Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor do I own MLP.
Her blackened mane shrouded her face. Her once kind look, now replaced by something darker, more menacing. But there was a spark of kindness and love still in her eyes as she looked down at her fallen sister. As an Alicorn, Luna had remarkable healing abilities. So, why wasn't she awake yet? Luna was pretty much fully healed, minus a few spots on her coat and wings that had yet to grow back. She, and the doctor, thought that she would wake when her magic was restored. But it had been hours, and not even a twitch. Horn glowing golden with her own magic, she touched it to Luna's, trying to enter her sister's mind. Despite her determination, she sighed, and ceased her efforts. This had been the third attempt to commune with Luna, and like the other two had been utter failures. Something was blocking her from entering the dreams of her injured sister.
She needed to know what Luna knew, to see what she saw. But even her magic couldn't penetrate the barrier that had seemingly formed on its own, keeping the younger Princess' mind completely protected. And there were only two beings that she was aware of that were more powerful in terms of mental magic. One of them was lying unconscious before her, which she was trying not to dwell on. The other was frozen in stone in the Royal Garden, trapped in rock by the Royal Pony Sisters back when they themselves were bonded to the Elements, and again by the new Element bearers after his recent escape. And she couldn't just release Discord to break into her sister's mind...could she?
Eyes widening, Celestia shook her head, her black mane whipping wildly. What was she thinking? Under any other circumstances, the thought of releasing Discord for any reason would have never even come close to entering her mind. But seeing Luna laying silent before her, looking so helpless...All she wanted to do was find the piece of...piece of...Manticore shit that did this to her little sister.
She gently nuzzled Luna's muzzle. There was no reaction, not like she expected one. But a moan, or even a groan, would've been nice.
“I lost you once. I-I don't know If I can bear to loose you again. All those years, just staring at the moon. You can only imagine the pain of loneliness.” A hollow chuckled escaped her throat. “I bet you can. You must come back to us, to me. I promise you, I will save you.”
Once that whisper left her lips, she vanished in a bright light.
She reappeared in Canterlot castle, ignoring the many guards around her. Storming through the halls, passed the stained-glass windows, and right up to a very thick door. She hoped that her little Ponies would not need them. But with Luna being attacked, and viciously at that, she couldn't afford to let Twilight and her friends to go unprotected. Even with Naruto around, they needed to be careful. Whoever cast that illusion spell had to be insanely powerful, and they still didn't know who or what it was. So, while she would much rather leave the Elements of Harmony locked away, she knew it was a necessary precaution to make sure the bearers had the Elements with them at all times.
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A scream ripped through her throat as she crashed into the black floor of her dreamscape. Despite not being in the physical world, her mental representation could still register pain. And her ribs cracking from the impact brought about a lot of pain. She was given no reprieve, as a cloud of blue smoke slammed into her, knocking her into the air, as though she had been hit by a solid object. As the Moon princess once more hit the floor with a thud, she grit her teeth and glared as the smoke solidified. Before her stood her darkest feelings. All of her inner darkness given form. Nightmare Moon. Not willing to give up, Luna shakily climbed back to her hooves.
“Why are you here? How!?” Nightmare Moon just laughed. It was a chilling laugh, one that held nothing but sadistic mirth and promised pain rather than joy.
“I never left. I've been here since long before the Nightmare Powers were so willingly invited into your heart,” the evil alicorn replied, smirking, baring her fang-like teeth. “I'm what haunts the dreams of the Dream-Guardian. I. Am. You. The essence of everything you wished to be, but were to afraid to be. Like it or not, Princess, you're looking into a mirror.”
“I'm nothing like you!” growled out Luna, telekinetically gripping her dark half and throwing her through a wall, leading outside of the palace that served as her dream. “And you didn't answer my question. The Elements of Harmony purged you from me, and-”
“The Elements of Harmony purged the Nightmare Force from you, Princess. But I am the representation of your innermost desire, given consciousness,” Nightmare Moon growled back, cutting the Moon Princess off as she appeared muzzle to muzzle with Luna. Both horns glowed, and created sparks. If somepony were to see them, it would be described as a majestic sight. “I was never purged. Only weakened by the reawakened goodness of your heart. Disgusting, but it matters little. You will never be rid of me. I will never leave. Especially with this...how did you put it? Impersonator? Yes, that was it. I will not rest until this Impersonator knows his place.”
“You will do nothing of the sort!” Luna announced, beginning to force back her darker half. “The Elements of Harmony purged me of the Nightmare Forces. They can do the same for the Kazekage.” Luna glared as Nightmare Moon simply laughed. It was cold, and if Luna was anypony else, she would have backed down just from hearing it. She was Princess Luna, she could never back down. Not now. Not with Gaara out there, forced under the control of not only his inner demon, but hers as well. The Wicked Mare of Darkness's horn began to glow again, and before she knew what hit her, Luna was blown back by a shockwave, twisting through the air in a tangled mass of limbs.
“You faith in the Elements, and their wielders, is misplaced. They will be utterly useless against Gaara.” The way she said his name was suggestive and mocking, taunting her. And it seemed to work, Luna's eyes beginning to glow a pure white as anger stirred within her.
“And what makes you so confident, Shadow-demon?” she demanded to know. “Twilight Sparkle and her friends bested you. What gives you any inclination to think they cannot defeat the Dual-Possessed Gaara?”
“Because the Nightmare Forces are not stupid,” scoffed her dark counterpart. “Even with the Shukaku's apparent grudge against Uzumaki, they would not have preyed on Gaara if they didn't believe he had an edge that rendered the Elements of Harmony unusable or ineffective. Gaara is lost forever if you leave things up to those little Sun-lovers who wield the Elements. But I can help you, Luna. Let me out, and we can live with Gaara...happily ever after, just like in those old pony-tales.”
Happily ever after. That kept repeating in her head, like it was stuck in a loop. She always dreamed of something like that. Something she read in the pony-tales of old, on those lonely nights as a filly. A prince to suddenly sweep her off her hooves, and make her feel like a Queen. The demon before her was everything she was, and knew everything about her. Especially how to get inside her own skin.
With a powerful roar, Luna leapt high in the air, then launched forward. She sliced through the air, spinning and creating a slight whirlwind around her. And as she slammed into the dark Alicorn like a magic drill, Nightmare Moon vanished into a cloud of blue smoke. Luna was exhausted, but she was just getting started. A ball of magical energy began forming at the tip of her horn. As she glanced around for her enemy, the ball grew bigger and bigger. From the size of an apple, to the size of a boulder. The sooner she could end this, the closer she would be to saving Gaara. She waited for the Mare in the Moon to reform, and when she did...
“Go Away!” Her shout was enough to send ripples hurling towards the mare, but that wasn't all. As soon as she yelled, the ball of energy launched forward. The explosion that followed nearly sent her flying back, but she held strong, and planted her hooves firmly on the ground. As the light dissipated, she watched with narrowed eyes as the smoke billowing from the crater turned blue. This was far from over.
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The Elements of Harmony had been distributed to their bearers, Celestia's concerns stated outright to the six mares as well as the blonde shinobi with them. Every pony was on edge, even the normally brave and brash Rainbow Dash. Each worried that whatever had visited such a fate upon the Night Princess would attempt to deliver a similar thrashing to them all. And each were dealing with their individual unease in their own way.
Twilight, for her part, was scouring the Royal Archives, looking for anything, pony or creature, capable of bringing such harm to Luna. But despite her search, she was coming up empty-hooved at every turn. Fluttershy had gone and gotten as many flowers as she could, and began arranging them throughout Luna's room, attempting to brighten the dark situation. Rarity helped the pink-maned Pegasus arrange flowers, simultaneously working to design a gown for both Royal Pony Sisters. Personalized, complimentary garments to be worn when Luna finally awakened. It wasn't much, but it was all the fashionista could do to keep her mind off her dread.
Nopony knew where Rainbow had gone off too. They knew her well enough that she would not have gone outside Canterlot at a time like this. But the lack of clouds in the sky meant she likely trying to find the next highest place in the city in order to think over what had happened and calm down. Applejack, who normally worked out her frustrations in the fields, found herself beginning to grind her teeth nervously. She found herself wishing her coltfriend was still at the hospital, but the Princess wished to talk to him alone, and they had gone off somewhere. And since neither she nor Pinkie Pie wanted to be by themselves just then, she had convinced Pinkie to start planning a 'Glad you're out of the Hospital' Party, for after Luna was fully recovered. That at least put some poof back in Pinkie's mane.
Celestia stood with the blonde-maned shinobi at her side, gazing up at the stone form of the Spirit of Chaos, his arms outstretched and his face contorted in fear and surprise. The more she gazed upon it, the more the Sun Princess tried to steel herself. To exorcise the urges she felt to release Discord from his rocky slumber. Release him for the sole purpose of breaking into Luna's mind and retrieving the identity of the soon-to-be-deceased being responsible. Her blackened mane whipped wildly with aggression and shock. She was an Alicorn Princess. She was the ruler of an entire race...well, co-ruler. Her emotions should have been concealed, perfectly kept under her control. But even now, she felt as though they were about to boil over, consuming her and everything around her.
Fear. She hated that feeling. In her mind, she saw every possibility of releasing Discord into the world. That action could easily cost her the love of her people, and even her sister. But at the moment, all she could think about was her own fury, and it was frightening her. Was she being selfish? What would Luna say? She was seriously considering freeing the Spirit of Chaos for the sole purpose of breaking into her sister's mind. Would Luna understand? Would she hate her? She didn't know. For the first time since... since... the day she sealed her own sister into the moon, Celestia felt an overwhelming cloud of despair threaten to crush her very soul. Her black mane whipped around in frustration.
“Would everypony hate me?” she thought as she once more looked into the face of the statue...she frowned as she for a split second thought the fear of Discord had been replaced with a smirk. A blink and it had reverted to that look of terror.
“You have more experiences dealing with aggressive impulses, as a warrior, do you not? Better than I...” she said, her voice quivering slightly, barely belying her insatiable fury. “The desire to rend flesh is new to me...I'm not certain that I'm comfortable with it. And as you can see, it's affected more than just my mind.” Naruto nodded, unspeaking, as he stared at the Draconequus. Having acknowledged that she was at least being heard, Celestia continued. “But recently, I find myself consumed by an unrelenting anger...even possibly pure hatred...and it's directed at something which I cannot see. Something I know nothing about.”
She took a shaky breath, and continued. “The thought of revenge. Never before have I ever considered the possibility. Until now. I find myself contemplating the unthinkable. And I must ask if you've even done the same...” Naruto raised an eyebrow as Celestia gazed at him. Her eyes seeming to pierce his very being. “In all the anger you've undoubtedly felt in your life...have you ever contemplated releasing the demon within you, if only to direct it's power and rage at the object of your ire?” Without thinking, she fully faced him, and took a step forward. “Letting it take revenge on your behalf?” Eyes wide, Naruto began to step away from the Princess slowly. It was cold, and she couldn't believe she even said that. The rage afflicting her heart and soul slipped lose for a moment, letting her emotions to escape uninhibited. His eyes shone with fear, and he took a few more steps back.
“How did you know about that!” he frantically shouted. She knew he would react in that manner. The Kyuubi was suppose to be an absolute secret. One for him and him alone to reveal. And the fear that radiated off of him from her knowing was understandable, if not misplaced.
“Lady Tsunade made me aware. She trusts you completely, Naruto, but as she was making you Equestria's ambassador, she felt it was my right to know that there is a powerful, demonic entity bound to you.” Naruto narrowed his eyes, but at least he stopped trying to back away.
“Then you probably know about Gaara as well?” He questioned, getting a nod from the Sun Princess, who went back to staring at the statue of Discord. “To answer your question...every single day since learning of Kyuubi's existence, I've had thoughts of setting him loose upon the people who torment me and my friends. To set him free, then in a way, I could be free too...”
“What's stopped you?” asked Celestia, desperately seeking an answer. A way to put these thoughts of freeing the being before her from his stone state behind her. Freeing Discord was a last resort, one she didn't want to be forced to turn to.
“Bonds. I had friends. Freeing the fox demon could destroy all of that...And then, I may as well be the Kyuubi myself. Be the monster so many people already thought I was.” His answer shouldn't have startled her, but it did. She also had friends, bonds, with everypony. “Setting this Discord guy free might provide knowledge of who attacked your sister, but can you really live with knowing that you released him? Knowing that you released Discord on your subjects if he decides not to follow your orders?”
Celestia continued to stare at the statue for a moment, before sighing and dropping her head in shame. She was about to answer, but then, he laughed. “On the other hand, you managed to seal him once, and so did the girls, so I've heard. Could you do it again?” Could they? If the need arises, she was confident her little ponies could. Discord would not be able to break their friendship so easily a second time...but she would need a way to make the Elements secure. Unable for the Disharmonious One to get his claws on them, as he did last time. “I can't make your choice for you. You're the Princess after all. But if you do this, then you have me and the girls to back you up. I'll kick his sorry tail until he gives in! And that's a promise.” And despite herself...Celestia smiled.
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The ground beneath his hooves shook and cracked as the sand dug into the rock, grinding it and breaking it down into even more sand, binding to both The Nightmare's Magic and Shukaku's chakra. Unfortunately, it was slow goings. The two weren't ready to reveal their machinations quite yet, and so as more and more of the mountain was ground into sand, the Shukaku forced a shell to remain outside. A giant mountain suddenly beginning to shrink would draw more attention than they needed. But soon, he would have enough sand to not only transform into his true form, but to blanket half of Equestria in desert. And by then, it would be far too late to stop them.
Ponyville, home to the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, would be the first to fall. And it would do so without so much as a fight from those Mares. Naruto might be an issue, but the Nightmare Forces assured the One-tailed demon that they wouldn't even try to use the Elements of Harmony. And a good smack-down delivered to the blonde human that had bested him some years prior would cement his invincibility in the minds of these ponies for years to come. He chuckled darkly. “Almost time for our rematch, kid.”
“While I am grateful for the hospitality, I must point out that while your little Ninja may not be a threat, and the Elements shall be useless, we still have Celestia to worry about. She is not somepony to take lightly...” Hissed the shadowy voice of Gaara's secondary possessor, who had been relegated to the back of the mind while Shukaku took care of creating their weaponized sand. The Tanuki just scoffed, uncaring for the Nightmare's warning.
“She couldn't even defeat your last host without the Elements of Harmony to aide her. What do WE have to fear from her?” The Nightmare Forces fell silent, but Shukaku knew enough that his partners were not going to let this drop. Within the mindscape, the smokey form of the Nightmare Leader drifted over the dunes, traveling to the center of the mind, its eyes glowing in malicious delight. A massive hourglass towered over the shadow, with sand slowly...very slowly...pouring from the top into the bottom. And in the bottom section, sitting with his knees pulled to his chest, sat a human Gaara. But unlike the powerful Kazekage he once was, this Gaara was but a child.
The boy wouldn't last long, the shadow-demon noted. Even with as slowly as he was being smothered and devoured by the sand, he would not be able to withstand the draining much longer. If this kept up, than Gaara would simply wither and die, and their trump card would be lost. He frowned. If Gaara died before they had taken out the Elements of Harmony, then this entire campaign for dominance was lost. Shukaku seemed to catch on to this vibe, and slowed his consumption of Gaara's soul even further.
“Tell me, Shukaku...just what is it about this Uzumaki that drives you so?” At his question, the sand before the Nightmare began to morph, forming the head of the tailed-beast.
“I don't take kindly to being beaten. Especially since Uzumaki is his Jinchuriki,” the Tanuki bellowed. “That damn fox. Always thinking he's better than the rest of us. Calling me- US, weaklings, all because he has more tails. Well, let's see if his power matches mine once I've assimilated and weaponized an entire mountain!” The Nightmare sweat dropped. He should have guessed as much. It seemed that Gaara wasn't the only one who had something in common with Luna...In the case of Shukaku, it was a fierce sibling rivalry with his Nine-tailed brother that intensified his hatred of Uzumaki. Well, that was fine. It sped up the process immensely, strengthening the semi-binding between the two.
“...Just hurry up...if the boy doesn't make it, and they figure that out, we have no defense against the Elements of Harmony. And I have no doubt that this Uzumaki, if not Celestia, will be able to tell if he's no longer alive,” the Nightmare said, coldly, getting a growl from Shukaku.
“Don't make the mistake of thinking you're better than me, either,” he announced, his face dissolving into sand as he went back out to continue eroding the mountain. The Nightmare went back to staring at the frail human child. There was no emotion on his face. But being connected to him, the Nightmare Force could feel the emotions rolling off in waves. Anger, fear, despair...each serving to make the Nightmare Force stronger.