//------------------------------// // Episode 25: End the Reign of Terror! // Story: Elements of Heroism: Season 1 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// "This is it guys.", Burst said as he, the other Elements of Heroism, and Princess Celestia gazed at the portal the the Nightmare Forces' fortress. "If any of you wanna turn back now, go ahead. None of us are going to hold it against you, and nobody's forcing you to go." Inferno chuckled. "You kidding? The girls need us! No way we're backing out now!" "And all of Equestria needs us.", Princess Celestia noted. "I'm not leaving until Twilight and her friends are safe once more." Burst took a deep breath. "Then let's put an end to Night Terror's reign." The group headed through the portal and prepared for what was sure to be a battle that would hang the fate of Equestria in the balance. On the other side of the portal, the Mane 6 were just waking up to a most unpleasant sight. "Ah. Good of you to rejoin the world of the living.", Night Terror said with a smirk. "Welcome to my domain Elements of Harmony. I have a matter of business to contend with you. As well as those fools who stood in my way." "So you're the one who's been behind all the attacks on Burst and the guys!", Twilight said with a glare. "Correct. I am Lord Night Terror. And as to why I have targeted you all, you robbed me of my prospective queen. Nightmare Moon.", Night Terror said coldly. "I was made with the sole purpose of being her king, and ruling over her kingdom of fear and eternal night. But then...YOU six reawakened the Elements of Harmony. And that accursed male avatar got involved in this affair as well! But out of all of you, I hate him most of all." "What did Burst do to tick you off?!", Rainbow Dash spat. Night Terror glared at the Mane 6. "He had the gaul to speak so plainly to Nightmare Moon!", Night Terror yelled! "And worse, the audacity to try and return her to that weak, pathetic excuse for a princess! So in order to honor Nightmare, I shall eliminate all those who were involved with her destruction!" "So you're going to destroy us?", Twilight asked. Night Terror shook his head. "No. Were I to destroy you, the Elements of Harmony would simply transfer to a new set of bearers. And with my luck, that would be that group of young men who have interfered with my plans as of late. The Elements of Heroism. So, I intend to eternally imprison you in this barrier. For as long as I stand, so does this prison." Applejack glared at Night Terror. "Ah reckon it won't be standin' fer long when the guys come fer us!" Night Terror blinked before letting out a dark chuckle. "Believe me my dear. I'm counting on your friends to show up. I shall show you all true terror by eliminating each one of them before your very eyes." Night Terror relished the looks of fear and dread in the eyes of the Mane 6. "Now that I've taken you, all I need do is wait for those fools to come my way." Night Terror sat upon his throne with a smirk and awaited the Elements of Heroism to come storming in. At the same time, Burst and his group had just made it to the front gate of the fortress. The gate slowly opened, and they went in. Steel eyed the area cautiously. "Hmmm. I thought for sure we'd be facing heavier resistance since we're in enemy territory." "Sorry to disappoint you all. But Night Terror wasted all his remaining minions in that distraction earlier.", Ice answered. "Now all that's left is to take him down, and get Twilight and the other girls back home." "He's just one guy, but he's pretty powerful.", Ace noted. "Especially since he held command over the Nightmare Forces." "Your caution is well warranted.", Princess Celestia said with a sage nod. "Nightmare creatures are known for their fearsome power. And with what Burst's told me of your previous encounters, they live up to their namesake." "We've got you on our side princess!", Inferno said with a grin. "Combined with our strength, Night Terror's butt is ours!" Celestia giggled. "It's nice to see you keep the mood light in dark times Inferno." "He's not making light.", Burst said with a serious look in his eyes. "We WILL defeat Night Terror. And we WILL get Twilight and the other girls back to Ponyvill safely." Burst then looked to his group. "I know it's not been very long, but I enjoyed meeting all of you." The group soon arrived at the doors to Night Terror's throne room. "Remember. We're together in this fight. Are you ready?" Everyone nodded. Burst smiled. "Then let's go!" Burst kicked down the door and marched into the throne room with the others close behind him. Night Terror smirked at seeing them all venture into his lair. "I see you're lacking in manners.", Night Terror joked. He then noticed Celestia in the group. "Ah! It appears the sun princess has graced my realm with her radiance!" Night Terror's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Forgive me. But I prefer more dreary scenery." "Cut the cartoon-villain banter.", Burst snapped. "We're willing to walk away peacefully if you give us back Twilight and the girls and you surrender." Burst's eyes held both threat and promise as he stared down Night Terror. Night Terror scowled at Burst's proposition. "You DARE speak to me with the same audacity you had with Nightmare Moon?! My promised queen?!", Night Terror yelled! Burst smirked. "Promised? I don't think so pal. She flirted with me during our fight. Even tried to get me to join her." Night Terror growled at hearing this! "And is this all you've been doing ever since you were created? C'mon man! Don't you have any hobbies?" "I do now...", Night Terror hissed as he charged up a blast of dark magic. "DESTROYING YOU!" Night Terror launched the blast at Burst, but Burst sent it flying with a swing of his sword! "Let's rock!" Burst and the others readied their weapons, and charged at Night Terror! Night Terror scowled as he fired blast after blast of dark magic at them! But Burst, Inferno, and Ace sent the blasts flying away with their blades! Night Terror drew his sword, and dashed over To Burst and his friends! Leaping into the air, and forcing them to scatter! Ice was the first one to charge at Night Terror! Ice swung his claymore at Night Terror, but Night Terror blocked it with his own sword! The two locked blades and glared at each other. "So. You choose to stand with weaklings.", Night Terror said coldly. Ice glared defiantly at Night Terror! "We 'weaklings' are stronger than you think!", Ice spat! "Especially since we fight for the people we care about!" Ice broke off the blade lock, and fired a power force shot from his sword at Night Terror! Night Terror smirked, and blocked the blast with his cape! "What?!" Night Terror then slashed the air in front of him, and a wave of dark energy sent Ice flying! Ice recovered in the air, but Night Terror leaped into the air and fired a stream of dark lightning from his hand! Ice wailed in pain as he was held in the shocking grip, and thrown around! "ICE!", Ace screamed as he charged at Night Terror! Ace swung with his sword, but Night Terror blocked with his own blade! He then plunged his blade into the ground, and a pillar of dark fire engulfed Ace "AGH!" Ace rolled away to put out the flames! "Alright. This guys wants to play with fire? Time for him to get burned!", Inferno shouted as he, Burst, Steel, and Tyrannus charged at Night Terror! Night Terror simply frowned, and flung Ice at them before releasing his hold with the lightining! The five landed in a pile on the ground before recovering! Inferno fired off a few shots from his blaster, but Night Terror but up a shield around himself! Inferno frowned and fired a charge shot that broke the barrier! Steel got to his feet, and launched slashes of chaos energy at Night Terror! Night Terror raised his cape to block, but the slashes tore his cape to shreds! Tyrannus rushed up to Night Terror next, and punched him in the gut! He then broke away and started firing off raptor slashes! Meanwhile, Celestia helped Burst to his feet. They took note of how Inferno, Steel, and Ty were handling their fight, and saw Ace and Ice managing to get back up. "Don't let up guys! Keep on him!", Inferno called out to Steel and Tyrannus as they continued their attacks and their advance on Night Terror! Inferno shot a charged blast from his blaster that struck Night Terror in the side! Ice had recovered, and fired a power force shot from his claymore that struck Night Terror's back! Ace shot out a magic projectile from his sword that struck Night Terror in the arm! While Night Terror was occupied with the others, Steel rushed up and unleashed his omnislash! Reducing Night Terror's upper armor to little more than scraps! Burst and Celestia took this as a sign to end the fight now, and charged forth! But Night Terror wasn't finished yet. "ENOUGH...." Night Terror disappeared in a flash of darkness! The room was left with a chill in the air. Then out of nowhere, Night Terror appearedout of a tear in space and slashed at Ice! The others put their guard up in a protective circle! Each one had their weapons at the ready. Tyrannus noticed a slight ripple in space, and fired a raptor slash! But it was a trick! Night Terror teleported inside the circle, and slashed at Tyrannus's back! Tyrannus joined Ice in falling to the ground! Twilight and the girls watched in horror as Night Terror continued his relentless teleporting assault! Night Terror came at Burst's group from all sides! Left, right, top, in front,and behind! There was almost no opening he couldn't exploit! And the ferocity of his attacks combined with their speed and power proved too much! Ace was knocked to the ground after being repeatedly hammered at by Night Terror! Steel used his shield's power to put up a barrier! Hoping to at least stall Night Terror for a few moments to buy his friends the time they needed to recover! But all this did was paint a bullseye on him! Night Terror began to target Steel repeatedly, and feigned attacking Burst, Inferno, or Celestia in order to divert attention! Steel's barrier cracked in almost no time due to Night Terror's tactics! With his shield still raised, Steel found himself getting hammered to the ground with Night Terror's attacks putting great strain on his defense! Steel fell to his knees before collapsing from exhaustion! Only Burst, Inferno, and Celestia were left standing. Each of them stood on-edge. Waiting for when Night Terror would slip in next. "Well, well. It looks like you are the last three standing.", Night Terror mocked from the space around them. "Though soon..." Night Terror leaped out of a rift, and tried to slash at Inferno! "That will be rectified!" Inferno noticed Night Terror out of the corner of his eye, and blocked just in time! Inferno unholstered his blaster, but Night Terror kicked it out of Inferno's hand! "Pitiful." Night Terror used his magic to force Inferno to the ground! But just when he was about to strike, something slashed at his chest! Night Terror roared in pain! "GRAAUUGH!" Night Terror looked to his wound, and saw that part of his chest was eaten away! He then looked to his right, and saw Celestia crouching with her sword drawn. A katana with a blade of light magic. Night Terror ceased his magic, and Inferno fell to the floor exhausted. "Well isn't this a twist? The princess coming in to save the day. It makes no differen-GAGH!" Night Terror staggered as he was struck from behind by blaster fire! Night Terror looked behind him, and saw the muzzle of one of Burst's blasters smoking! "YOU....." Night Terror was about to charge at Burst, but Burst dashed at him with his blade! Striking him across the side! "AUGH!" Night Terror gripped his side to see black essence leaking out! Burst stood next to Celestia, handed her one of his blasters, and smiled. "Let's rock baby." Burst and Celestia charged at Night Terror! Striking with blaster fire as they advanced, and with their swords when the got close enough! Their combined strength soon overwhelmed Night Terror, and he fell to his knees with an anguished look upon his face. "Ready to finish this princess?" Celestia nodded. "I take it you've got a finishing line?" Burst smiled as both he and Celestia charged up their blasters, and also added their magic to the mix before aiming at Night Terror. "JACKPOT.", the two said in unison as a blast of golden and blue energy shot out of their combined firing! The blast completely enveloped Night Terror! When the light faded, Night Terror lay on the ground unmoving. The barrier around the Mane 6 fell, and they rushed to the other guys as they got to their feet. However, Night Terror's body began to distort as he slowly rose to his feet. Soon, an aura of darkness exploded around Night Terror's body! When the aura faded, a new hideous creature stood. Night Terror's new body had claws on his feet and hands, and torn up wings while his eyes had become cat-like and all of his teeth had become fangs! Night Terror unleashed a wave of darkness that knocked back everyone save for Burst! Burst readied his sword, but Night Terror knocked Burst away causing Burst to drop his sword! As Burst struggled to get to his feet, Night Terror picked up Burst's sword. "Since you and this blade have given me so much trouble....", Night Terror menaced as he raised Burst's sword. "...It's only fitting that I cut you down with it!" Everyone watched in horror as Night Terror brought the blade down! But to everyone, including Night Terror's shock, the blade didn't cut through Burst's skin! "WHAT?!" Night Terror furiously swung at Burst as he stood, but the blade would not cut! "What is the meaning of this?!" Celestia smiled knowingly. "You're as foolish as you are hideous.", Celestia said with a smirk. "Starswirl enchanted the Duelist Arms so that they could not harm good souls! No matter how hard you slash, no harm will come to Burst!" Night Terror's face twisted into an expression as he glared at Burst standing before him. "If you cannot be cut down by your own weapon, I shall eternally torment you with my fists! Your cries of pain will eternally ring through these halls!" "No.", Burst said with a calm look on his face as he got into a stance. "This fight's gonna end in one punch." Burst closed his eyes, and focused his energy into his fist. Twilight looked on in awe! This was the same move that had Sent Nightmare Moon flying! But this time, Burst seemed to be charging it up fully! Night Terror's anger burst forth, and he bellowed as he charged at Burst with his fists clenched and ready to punch him! Burst's fist was glowing blue as a sphere of light surrounded it and lightning crackled around the sphere! Burst snapped his eyes open, and punched Night Terror square in the stomach! "WHITE LIGHTNING OVERDRIVE!" The energy packed in the punch was unleashed in a destructive burst of light energy, and flowed through all of Night Terror's body! Night Terror didn't even have time to scream as the energy vaporized him from the inside out! In an explosion of light, there was nothing left of Night Terror! Burst stood with his fist raised in triumph! The others ran to congratulate him, but they decided to make a break for the portal as the entire realm began to fluctuate and fade away! The group made a mad dash for the exit portal, and made out just in time as the entire nightmare realm faded into nothingness! Everyone cheered and hoisted Burst up, but they set him down as Celestia approached him. "I've got to say. My life's become brighter since you made that promise.", Celestia said with a kind smile. Burst smiled in return. "You honor me with words like that princess. I-" Burst was cut off when Celestia pulled him into a tight embrace. An embrace that Burst gladly returned. "Please. Call me Celestia." "...Will do." Burst then looked to Pinkie. "Pinkie? I think you know what time it is!" And the victory party was underway!