years ago or was your flank always that fat?" hopefully Nightmare Moon was the kind of fighter that got sloppy with angry. There was also the fact that it had been in grinded into his head insulting a woman's looks was a quit way to piss them off, especially if you insinuated they were fat. The fact that the next blast of magic nearly took his head off pretty much gave the blond the indication that that may not have been the best idea.

"ENOUGH!"

The force of her shout caused Naruto's body to snap back from the force. The ground began to be swallowed up from the darkness radiated from the goddess. The shapeless mass struck out and ensnared around him. Naruto fought back but it proved fruitless as his vision began to fade.

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Rainbow found herself against the wall. She paused, leaning against the doorway as she took a moment to collect herself. She heard the others call her name and she looked up. Her arm was still throbbing a bit from when Applejack helped her put her arm back in place. Considering how much she crashed and injured herself she hadn't experienced a dislocated arm so she had no idea. She shuttered to think what would have happened if she had carried on without knowing.

"Rainbow Dash you ok?" Fluttershy asked as the other Pegasus nodded.

"Yeah, sorry just needed a second to catch my breath." She remarked as she collected herself. Before she could say anything else the thunderous roar of 'Enough!' startled them, especially Fluttershy who hid behind the other Pegasus in fright.

"That was Nightmare Moon. We need to hurry!" Pinkie Pie cried out as they continued on ahead. They rushed up a set up stairs and rounded past a pair of double doors. They rounded the corner and dashed into another room. To their horror right before their very eyes Naruto disappeared in the pool of darkness.

"So the chosen five have arrived." With a flash of her magical power Nightmare Moon summoned her soldiers. "Restrain them. I will deal with them after I finish with the Unicorn."

"You monster!" Rainbow Dash roared as she shot at the mare, taking to the airs. "GIVE HIM BACK!" Right before Rainbow Dash could reach her Nightmare Moon disappeared in a dark flash. "Bucking Tartarus!" Rainbow Dash whispered as she came to a stop. She couldn't believe it.

She was too slow. Too slow to save one of her best friends. Rainbow Dash for the first time in a long time was truly pissed. She trained her focus to the attacking soldiers who weren't preoccupied fighting her just as upset fellow mares and would soon share the same faith of having their faces smashed in.

Like a good deal of the rest of the castle the room within the chamber the Elements laid had a good deal of its infrastructure collapsed due to age, while others had been overgrown by the forest. Despite all this the noble marble structure was a sight to behold.

Towering picture windows on all sides, and bold pillars still decorated despite their age and the ages that had passed without any upkeep. In the center of the hall a five armed statue had been placed. On each arm a stone ball rested, each with a different emblem carved to the stone.

Using her magic Twilight levitated the five Elements before her. She began concentrating as she tried to figure out just what spark would be needed to awaken the Element's powers.

She suddenly yelped as a burst of magic sent her skidding across the ground and elements tumbling. Darkness began to converge and formed the form of Nightmare Moon. "The foal that remembered me to think you've come this far. You have graciously brought me the five elements though I'm afraid your quest was for naught." The Evil Alicorn let out a nefarious laugh. Dark magic began to glow from Nightmare Moon's horn.

Twilight could only look up in shock. Was this really how it was going to end...!