Chapter 9
A Demon’s Wrath and a Nightmare’s Warmth
Naruto’s anger had gone past its normal point. He had lost everything he had in under a day. His marefriend, his daughter, and Nightmare Moon; he hadn’t gotten a chance to explain his feelings to her. That only furthered his anger. Those watching were stunned by the amount of earth that was coming out of the ground around Naruto now.
“Celestia?” Twilight asked her mentor as she had come down after watching her sister being dropped like a dead animal. Celestia looked over to her student who was scared at this point. “What’s happening to him?”
“I don’t know Twilight.” Celestia said for the first time in her life she had no idea what was happening to one of her ponies. Sure there had been times when she had seen Naruto gain strength through his demonic power but nothing that actually started to tear the earth apart. She had magic that could do that but she had to use a lot of magic to get that to happen.
Remedy watched with complete terror in her eyes as a large chunk was taken out of the earth. It was the size of Macintosh’s plow. “Carnac, how is Naruto generating so much energy?” She asked looking at her godfather who was in a state of fear as well.
Before Carnac could answer his goddaughter’s question everypony and ape watched as a dark orange-red aura slowly began to surround Naruto. His eyes and lips became black as Nightmare Moon’s fur. His eyes were a deeper red than they normally were and his hair seemed to be flying upwards as though fierce winds were blowing up from beneath him.
“Mara, I will not repeat myself,” Shadow said as he feared his chance at getting Nightmare Moon would fail like all the others. “Grab Nightmare Moon and her child and get out of there before it is too late.” Shadow would have loved to see if Mara could stand up to Naruto but he could tell from even his own castle. Seeing what he was doing now without even a single tail made him worry.
Although Naruto had used tailed energy forms before, but he had never seen this. It was like every last bit of energy left in his body was crying out for blood. He watched along with every other pony how the translucent aura crawled upon Naruto’s being. Shadow was actually breathing quickly to his surprise. He had never felt such fear before. Why now then?
“Why should I?” Mara questioned feeling greatly underestimated. Shadow looked at his crystal ball grinding his teeth. “I mean he wasn’t that much stronger when he was using his demon powers a second ago so what do I have to worry about now?”
“Because, he’s about to go into his second stage!” Shadow exclaimed feeling she might need a little more encouragement. Mara raised a brow confused. Second stage? What did he mean by that?
“What do you mean second stage? All I see is a pony who’s about to lose everything he has and can’t do anything about it.” Mara said as her shadow flailed around her as she laughed boastfully.
“Don’t provoke him you idiot. DO you not see how much energy he’s sending out?” Shadow asked annoyed by his assassin. He couldn’t believe she was taking this lightly. If the twelve dead apes from the festival were anything to go on the energy Naruto was displacing now was ten times as immense as that.
“Why, is the little baby going to cry?” Mara asked looking at Naruto mockingly. Naruto’s head shot up. Upon looking into Naruto’s eyes she saw something that sent chills down her spine. His eyes showed more malice than anything she ever thought possible. Never had she seen such hate filled eyes.
“Give them back.” Naruto growled. His voice was that of his only it was more animalistic as though he were speaking through the growl itself. Remedy and the others watched helplessly as Naruto’s entire being became enwrapped within a bubbling aura of pure hate and anguish. At the bottom of his hooves his energy had created what appeared to be claws.
Mara looked at him confused. Then she got a devilish idea as her smile went from ear to ear. “Oh sorry can’t really do that.” Naruto continued to stare at her with that same hateful stare. “They’re gone, and unfortunately when I hand them over to Shadow they won’t remember anything about you. So sorry dear Naruto.”
Two fox like tails had just emerged upon her saying those lines. She had no idea the line she was crossing. “Give them back!” He restated as his teeth grew sharper and his lust for blood only tripled in power.
“What part of I can’t won’t you get?” Shadow was fuming, she was about to unleash the fury of possibly the one stallion who could defeat him. “Seriously, why is it so hard for some stallions to get over the loss of their beloved marefriends?”
“Silence now or else you nor I will have the power to stop him.” Shadow warned feeling fear rising in his body. It had never happened until now; fear was all but an emotion he relished. He wanted the very thing exterminated from his being. “I will say it again, grab Nightmare and the foal and come to my castle this instant!”
“You’re not my father so stop treating me as such.” Mara declared startling Shadow a bit but he quickly recovered as his horn glowed a dark violet, almost to the point of pitch black. Mara felt something jabbing in her sides but there was nothing there. “Hey what are you doing?”
“I am not about to lose my one chance at getting my mare or my leverage for my mare. So grab them and run or not only will I strip you of those powers I will leave you there in the hands of a demon who at this moment is going to be showing a lot less mercy than me.” Mara wondered what he was talking about when she looked back at Naruto. His eyes held pupils similar to that of a demon’s narrow and sword-like like that of a fox’s. They were a deep blood red holding only one thing. Hate and rage that was being filled with nothing but bloodlust.
“Wha-What’s with his eyes?” Mara asked feeling that same fear again. Why did this lowly stallion provoke that kind of emotion from her? She couldn’t understand it at all. “How does he have this much power?”
“If I knew I would be finding a way to stop it myself, but that’s not what’s important.” Shadow said oblivious to what was happening to Naruto as two small spikes began sprouting from the rear part of the bubbling aura. “You need to get your ego out of your mind and listen to me for once. Take them and get out of there! Or would you rather die?”
Mara thought on this as it dawned on her how much energy Naruto was producing. Although she felt that she had enough power and magic to kill him herself she didn’t want to test with the way his eyes looked or what his powers seemed to be doing at this moment. “Alright fine.” Shadow sighed in relief he wouldn’t have to worry about Naruto for much longer.
She reached out with her shadow and grabbed them feeling like her magic shouldn’t be used on such filth. “Now come on you filthy alicorn, time to meet your new husband.” She said a little enthusiastically.
“Give them back!” Mara turned again to see Naruto now having what looked to be larger spikes that swayed like tails. They weren’t tails yet but they had the resemblance. Mara looked in horror as they shot out like magically thrown spears. Two fox like tails swayed back in forth as Naruto bared his teeth in pure rage.
She froze in fear as Naruto’s front right hoof slammed into the ground. The force caused the ground to shake to the point where Mara had to use her shadow to balance herself. His two tails were flailing around looking for something to smash, something to impale. They wanted blood as did Naruto’s anger. Mara turned back to the two mares lying barely alive and tried to grab at them with her shadow and but it was grabbed by one of Naruto’s two tails.
Shadow was in shock, when did his tail move? More importantly why was he feeling fear again. Mara couldn’t turn her head away from the sight in front of her. Her power was being held back by a mere extension of Naruto’s power. She turned to look at him finally able to take her gaze away from it only to see Naruto right there with his hoofs ready for a crushing blow.
She didn’t have time and felt Naruto’s hoof slam into her face sending her several yards away. Mara tumbled backwards a bit before planting her hooves into the ground stopping her. She looked up in both anger and surprise. Had she not have gotten Shadow’s power boost she would be dead at this very moment. She knew that and as the realization hit her she screamed at the top of her lungs.
“No this can’t be!” Mara cried out her face the very definition of rage. She summoned her shadow back up filled with rage and disbelief. “How can you have so much power, even if you are a demon, no one is stronger than me!” Her head wasn’t thinking at this moment her primary instincts were driving her words. “Nightmare Moon lies there defeated and broken to my power and I barely used a fraction.”
“Mara don’t fight him!” Shadow demanded, but to be honest it sounded more like he was trying to beg her to stop. “You’ll die if you do!”
“No I won’t.” She said with an ear-to-ear grin. “If anypony here is going to die it will be this pathetic excuse for a stallion.” Mara said releasing several of her shadow tentacles towards Naruto.
Naruto charged forward ignoring the obvious threat before him. His two tails fired forth batting away the tentacles like they were pebbles being knocked to the side. Mara was getting frustrated as her horn now lit up and shot forth orbs of magic at Naruto. Naruto was still charging forth but he was kicking and punching away at the orbs now with incredible speed. His tails keeping the tentacles at bay while his hooves took care of the magic.
Shadow was actually quite impressed, but what he was wondering was how Naruto was keeping up with Mara’s attacks in such a state. He’d understand if it was his three tailed form but his two tails seemed to be doing the job by itself. Naruto wasn’t paying attention as he was too focused on Mara’s attacks to see another shadow tentacle come up from below him. It grabbed his right hind leg and threw him back but latched on as Mara proceeded to slam him repeatedly into the ground.
She was laughing the entire time as she sent several more shadow tentacles his way impaling him from all sides. Remedy and Celestia looked in horror at their crush hanging in the air supported by shadow tentacles sticking out of his body. Mara took all of the tentacles out of Naruto’s body letting him fall to the ground dead. Shadow had never been happier in all of his life. His one great threat was now dead and nothing would stop him from leading Equestria now.
“And you said he was going to be a problem.” Mara mocked getting Shadow to pout slightly. He didn’t like being proven wrong, but in this case he could make an exception. “Now to just take my prize and be on my way.”
“Mara, they belong to me do you hear?” Shadow pointed out making it rather clear through the tone of his voice. His tone sent small shivers down her spine making her less than comfortable.
“Yeah, yeah Shadow I know but like you said I get the little filly and my triple pay once there yours.” Mara said as she laughed a little as if imagining Shadow’s annoyed expression. He was annoyed with her and his face was present of that.
“To make sure nothing happens though…” Shadow’s horn lit up and a piece of Mara’s shadow began to rise up. Everypony watched as the shadow opened up like a popped balloon falling down gently revealing a dark silver, almost black even, stallion with a crimson mane and tail. His eyes opened revealing a deep violet. His grin bared two sets of fangs similar to that of a vampony from legend. He stood with royal armor around his body. It was as black as his shadow. “I think I’ll join you.”
Celestia and Remedy looked down in horror. “That’s my brother.” She said her voice cracking out of pure fear. She knew of her brother’s strength and his magical ability. She also knew of his hatred. She fell back on her rear, as her eyes would not seem to blink. She felt this was the end, just as Celestia did.
“Shadow is that really you?” Mara asked in amazement. Her eyes were wide with admiration, she didn’t think she could do that maybe Shadow didn’t give her the strength to do that.
“Not exactly this is a clone I created using a piece of your shadow.” Shadow said from the confines of his castle. “I didn’t want my true presence to be known yet. But I thought I would let the peaceful town see who I was. Although this clone isn’t anywhere nearly as strong as I am, it will be enough to help handle my sister and Celestia.”
“I don’t know why but I guess you could say I feel honored by this Shadow. But then again you should feel honored to be next to me.” His clone made the same expression that the one did back at the castle. He looked at her with a face that simply read, “This coming from the mare who almost got her butt kicked by the weakened Nightmare Moon”, he sighed feeling this was going to be a long day. However, he did have to give her credit for taking care of Naruto.
“Whatever but right now I need to take her home. She has to learn not to be so oh what’s the word I am looking for?” Clone Shadow said as he raised his hoof to scratch his chin. “Disobedient, that’s it. Well come now my precious mares time to get settled at your new place.”
Suddenly the air around seemed to be vacuumed away and they froze as the air grew stale again. “Don’t talk about them,” Both Shadow and Mara stopped dead in their movements as did everypony else. They both turned around their faces the definition of shock and fear. Naruto rose as what appeared to be several pints of blood fell from his body. Their eyes were widened in shock, they couldn’t believe their eyes.
His wounds and all the holes that Mara had created were vanishing as the tissue and skin around them swirled around like the seal cutie mark on his flank. They closed completely until it seemed he hadn’t been stabbed before. Mara stood there watching as her precious work had been completely evaporated in mere seconds.
“How…How is that even possible?” Mara said barely getting the words to leave her mouth.
“Celestia, how did Naruto’s wounds heal in such a way? I thought there wasn’t any magic that could heal something like that.” Twilight asked seeing Naruto’s wounds heal and his fox tails flare forth with renewed rage.
“There isn’t such magic here in Equestria Twilight.” Celestia said softly. Twilight could easily see how frightened Celestia was now. If Naruto could heal himself like that what would happen if he turned on them, they would be done for. The very thought sent shivers down Celestia’s spine.
“No one should have been able to survive that.” Shadow said from his castle as it was also said through his clone. “No one can survive that kind of impalement or at least stand after.” Shadow rose as Naruto’s fox like eyes stared right at him. He felt like Naruto was staring down right into his very soul. Mara gritted her teeth as she let loose her shadow tentacles at Naruto. “Mara don’t!” Shadow called but was too late as the tentacles had already made it half of the way to Naruto.
“Don’t talk about them,” Naruto said, as the tentacles were mere feet from reaching him. “Don’t talk about them…like you OWN THEM!” He shouted followed by what could only be described as a malicious battle cry. Naruto’s two tails batted the eight tentacles aside as if they were a joke. Shadow and Mara stood in horror at how fast those two tails were flailing around.
Mara was about to react when she noticed what looked to be a thin line of red energy swirling around Naruto. Naruto had red energy dripping from his mouth as his aura began to bubble madly as if being heated by the sun itself. Remedy and Celestia watched as a third fox tail slowly made its way out of the aura growing as long as the others.
Shadow and Mara watched as the thin line of energy grew in width and size and began swirling around as though it were trying to create a tornado. The energy waves being released were so powerful that both the Clone Shadow and Mara had to dig their shadow tentacles in to stop themselves from being blown back. Naruto’s anger was shown as what looked to be a fox’s head appeared from the energy above him. It roared viciously causing everypony around to shake and quiver with absolute terror.
Celestia had never seen such a thing before in her life. Even Remedy, who lived in the Dark Forest a place not as well-known but just as dangerous as the Everfree Forest, hadn’t seen horrors like this. “Naruto what are you?” Celestia whispered under her breath as she saw Nightmare Moon’s body and Crystal’s look as though they were about to be blown away.
Shadow didn’t want to see what would happen if he got angrier and the amount of energy Naruto was producing was immense. “Mara grab the girls and get out of here.” The clone said making Mara look at him with shocked confusion. “I’ll hold him off for as long as I can you just get them back to the real me, got it?”
“Like hell I will, I won’t let him outclass me.” Shadow was about to argue when the swirling energy ended and receded back into Naruto’s body. His stance showed no remorse as the very ground crashed underneath the enormous amount of energy being sent out by Naruto. “I’m going to show him one hundred percent of my power.” Mara shouted and rushed at Naruto. She disappeared with lightning fast speed surprising Shadow a little bit.
She appeared behind Naruto one of her hooves covered by her shadow as it formed a black blade. She cried out throwing the blade toward Naruto’s back. She didn’t make it halfway as one of the tails formed a claw and shot up catching the blade in mid-air. Mara looked in complete shock at what just happened as did Shadow himself. Those tails can turn into claws, WHAT?
Naruto threw Mara in front of him and roared loudly. The sheer power behind that shout sent a sound wave so powerful it threw Mara and Shadow backwards almost into the crowd actually who immediately backed away from them. The sound wave picked Nightmare Moon and Crystal up and hurled them forward. Celestia and Remedy were about to take action when Naruto threw his front hooves out sending the energy claws around his hands out at them. They grew in size until they grabbed ahold of them and immediately drew them back towards him.
“Girls did you see that?” Twilight asked in shock. Her friends all nodded their heads just as shocked and confused. “Why did he grab them if they’re dead to him?” She looked to her friends and then to Remedy who all just shrugged.
“It may be he hasn’t fully succumb to his rage yet.” Celestia said her heart racing faster than when Luna had become Nightmare Moon. That day she wished never happened, but she couldn’t worry about that now. Naruto was slowly losing his mind and might actually lose it soon if they didn’t do anything quick. “Listen we might have to use the Elements of Harmony on him if we can’t save him in time alright.” The girls all looked at her with wide eyes. The last time they used it was for Discord’s release so that he could be reformed.
That lead to him and Fluttershy getting together as a couple. Fluttershy had never been happier in her life and hoped that their secret didn’t get out. However looking at Naruto now made the shy yellow pegasus wonder, would this happen to Discord if he was given the chance? She had this constant fear in the back of her mind, a fear held for a whole year, that Discord would betray them all but she doubted he would betray his own blood.
Mara and Shadow stood up as they looked at Naruto stunned at what they saw. Mara had wide eyes while Shadow just looked at him with pure rage. “How is this stallion doing this?” Was all Shadow could utter the rest of the words getting caught in his throat.
“Shadow,” Mara said getting his attention. She looked serious for the first time she wasn’t grinning but her eyes held that same lust for death. “If we rush him both way he can’t stop us so let’s do it.” Shadow smiled at this seeing where she was going. He couldn’t be that fast, he can’t move faster than darkness itself.
Both Shadow and Mara extended their Shadow around Naruto and sunk into it like water would in the ocean. Melting into its space like it had always been a part of it. The shadow shot up like someone jumping out of water. Mara came in front of Naruto while Shadow came from behind both dawning what looked like a shadow spike on their right hooves. “Time to die!” They both shouted throwing their hooves forward attached to the shadow spikes.
They hit their target only it wasn’t the result they were expecting. Everypony who had a good view couldn’t believe it. Naruto stood sideways standing on his hind legs, his head sunk down as though he was struggling to keep them at bay. His teeth grinding together. The tails on his back were thrown into the ground like an anchor so that he wouldn’t be thrust upwards. He stood over Nightmare Moon and Crystal like a guardian. Nothing was going to pass him.
Mara believed that they had seen his limits because she was slowly forcing her side hoof to push further almost breaking through Naruto’s hoof. “You’re so pathetic.” Naruto’s ears perked up at hearing this. “You can’t even protect these two, they lie dead below you and you did nothing while I killed them. Of course if you want to blame a pony for that, blame Shadow there for hiring me.” Shadow couldn’t believe he was hearing this. After being blown back by merely a roar she was boasting about holding him here and making a small amount of headway.
It made little sense to the dark king. But he could see that she was pushing his hoof back so he pushed harder with his hoof wrapped in the shadow spike. They thought this would be the end for the strange orange stallion with demonic powers. Unfortunately Naruto had other plans as his head shot up and he pushed them back with enormous strength. Shadow was sent into the Everfree Forest while Mara was sent just in front of the crowd.
Mara got up holding her head in her hooves and looked at the scared crowd staring at her. “What you got a problem?” Mara spat casing some of them to step back. Mothers put a hoof in front of their child in defense. “Don’t worry once I’m done with this stallion I’ll be back for you.” She said turning around only to come face to face with Naruto who growled lowly. Mara responded with a small shriek of surprise as she jumped into the air. Naruto shifted slightly before jumping into the air after her.
The jump sent a shockwave that blew a few of the citizens back a bit. Luckily he was a few yards away or he might have destroyed a house with the energy wave he sent out. Celestia couldn’t believe what was happening right now. He had grown stronger in a matter of minutes and it looked like he wasn’t going to stop until Mara either died or left this world for another.
Mara was barely able to get her shadow to cover her when Naruto’s claws came down slamming her into the Everfree Forest. He landed which looked more like he crashed with the explosion that occurred from his landing. The ponies near him covered their eyes or wrapped their hooves around their children to protect them from any debris that had been sent flying their way. They were small pieces but they still left some small cuts nothing too serious though.
Naruto roared again causing the ground below him to sink into a black circle resembling a tar pit. He launched forward into the Everfree Forest nothing but killing Mara and Clone Shadow were on his mind. He jumped from branch to branch faster than he had before as he scanned the area looking for the two fiends. He found what appeared to be a black orb and watched as Shadow emerged from it.
Naruto jumped down in front of him giving him a small scare. Clone Shadow jumped a few feet back as sweat crawled down his face. He didn’t know what to do now. Alone he couldn’t do anything against him because the clone he created wasn’t anywhere near strong enough to take on Naruto in his state of rage.
Naruto charged at Shadow launching large chunks of debris behind him. Some of the debris was so big it knocked down some of the trees. Shadow didn’t have time to react as Naruto slashed at his face sending him deeper into the forest. Shadow felt that hit all the way in his castle. He touched his cheek to find it sore. He rubbed the spot a bit seeing how bad it was. Nothing much but he could only imagine what his clone was feeling at that moment.
The clone could barely stand let alone talk. Mara’s shadow orb lay next to him and when it fell she flopped right down on her back. “So Mara,” Shadow said as he walked over to her fallen body. She was in shock as her breathing came slowly. “What was that about us being able to take him?” Shadow asked as he helped her to her hooves.
“He shouldn’t have been that strong but then again I wasn’t using my full strength. If I had there’s no way he would have been able to beat me.” Mara boasted although Shadow just looked annoyed. She sounded like that one traveling magician who showed up in his kingdom the other day. Man was she annoying only this one was psychotic.
“Mara listen, if we’re going to do this we need to come up with a better strategy.” Shadow said through his clone. “Whatever Naruto has done to gain so much power we have to find a way around it.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Mara retorted almost slapping Shadow but she held back. She would need all of her strength if she was going to have a chance at defeating Naruto. An idea came to her as she smiled and rubbed her hooves maliciously. Shadow had a sweat drop on his head in slight fear. He knew Mara was psychotic but devious no, this look made him blush slightly but only in embarrassment because wasn’t it his job to come up with the plans.
“Why don’t we play a little game of cat and mouse?” Shadow looked at her with frustration as veins on his head were popping out like crazy. “Hear me out for a second Shadow, if we have him chase us it’ll lower his energy and when he’s weak enough we can strike and then take the two girls.”
“It’s a solid plan and it might work but I have one question for you.” Mara nodded her head telling him to continue. “How are we supposed to outrun him? I am only a clone here my real body would have no problem keeping up but I can’t. The real me didn’t think I would need that much strength to begin with. I only have about thirty percent of my true bodies power.”
“Wait your only thirty percent?” Mara asked shocked by this. She thought he was strong but if this was his thirty percent what was he like at one hundred. “That’s not good for us.”
“You think but I haven’t been using all thirty percent of that power.” Mara looked at him with wide eyes and mouth almost stunned but more angry than stunned.
“Why the hell not you jerk?!” Mara questioned slamming her hoof over the clone’s head. Shadow in his castle felt that and held his head in pain as did his clone. “We could have killed him by now but noooooo you just had to hold back. What kind of king doesn’t go all out against his opponent?”
“One who knows how to save up all of his strength for the final blow.” Shadow retorted slamming his hoof down getting Mara to shrink in fear. Her eyes looked like that of a crying puppy as Shadow continued to rant. “If you hadn’t gotten him like this in the first place I wouldn’t have to worry about him and Nightmare Moon would be mine. But no you have to boast and push every little button that Naruto has knowing the warnings I have given you and you just ignore them like an idiot. Why are you so naïve that you end up messing up my plans?”
Mara felt that Shadow could have killed her by now and so he still must have needed her. “Quick question. Why didn’t you just come down here yourself? Why send some stupid clone?” Mara asked bluntly making the clone and the real Shadow pout in irritation. She just never stopped asking questions. He was getting a migraine from her constant banter that he was about to use shadows to zip her mouth permanently.
“Sorry but I have a kingdom to run as well.” Shadow said making excuses. The truth was he was judging Naruto’s power to his own. What he didn’t expect was for Naruto to be this powerful. “I can’t leave there in case a problem comes up which is why I sent a clone.” The voice was from Shadow at the castle talking through the clone like a puppet. “Just because I am evil to all others doesn’t mean my ponies have to suffer my wrath.”
“Wait a moment I thought you could care less about any other pony but yourself?” Mara asked feeling there was no truth behind Shadow’s words. Shadow could see it in her eyes that she didn’t believe him. Well with what he does to all other ponies he can’t really blame her. “I’ve never seen you be nice to any pony. How can you make such a claim, dear Shadow?”
“First off don’t call me ‘dear’.” Shadow said poking Mara hard almost a push actually. “Second, what I do to other ponies and my kingdom’s ponies is completely up to me. You’ll see how I treat my ponies when we get back but for now we need to focus on getting rid of Naruto or you won’t see the light of tomorrow.”
“Whatever, I didn’t know you could be such a softie.” Mara said smiling to herself. Shadow had a shadow like claw spring forward and strangle Mara for a few seconds. She coughed roughly as she breathed in heavily.
“Call me a softie again and I will make you regret ever accepting my offer.” Mara backed away in fear. As if in an instant, Shadow had reverted back into his malicious self. His eyes bore that of a ruthless killer willing to do anything to get what he wanted. Yet in those eyes Mara could have sworn she saw something. It looked like a small glimmer but a glimmer of what?
Next thing they knew they were hearing trees being ripped apart as Naruto came running through the forest. Mara and Shadow both got ready as Naruto shot out of the darkness of the. He came down and they both jumped to a different side. Naruto’s eyes were going back and forth between the two of them as he was trying to figure out who to go after first. Mara could see her plan was going to work now all they had to do was last long enough.
“Hey Naruto!” Naruto’s eyes and head shot in Mara’s direction. She almost fell off the branch she had landed on from just his stare. “You have to be a complete idiot to not notice your marefriend like that.” Mara said sticking her tongue out at him. Shadow looked at her thinking “That was an insult?”
Naruto launched himself at Mara who barely reacted in time as Naruto’s hoof smashed the tree in half as well as many others after it. Mara stared in shock at how much damage Naruto had done with one punch. Shadow felt relieved that Mara was able to dodge that because had she not he would be fighting Naruto alone. Well his clone would anyway.
Mara landed on the ground but had to move quickly as Naruto wasn’t letting up any time soon and smashed the ground where she used to be. The hole he left looked to be the size of a small house. It curved in like a ball had struck the area. It actually almost looked like waves were going through it like layers to a cake. Naruto stood back up in his stance as Shadow had to start or else he would catch up to Mara soon.
“Naruto!” Naruto’s entire body stopped as he slowly turned his head facing the silver stallion. “Yes that’s right Naruto I am Shadow. The one who has been after your precious Luna.” Naruto didn’t let him sat more as he was already in front of Shadow all of his tails struck the area where he used to be. Shadow jumped back again using his shadow as a pole almost to keep him balanced.
Naruto went at Shadow again his hooves striking down sending another powerful punch into the forest demolishing everything that was in front of him for about fifty yards. His arm was angled as well so the damage to the ground was a lot more intensive than the damage he did to the trees around him. Shadow barely grabbed a hold of a tree’s branch with his shadow as he flipped himself up onto the branch.
“Come now Naruto is that the best you can do?” Naruto’s head turned to see Mara mocking him. “I’ve seen bandits who hit harder.” Although that was obviously a lie Naruto didn’t catch it as his main purpose at this moment was to kill these two and anyone who tried to take Nightmare Moon, Crystal or Luna from him.
Naruto darted at her again slamming down. She dodged barely again. She was starting to get his movements but he was a little faster than her and she had to use her shadow tentacles to pull her away. The constant insults being thrown at Naruto were definitely getting him to chase them. Were his powers decreasing as a result? No in fact they were increasing it.
“Princess Celestia the elements as you have requested.” A guard said arriving on the seen with a chest carrying the known Elements of Harmony. Celestia thanked the guard as she used her magic to place each element on its respective owner.
They all looked to her with sadness in their eyes. Applejack and Pinkie had the greatest though for their feelings for Naruto hadn’t really left but they had been keeping to their promise. Whether they liked it was another story, Applejack and Pinkie had both promised to stay out of Naruto and Luna’s affairs. However at this moment they were more worried about Naruto than ever.
Both Mara and Shadow were still dodging Naruto’s attacks until they both ended up in the same place. “What are you doing don’t dodge towards me!” Shadow shouted to Mara. “Why is she such a pain?” He thought through other thoughts.
“Sorry I thought you went the other way!” Mara said getting in his face. “Why is he such a pain?” (“Great” minds think alike don’t they?) Mara thought to herself as she wanted to drive her shadow through this clones chest to see if it would hurt the real Shadow.
They would have argues more had it not been for Naruto who was above them with both of his hooves behind his head ready to slam down upon them. His energy became two large fists that came crashing down. The explosion that occurred afterwards was so large that even the ponies in Canterlot saw what they could only describe as a large dust cloud in the distance.
Celestia and the others felt the gust that hit them. Those who were pegasus could barely keep their wings at their sides. Twilight and the others trembled from the pure power behind that hit. Celestia’s whole mind had been blown. The power Naruto had just released was greater than what she could do at this moment in time. Only one pony could possibly match it if he were to let loose and that pony was dead.
Mara appeared as her shadow kind of spit her out. She landed on a branch high above the explosion. When the dust cleared she saw a large clearing where hundreds of trees used to be. She looked over to her right and saw Shadow. She went over to him and saw that one of his legs was missing and instead of blood what looked like black ooze dripped from it. Shadow back at the castle had felt that attack and was surprised his clone hadn’t been completely obliterated. His horn glowed and the clone woke up. Clone Shadow grabbed his head with his other hoof feeling a migraine coming on as did the real Shadow.
He looked at his missing hoof and reacted how any other normal pony would and screamed. “Curse him.” Shadow said as his shadow shot up into his arm then looked to be cut off as his hoof formed again. “At least I’m a clone of the real one. I underestimated that stallion’s ability and I am paying for it now.” Shadow said through the clone as he rubbed his own head. Although the pain wasn’t as significant as with the clone he still felt like his head was pounding.
Naruto stood in the center of what was now a large clearing. His anger could be seen through his flailing tails. Mara laughed at him getting his attention. “Is that it Naruto? All tuckered out now?” Mara asked getting a stunned expression from Shadow. He wanted to slap that mare so hard. If they provoked him who knows what he could do? He had just made what could clearly be a half-mile wide and she wanted to continue doing this? “Come on you’ll have to do better than that if you want to save Nightmare Moon and that little filly.”
Shadow couldn’t believe this as he looked down to Naruto his eyes widened as did Mara’s as they watched a fourth fox tail rise out of the energy. Naruto was gasping as the pain his body now faced with was tearing away at him literally. He could barely stand on all four of his hooves as the energy seemed to be weighing him down. His coat began to peel off like one would peel a banana. Very small pieces followed by bigger pieces. Small orbs of dark red energy floated up into the already bubbling aura.
The pieces of flesh that had begun to tear away from his body seemed to be burned away. When the small orbs hit the top of the energy they released a black smoke that began to encircle Naruto. It circled him until not even Shadow or Mara could see him. They both stood there watching fear and the thoughts that came ravaging their entire being almost to the point to where they wanted to run.
The smoke began to rise into the air like a signal fire. Pinkie Pie was the first to see it and pointed straight at it. “Hey girls what is that?” Celestia looked up along with the others only to gasp in fright. Was that a fire? The mane 6 thought but Celestia knew better and rushed over to the fallen Nightmare Moon. If there was any hope of getting Naruto back they needed her now.
Celestia began to look over her body, besides a few bruises and a bloody lip she looked to be fine. She saw her chest expanding very lightly. She was breathing, thank her I guess. She started to use her magic when she her ears heard what could only be described as Naruto’s roar.
Within the hemisphere of smoke Naruto was nothing more but a complete blood red energy. Only small specs of his orange coat remained on him. He roared one last time. This roar sent forth so much energy it tore through the forest sending an incredibly massive shockwave out. Celestia’s head raised when she felt the force quickly bringing up a shield wide enough to protect Ponyville. As the debris of the forest came down on the shield Celestia could see small cracks forming. Only problem they weren’t coming from the colliding debris.
Remedy immediately saw the real problem and rushed to her side amplifying Celestia’s magic with her own. Their combined strength was enough to keep the shockwave at bay as well as the debris that came along with it. When it ended Celestia and all of Ponyville saw the damage to the shield and were amazed at how many cracks there were. Celestia hadn’t known any pony that could this to her magic. Remedy was just as surprised as Celestia. To almost break an alicorn’s magical barrier to a lot of magic and normally you would have to be up close to them.
Naruto had to be a couple miles into the forest and yet he did this much damage with just a roar and a sudden burst of energy. Remedy looked down at Nightmare Moon cursing her for taking him away from her. She could understand Crystal but Nightmare Moon she was nothing but evil and yet he wanted to protect her. Remedy wondered if she needed to possibly hurt hundreds to thousands of ponies just to make him notice her. What did she have to do to make him like her and not this thing.
“Remedy,” the black unicorn looked up at Celestia who called her. She had this serious look on her face. “As much as I hate to say this we need to get Crystal and Nightmare Moon on their hooves now.” Remedy looked at Celestia with a shocked expression. She would have yelled at her had Celestia’s glare not included any anger. “I don’t want this either but right now they are probably the only ones who can calm him down. We won’t stand a chance against Naruto in his current state. We have no choice.”
Remedy was about to retort when she saw the energy still in the sky begin to dwindle away. Whatever just happened was definitely not good and she didn’t want to be on the receiving end of it. “Fine but I’ll take care of the young one. I don’t even want to help that pathetic excuse for a mare. She stole my Naruto that convoluted, dark, depressing, irritating, evil, jealousy driven…*rant* *rant*,” Remedy continued to do this until Celestia had heard enough and placed one of her armored hooves against Remedy’s lips.
“I believe that’s enough ranting about my sister for one day. Let’s just get this over with so we can see Naruto back to normal.” Remedy pouted slightly her cheeks puffed up like a puffer fish. She nodded and began to use a healing spell on Crystal. Celestia got right to work on Nightmare Moon sending her magic all over her body making sure that every single fiber of her being was hit.
Back in the forest Shadow and Mara had a large shadow wall in front of them that had shielded them from the blast. When they dropped the shield all they saw was what looked like a red beast. It was Naruto alright but he was hunched over like he was staring at something below him. The energy around him was no longer bubbling nor was it orange.
Instead it was the color of think blood and it looked to be moving along his body in an odd fashion. Almost as though the energy itself was vibrating on top of Naruto. His body was still in the shape of a pony however. His ears were more rabbit shaped when you looked at it. But Shadow knew they had to look like something else. His eyes held no color but glowed a piercing white as did the inside of his mouth. Where his lips should have been there were none at all. Instead replacing his lips was a mouth that resembled a sharks if anything nothing but sharp teeth. He looked straight ahead as if he didn’t even know Shadow and Mara were there.
Naruto’s roared to the heavens in a blind rage. His roar didn’t send a shockwave this time which puzzled Shadow. But the roar itself had no trace of Naruto’s voice at all. It was that of an animals. He didn’t know what animal besides a dragon if that made a roar like that. The only way Shadow or Mara could describe it was demonic to say the least.
“What in the name of Equestria is going on here? Is that even Naruto?” Shadow whispered to himself Unfortunately Mara heard him. She looked at him and for the first time she saw what looked to be genuine fear on the dark king’s face.
“Hey Shadow what’s got you all spooked?” Mara asked somewhat confused as to why Shadow, even his clone before her, would be afraid of him. So he wasn a dark shade of red, so what? It’s not like he got stronger form it…right? She was going to prove to Shadow that there was nothing to be afraid of.
Mara jumped down in front of Naruto. Her smile was wide with glee as she could see he wasn’t going to be much of a problem now. It looked like his body was trying to stand up. Mara’s shadow pointed at him with intent to kill. She slammed her hooves onto the ground and what looked like several smaller tentacles began to head towards Naruto. Naruto looked forward to see what could only be described as a tsunami of shadows heading his way. He stood up looking almost off balance actually.
Mara thought that she would get such an easy victory. She was already humming to herself a song that if put into words was just her past killings. Naruto just growled softly as the small clicks in his growl were the only things heard. Mara watched as her wave kept growing in size to the point to where it had to be considered a wave. It rose up ready to consume Naruto.
Naruto raised his right arm up and slammed it down right on the Shadow itself causing a massive explosion to occur. The explosion sent a shockwave so powerful that it head straight in the direction of Ponyville and beyond. Celestia had to bring forth another shield draining more of her magic from her body. She didn’t need Remedy’s help this time. They were just worried about the two who had gone in after Naruto.
Just before Naruto’s attack on Mara’s shadow Nightmare Moon’s eyes slowly opened. “Ugh? What happened?” Nightmare Moon asked as she rubbed her pounding head. That’s when she remembered all that had happened with Mara and Naruto and Crystal. “Naruto! Crystal! Where are you?” She shouted scaring her older sister.
“MAMA!” Nightmare Moon’s head shot in the direction of the voice only to see a small white unicorn filly jumping at her. Nightmare Moon quickly wrapped her fore legs around her in a tight embrace.
“Oh my sweet little moon stone you’re alright thank…” Nightmare Moon had to think before she continued that statement. She didn’t want to thank her sister at all.
“It’s okay,” Celestia said getting Nightmare Moon to look at her, “and if you want to thank any pony for helping Crystal you should be thanking Remedy.” Nightmare Moon looked over to the black unicorn who just huffed and walked away with a sass in her step. Nightmare Moon was a little confused but a single tear came down her face when she heard that. Remedy could be nice at some point.
“Wait,” Nightmare said as she looked back and forth, he wasn’t there. “Where’s Naruto!” She cried worried about her coltfriend.
Celestia had her hooves over her ears as the voice still rang in her head. “No need to shout.” Celestia said poking Nightmare in the chest. Nightmare didn’t look amused as her eyes looked at her evilly. “Don’t give me that look. Listn we would have let you recover the old fashion way had Naruto not gone crazy again.”
“Gone crazy?” Nightmare asked wondering what she meant by that. The only times Naruto had gone crazy was when he used those demon powers of his. At least that was as far as Nightmare Moon knew. “Wait please don’t tell me that happened?” Celestia just pointed to the surrounding area and she saw the devastation.
“No.” She whispered as Crystla leapt down to see what her mother had seen. She looked at the devastation with a face that just said “Whoa.”
There had to be several craters where Naruto had impacted the ground while fighting Shadow and Mara and here before her was the proof. She looked around but saw no trace of him. That is until she heard a menacing roar to demonic to be anything from any creature she knew of.
“Celestia where is he?” Nightmare asked worried about what was happening to him. Was he alright? Was he dying? Was he hurting somepony? Was he…NO! Nightmare threw those thoughts from her mind. Naruto couldn’t hurt any pony unless it meant to protect her and Crystal now. But then why; why did she hear that roar?
“I’m going in after him.” Nightmare said plainly, there seemed to be no emotion in her voice, but the truth is she was fighting back tears now. She never felt so worried in her life but then again this was the first time she ever had to worry about somepony other than herself. It was the first time she ever loved somepony.
“Mama, is papa in trouble?” Crystal asked as a rim of water lined her eyes. Nightmare Moon picked up the small filly with her magic and placed her gently on her back. Nightmare was definitely sore from her fight and she could only imagine the pain her new daughter was going through.
“Yes he is and we’re going to go and help him.” Crystal wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled happily. She was excited for some reason but then again she didn’t really know what excitement was at the moment. Nightmare Moon would have taken off but the second she tried to unfurl her wings that shot her with a dose of good pain. She cringed in the intensity.
She cursed in her head so not to give such words to her little moon stone. She rushed into the Everfree Forest not giving it a second thought. Crystal had to hold onto Nightmare tightly so as to not be thrown off from her sudden speed. Nightmare wasn’t really paying attention and didn’t exactly know where to look until she heard what sounded like a loud roar. Her head shot to the left as the roar seemed to echo from that direction. Crystal shook in fear at the sound.
Nightmare was beginning to wonder if taking he little filly with her was a good idea but she’d rather her learn now then later, didn’t want to scare her when she was older. Nightmare ran in the direction hoping to the eternal night that that roar didn’t come from Naruto.
She heard what sounded like a loud explosion. She stopped dead in her tracks as she heard what sounded like a large ust heading her way. She quickly saw the wave coming and used her magic to create a shield that encased both her and Crystal. She could feel the intensity from the attack through the shield itself. It was scary feeling this and to wonder who was on the receiving end of it.
When it was over she ran as fast as her hooves would carry her. She kept running only two thoughts running through her head. The first, did Naruto really go demon in front of all those ponies again? And the second was the most troubling to her. Will she even be able to bring him back to normal? She wasn’t Luna and Naruto barely knew her voice so he could mistake her for somepony else. It made her worry greatly about this.
Back with Naruto the smoke had finally cleared where all the shadows had been completely blown away. Mara stood there wide eyed in horror. Shadow was the same only his mouth was agape in utter disbelief. That big of a Shadow and he took it out in ne swipe. What the hell is he? “Mara get back now!” Shadow called only to get Naruto to turn in his direction.
Naruto slammed his claws into the ground making Mara and Shadow look at him in confusion. Suddenly the ground around him seemed to be forming large cracks and indeed they were. They were growing in length until they reached the base of the tree. Shadow knew what was happening and jumped away as two incredibly large claws rose up uprooting the tree.
He landed next to Mara but Naruto’s one glance at them just sent fear throughout their bodies. And if his icy white eyed stare wasn’t doing it the third claw that flew out of the other ones certainly did. Both were doing their best to dodge his claw and thought that splitting up would be a smart idea. They did this only to have the claw split in two. Well, this sucks doesn’t it?
Mara cursed rapidly in her head and should have one the most foul mouthed pony in Equestria award for how many words were said I that time. Shadow’s clone was paying more attention to surviving. The claw was about ten feet away when Shadow threw a hoof out towards it and a shadow extended from the ground. It tried to wrap the arm tightly so that it would stop. Shadow’s eyes widened in shock at what happened next. The shadow extending from his arm was being burned away literally. It was dissolving like a block of sugar in boiling water.
Shadow jumped away farther as Naruto’s claw slammed into his previous spot. Mara had landed next to him. They were both gasping for more air. Naruto had just gotten started with them. “What kind of energy is this?” Shadow said as he repaired his shadow with magic. Mara looked to be in just as much disbelief as him. She had seen the shadow that Clone Shadow had sent towards Naruto’s claw arm.
“How is it able to destroy shadow’s so easily. This energy can’t be real.” Shadow said as Naruto just turned his head somewhat quickly making them both fall to their rears in fright. Mara thought she knew fear before this but now she was experiencing a whole new kind of fear. The fear of death.
Shadow’s clone was being given the same feeling as the original Shadow and charged Naruto. His shadow wrapped around his right hoof and brought it back after jumping in the air. Naruto just followed him with his eyes as Shadow’s shadow formed a large fist around his hoof. Shadow slammed his fist into Naruto’s face making his mouth look like that of a parasite for a few seconds. Mara cheered but was silenced as another torso of Naruto himself sprang from his chest.
Shadow watched in horror as this one’s claw made contact severing his body in half. Mara’s eyes shrank to small pebbles. He did that with one swipe. One swipe. That was just a clone of Shadow so it’s not like it mattered to him but she was here in the flesh what would happen to her? Shadow’s body seemed to stretch like rubber getting a raised eye from Naruto and a shocked look from Mara. He attached himself back to his body and jumped back holding his side with his hoof.
Shadow was breathing heavily. Both on the field of battle and in his castle. He hadn’t used so much magic in a long time that he was getting frustrated. Inside Shadow’s castle he didn’t notice somepony was watching him this whole time. Shadow could care less who it was and decided not to take notice and continued watching the battle.
Naruto was getting annoyed by this now. Suddenly his body seemed to be bubbling itself almost like it was going to explode. Shadow and Mara just watched as several small spheres shot out of him and into the air. Half were blue almost like a drop of the ocean stuck in place and others were the color of the energy that surrounded Naruto. Naruto’s tails all bent until they each seemed to be pointing to an exact spot. All the small orbs began to converge on the exact spot where the four tails would have met and created a large purple orb.
Shadow saw this and grabbed Mara with his shadow jumping as far as he could with his weak legs. “Mara we need to build walls of shadows as quickly as we can.” Mara looked at him confused. Why would they need to do this?
The orb had shrunk to the size of a baseball and it caused the ground around Naruto to plunge further down into a small crater. Shadow and Mara were busy driving their shadows together to get ready to defend against this. Nightmare Moon had just reached the clearing when she saw him. Her eyes were wide the size of small bits as she looked at the scarlet red energy absorbed stallion. His four tails were concentrating the energy she saw as a large purple orb in front of him.
“Mama where’s papa?” Crystal asked as she looked back and forth not seeing Naruto anywhere.
“No, what happened to you this time.” Nightmare Moon whispered as she felt water build in her eyes. She realized it and shook her head. She was Nightmare Moon she didn’t cry. But there Naruto was looking even more like that of a demon. She couldn’t believe it, if it wasn’t for the strange energy surrounding him she wouldn’t have recognized him.
Shadow looked to his right slightly and saw something he couldn’t believe. Nightmare Moon looked to be afraid of Naruto. Outside he was smiling but inwardly he wondered how she saw him. Guess he would have to find a way to fix that himself. That’s when the he saw the strangest thing.
Naruto’s mouth seemed to be opening wider as his lip line extended as it sounded like something was being ripped in half. Naruto put his jaws over the orb and closed them swallowing the orb whole. Shadow, Mara and Nightmare all looked at him with confused looks.
“HA!” Mara laughed as Naruto was pulled heavily to the ground. “Looks like that backfired you idiot. How can you possibly move with your body barely able to move like that?” That’s when Naruto’s body blew up like a balloon in a second. He looked like he swallowed a perfectly round boulder. Shadow and Mara both nodded to each other with smiles on their faces. They both thought he was going to blow up when the expansion seemed to be moving up Naruto’s body.
“Oh dear darkness!” Shadow exclaimed as he grabbed Mara and jumped further back extending his shadow further. “Mara we have to summon three shadow barriers now!” Mara looked at him like she had no idea what was going on but she just nodded at the king because he looked scared. She nodded raising her hooves along with Shadow.
Naruto’s mouth opened shouting out what could only be described as a beam of energy. A beam of massive energy that looked like it was shot out of a powerful alicorn. Shadow and Mara both shouted at the same time. “TRIPLE SHADOW BARRIER!” As they said this three very thick about five meters in width walls rose from their shadows. Naruto’s small round of energy didn’t seem to look strong enough to blast through that.
Shadow then thought of something and kicked Mara away just before the blast hit the first wall. The blast connected releasing the energy. IT erupted forth like a volcano awaking from its slumber. The energy expanded around the barriers destroying them like they were thin planks of wood. Shadow became enveloped by the energy and screamed in agony until his body was completely destroyed leaving nothing left.
Nightmare Moon opened her eyes and saw the destruction with her own eyes. They widened as far as they would let them her pupils smaller then pebbles. The blast that had occurred had to have gone at least a mile with the length that she saw. Mara was on the edge of where the blast had left its mark. She lay there shaking at what she just saw. Shadow’s clone had been completely vaporized. In an instant the scream she heard had probably lasted a second but no more.
Shadow in his castle was on the floor grabbing at his sides. He had felt that blast to its smallest degree and yet it was causing this much pain in him. He was using every last ounce of will not to scream. The guards were afraid for their king and would have gone to him but they feared his anger would be released soon.
Nightmare Moon stared in horror. Naruto looked to have enjoyed that. His demonic self stood there again in what looked like a pouncing position with a smile on his face. His eyes were pointed like triangles. Mara just looked over to Naruto and he looked to her his smile turning into a frown. His eyes narrowed again. Mara’s eyes widened when she saw what he was about to do and launched her shadow forward grabbing onto the nearest tree pulling herself away from him.
“Celestia what was that?” Twilight asked still shocked at what they saw.
“I don’t know Twilight but whatever it was, it wasn’t Shadow or Mara.” Applejack and Pinkie looked at her with worried faces. They knew that only one pony had that much power in their bodies. “I’m sorry to say but be ready for anything my ponies.”
The girls all nodded their heads although Applejack and Pinkie were a little more hesitant. Twilight’s horn glowed readying the elements for their blast. What they saw emerge from the forest stopped caught every ponies breath.
Naruto just followed her with his eyes and waited like that of a predator “playing” with his prey. “Mama who is that?” Crystal asked as a tear formed in her eye.
“That my small moonstone is your papa.” Nightmare said her eyes devoid of tears as fear was the only thing filling them now. Crystal was about to say something when Naruto’s gaze shifted over to them. The little filly looked into the eyes of the creature and she saw it. Naruto, his body was fighting against the anger and the rage. HE was fighting the darkness aiming for his heart.
“Mama he needs your help!” Nightmare Moon looked at her little filly and saw something strange. Her eyes looked to be serious and for a filly at such a young age, this was rather shocking. Nightmare giggled a little bit.
She opened her eyes and she looked serious like that time she tried to take down her sister all those years ago. “I know and if I know one thing only I can save him.” She said putting her hoof on her chest. Naruto turned back to Mara who gasped in horror as he jumped at her. The force of the jump sent large amounts of debris.
Nightmare watched as Naruto chased Mara out of the forest through the tress. They came out right in front of the girls who had their elements ready. However, everything seemed to stop when they saw Naruto. Applejack and Pinkie Pie both had wide eyes and agape mouths. Naruto actually looked like a demon now to them.
Celestia was trying to order the girls to use the elements but when she saw Naruto, she couldn’t say a word. Where was he? He looked nothing like the stallion she had a crush on. The stallion jumped again this time making contact as he swiped with his claws making contact with her body. It was more like a slap to be precise as Mara was launched away. She screamed as she landed. Naruto’s tails fired off like they had minds of their own, each formed their own claws, and then began to slam repeatedly into Mara downed body.
Nightmare Moon had come out soon after and watched in shock as Naruto walked slowly up to her as his claws continued to bash into the body of Mara leaving small charred marks where they hit. When Naruto stood before her, his small snarl could be heard throughout the townsponies. They couldn’t believe that the savior of Ponyville a month ago was this “thing”. Mara looked at him her body covered in small burns and blood solely trickling down different spots on her body.
“No, please.” Mara begged as she saw her life flashing before her eyes. She wanted to smile at all of the ‘happy’ times but she couldn’t her body was in too much pain and she was filled with fear as she finally felt death approaching. Naruto just stared at her as he raised his claws above his head.
Nightmare saw what was happening and before Naruto could slam his large fist into her body, she grabbed Crystal and covered her eyes with both her hoof and her wings. She used magic to cover her ears. Naruto slammed down onto Mara’s body. Mara’s scream pierced through everyponies ears. They all stared wide-eyed at him. Her scream although short echoed through everyone’s mind. It was like a broken record being played repeatedly.
Naruto rose from the dust spread out from the explosion. Nightmare set Crystal down knowing she couldn’t get too close to him. Not while he was like this. She would have a better time dealing with him since she was an alicorn. Crystal was still a filly and she could be seriously hurt from him. Nightmare just looked at Crystal and she seemed to get the idea and nodded her head.
Naruto rose out of the smoke holding his two front claws out like he was about to grab onto something. Nightmare was worried about Naruto because last time Luna had to grab a hold of him in order for him to come back to normal. She remembered that she had said a few words to her. Her thinking was stopped as she heard a sound that nearly sent her into a panic. It was the sound of the Elements of Harmony. The only thing she thought that could defeat her.
It looked like the girls were getting ready to use the elements but were frozen still as Naruto walked away from the crater he created. Nightmare only glanced over there but it was enough to tell her one thing Mara was dead. All they could see was her head through the dust. Her mouth was open while her eyes held no soul as they looked to be staring into nothing. Celestia saw it and gasped at the horror. It had been years since she’d seen a pony die in front of her. She didn’t want to see what the rest of her body looked like after that attack.
Naruto’s head turned to where he had left Nightmare Moon and Crystal and found them to be gone. His white eyes widened and he turned to Celestia and Remedy. They both stepped back their gasps stopped by fear. They could barely move. Twilight and the others were frozen. Naruto roared sending chills down everyponies spine. Naruto was about to lunge forth and kill whatever lay in front of him when Nightmare called his name.
“Naruto don’t do it! They haven’t done anything!” Nightmare said standing before him. She was only ten feet away her wings spread as if to show she would defend these ponies. Naruto tilted his head when he heard the voice. Inside Naruto was floating amongst darkness feeling nothing but rage and hatred.
“Nightmare Moon?” Naruto said within his mind amongst the darkness. “That couldn’t be her. She’s dead. I saw her die right there in front of me.” Naruto said grabbing his head. The pain was unbearable the thought of her dying still fresh there was tormenting him. “It has to be Celestia or Remedy using some spell to change their voice.”
Naruto on the outside flung his arm forward and it extended smacking Nightmare Moon away. Everypony watched in horror as Naruto’s supposed love was slapped away by him. When Nightmare Moon landed she looked forward as if her eyes had been frozen.
“Why Naruto?” Nightmare Moon whispered as she began to feel tears forming in her eyes. “Is it because I’m not Luna or do you just not love me?” The more she thought on those two things the more she began to feel empty again.
“Celestia what just happened?” Twilight asked with bated breath.
“He hit Nightmare Moon.” Celestia said still in shock at what just happened. “He must not realize who Nightmare Moon is.”
“Either that or he’s blaming us thinking we’re using some spell to change our voice to sound like hers.” Remedy said as she took a step forward instead of back. “That idiot couldn’t tell if Nightmare Moon was alive if she held him herself.”
Naruto jumped stepped closer to Nightmare Moon almost looking as if he wanted to kill her. “That’s not Nightmare Moon. She’s dead. It’s Celestia in disguise or them using some kind of illusion spell.” Naruto said as his anger was only increasing. He could his body trembling as he felt more of the power coming. He would annihilate this fake with everything he had.
“PAPA!” Naruto’s movements stopped there. That voice, that small scared voice. Naruto’s head turned slightly and there in front of him he could see through the small holes in the darkness a small all white filly unicorn. Her eyes pouring with tears. “Why would you hurt mama papa? Why would you hurt the pony you love?”
Naruto tilted his head slightly. How was this possible she was dead. He was sure of it. She wasn’t moving, she wasn’t breathing, she looked dead. Naruto’s eyes widened in realization. They looked dead. When he realized this he looked back over to Nightmare Moon. But some of his thoughts were still there, on the lie that they were dead.
He roared out grabbing his head with his claws. Nightmare Moon saw this and remembered Remedy’s words just then. If she held him. The last time he had lost control Luna had held him in her arms spreading her warmth through him. Would she have to do the same thing? Suddenly it was like the energy was being poured out in waves as several energy like waves were being sent out of Naruto.
Nightmare Moon saw that Naruto was in great pain as she got up to go over to him. Celestia had brought up a shield to protect the townsponies from the waves. However, it looked like his energy, even in those small waves, were burning her shield. Nightmare Moon she didn’t have much time and she had to act fast. She started to make her way to Naruto as the waves were singing her body slightly. She ignored the pain as best she could. All that mattered was the stallion in front of her. She had to help him. She had to save him.
She was only a foot in front of him when the energy seemed to send out a shockwave that almost sent her backwards if not for her quick reflexes digging her hooves into the ground. She reached out with her hooves and touch Naruto’s cheek only to be sent a great amount of pain. She yelped pulling her hoof back. Naruto, inside his head heard the yelp and knew only Luna made yelps like that and only one other pony could make them.
He was fighting the darkness on the inside trying to override his anger and his hate but he couldn’t. He still didn’t even know if Nightmare Moon was actually alive. Even if a replica stood in front of him he wanted the real one the real Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon didn’t know what to do. She could kill herself if she got too close and actually touched him. But she had to. She had no choice, Naruto was more important now than her pathetic life. She used the last of her magic to form a magical barrier around her but she didn’t know how long it would last. She reached out again and even with the shield she felt the singing properties of the energy.
She moved closer her chest coming into contact with his. The energy waves were growing in intensity as she felt her armor being slowly destroyed by his energy. She put her hooves around his back and held him close just like Luna did the first time. “NARUTO!” Naruto’s head jerked up at that moment. He looked at the black alicorn holding him. HE was trembling on the inside on the outside he seemed to not even here her.
“Naruto please look at me. It’s me Naruto.” Naruto looked but didn’t expect what he saw. It looked like Nightmare was on the verge of crying. He could see her magic barrier being slowly burned away. “Naruto please you have to hear my voice. Say something you idiot!”
“Nightmare Moon?” He said in his head on the outside it was a two part growl. Nightmare looked at him now as her magic barrier was almost completely gone.
“Naruto it’s me.” Her horn glowed as the front of her right hoof glowed along with it. It no longer had the armor on it and besides the magic overflowing the hoof it was bear. She placed the hoof on his chest and watched as it glowed brighter. Naruto stared at the hoof as it glowed brighter and brighter. “This is my magic. I know it’s not Luna’s. It’s not the mare you love. I know but I just wanted to feel my warmth once.”
Naruto could feel the warmth pouring out of this magic. Indeed it wasn’t Luna’s magic but he could feel small traces of it. He had been touched by her magic enough times to know what it felt like. His mind was blank except for one thought. He was wrong. Not only was he wrong he had hurt her on purpose not by accident.
“Naruto, I also wanted to tell you something. Although, I already said it I wanted to say it to you, to your face.” Naruto looked up again both on the outside and the inside looking into her eyes. At that moment Naruto knew for a fact that it was her. The mare holding him in that moment was indeed Nightmare Moon. “I love you Naruto. I love you with a passion as strong as Luna’s and although you probably don’t care. I just needed to make sure you know.”
She leaned down slowly and placed her lips on his cheek. Although it hurt and her barrier was barely keeping it from really hurting her. She wanted him to feel her love at least once. This was her only chance in her mind and she took it for all that it was worth.
Naruto in his mind could feel something warm on his cheek as he turned his eyes. Right there he was looking at Nightmare Moon kissing his cheek. Naruto felt all sense of rage and anger leave him. All that was left was one feeling. And that one feeling was…
In the instant that she took her lips from his cheek his energy disappeared like that. She stared in shock as it looked like a great wind had taken the energy and blew it away like a fire. Looking up at her was the stallion she loved his blue eyes showing a burning passion she hadn’t seen before. His coat was no longer covered by that evil energy. He stood holding her tightly. And for the first time in Nightmare Moon’s life she cried.