The group ran quickly through the town, taking the same path that they had ran not minutes ago. Before they even got close to the market square, they could feel the town shake from the battle, bursts of light visible above the houses. Eventually they made it to the final corner, Andrew and Twilight slowly peaking around it. There, in the center of the square where the two mares, Luna and Terror. Andrew bit his lip and Twilight held back a gasp when they saw the battered Princess of the night.
Luna stood unsteadily, cuts and scrapes covering her body, bruises beginning to form on her face. Blood dripped down onto the ground from a wound that started on her lower neck and ran all the way down low on her shoulder. Her left wing was tight to her flank, the other was burnt and drooping as if she couldn’t control the muscle. Her breath came in slow pulls as she labored for each breath.
Meanwhile Nightmare Terror was still in the air, cackling as she lorded over Luna’s broken state.
“Look at you! You can barely stand!” She shouted mockingly. “How pitiful! Maybe if you beg I will just kill you quickly, put you out of your misery!”
“I will never beg! You are a monster and as a Princess and protector I will defeat you!” Luna shouted back, standing tall despite her injuries. “I will prevail.”
“Oh you will huh?” Terror teased. “Prevail through this!”
Nightmare terror punctuated her last word by hurling a magical lash at Luna, who struggled to dodge, her back leg giving out at the last second. Unable to move properly, the attack struck her thigh, lifting her and sending her spinning across the market, slamming onto the ground. There she lay, unmoving. Nightmare Terror could only laugh, her manic mirth echoing across the square. Andrew tore his eyes away from the living nightmare he was watching and turned to the mares behind him.
“Okay, here’s the plan. I’m going to charge in and distract her. You guys circle around and hit her from the side.” Andrew explained seriously. “I need you guys to promise me. Whatever happens, and I mean whatever happens, focus on Nightmare. Use the elements on her, then worry about me. Got it? We only have one shot at surprise and we can’t waste it because she gives me a scratch. Understand?”
“Are you sure that’s ah good idea Andrew?” Applejack asked with a worried and unsure expression. “She just took down Princess Luna.”
“I’m not going to instigate her, just distract her.” Andrew assured them. “Now hurry, Luna doesn’t have much time.”
The mares reluctantly nodded, Twilight leading the other five away back down the street, turning to another road and out of sight. Autumn remained beside Andrew, watching the others go.
“Go with them.” Andrew said simply. “Seriously, I don’t know how there magic jewelry works but I’m assuming they need to concentrate. Cover them so they can do their thing. And after that, make sure Luna is stable. Got it?”
Andrew ordered Autumn when she at first refused to leave. Slowly she nodded, putting a hoof Andrews hip before running off to catch up to the others. After she disappeared around the same corner, Andrew shook his head and took a deep breath.
“Alright Andrew, time to be an idiot.” He mumbled to himself. “Again.”
With another deep breath he turned the corner, walking into the square, his bat in his hand. Nightmare Terror hovered in the air, still laughing as she slowly made her way to where Luna was laying unconscious.
Luna was in an incredible amount of pain.
She had known the moment she had started fighting Nightmare that she couldn’t defeat her. But what she hadn’t realized was how quickly she would be over powered. She had fought evasively, attempting to draw out as much time as she could in hopes that Celestia would come to aid her, or at least arrive in time to save her friends.
Instead she now lay on the ground, bruised, battered and beaten into it. Her horn pulsed with a dark, mind numbing throb, and she was pretty sure one of her back legs was broken, while the other one was refusing to listen at all. Her eyes were heavy, her mind foggy from Nightmares last attack. She was sure, as Nightmare floated closer, that she had reached her end. She prayed that her friends had gotten far enough away that-.
“Hey Nightmare.” She heard a familiar voice shout. “I’d like a word.”
Luna’s eyes shot open and she struggled to lift her head, but she was too weak. Instead she only managed to partially slide her head along the ground, watching as Andrew Dike crossed the square. Nightmare had turned away from her, her attention now on the seemingly unperturbed human as he walked toward her.
By the all mother, why didn’t he listen! She thought, trying desperately to command her muscles to move, but failing. Please, let him realize it would be idiotic to antagonize her.
“And what, pray tell would you like to talk about.” Nightmare asked, facing away from Luna. “Come to beg for your precious Princess Luna’s life?”
“Beg?” Andrew said before a short laugh. “No no no, I’ve just come to chat.”
“Chat?” Nightmare Terror asked incredulously. “And why would I just chat with you, talking ape? No I think you are doing the same as poor little Lulu. Buying time.”
“Buying time?” Andrew replied with a scoff. “The fuck would I do that for?”
Luna could see Nightmare cock her head as she stopped hovering toward the human. Andrew stopped as well, looking up at Terror with an amused expression. After a moment Nightmare Terror floated to the ground, standing only a couple dozen feet from Andrew.
“What are you creature?” She asked curiously, walking around the human slowly, sizing him up. “You don’t appear to be scared of me.”
“I guess I don’t buy the hype.” He explained, hefting his bat. “Call me a skeptic.”
“A skeptic?” She asked, standing tall and sneering. “I defeated your precious princess, how can you deny my-”
“Well, let’s be honest.” Andrew said, cutting her off. “We both know she isn’t at the top of her game right now. You’re basically bragging about beating up a cripple.”
“And who are you, talking ape?” She demanded, the anger in her voice clear. “I beat Princess Luna, and even with her injury she is undoubtedly more powerful than you!”
“Okay, first off that’s racist. I know your evil but do you have to be a bigot too?” Andrew mockingly scolded. “I’m a human, not an ape. Second there are different types of strength Nightmare. Sometimes it’s not how much power you have, but how you use it.”
“And how can you use what little power you undoubtedly have?” She asked, slowly moving further away from Luna, getting closer and closer to Andrew until she was in arms reach. “I can sense your magic, it’s strange but hardly more than an average unicorn.”
“Ah well you see, Human magic is-”
Andrew started to explain, but a sound behind Luna distracted him. It seemed to get Nightmares attention as well, because she began to turn her head around. Luna could see Andrews eye widen, looking at something before his hand clenched around his bat. He gripped it with both hands, swinging it from his shoulder, trying his best to smash it into Nightmare Terror’s head. Before the bat could make contact it glowed with pale red magic, stopping it mid swing. Nightmares head whirled around, staring into the humans eyes.
“Do you really think I wouldn’t expect that!?” She shouted, the red pale glow extending around Andrews body. “Do you think the All Mighty and Powerful Nightmare Terror would not see that coming!? Do I look that stupid?!”
“Well… I wasn’t going to say anything but…”
The magic around Andrew pulsed and he rose into the air, his feet dangling as Nightmare Terror lifted him. She looked up at him and laughed as he struggled.
“Look at you! Poor weak human!” Nightmare mocked. “You talk with confidence but you are pitiful.”
Luna tried in vain to stand again as she watched Andrew struggle in Nightmares grip. No matter how hard she pushed she could not stand.
“I can feel your weakness creature.” Nightmare continued. “I could snuff out your life with a single twist! But I think that would be too quick. Perhaps we could try…”
The magic holding Andrew afloat began to fade, so much that Luna could see his own weight pulling him down. However, another spell immediately replaced the previous, the light red magic appearing around his neck. Andrew neck bulged and corded as he suddenly choked, his bat falling to the ground with a “thunk” as he tried to pry off Nightmares magic with his hands.
“Look at the human squirm! This is what happens when you dare stand against me you repugnant creature!”
Andrew desperately pried and pulled at his neck, his fingers passing right through the magic that held him up and strangled the life from him. His mouth formed words that were unintelligible through his gasping and struggling.
“Hmm? What was that ape? Trying to say something? Your last words perhaps?” Nightmare loosened her grip, her pale magic lifting Andrew slightly so he could breathe. “Speak!”
Andrew breathed deeply, pulling in breath after breath, fighting the still tight grip on his neck. He looked at Luna then looked back to Nightmare.
“Fuck You.” He gasped, a smug smile on his lips.
“This is what I get for being nice.” Nightmare sighed, shaking her head. “I suppose I-”
Nightmare stopped once again cocking her head in confusion. Luna saw this and was herself confused as well. She tried to move her head once more, but failed, even as she felt the magic behind her. It was familiar magic, strong and growing stronger, pulsing and throbbing. It tugged and tickled a part of her being, her mind struggling to put together what was happening. Finally, it all rushed together.
“The elements.” She moaned. “No…”
Nightmare whirled around, finally noticing the mares that had snuck up behind her. They stood in formation, glowing as they focused on their elements. Nightmare’s face coiled in fear, then anger. She looked back to Andrew and snarled.
“You wretch!”
Nightmare’s scream echoed through the square, her magic pulsing as she spun Andrew above her in one long arc. She cut off her spell, and in that moment Andrew shot through the air, hurled across the square, impacting the side of a small store. The impact reverberated through the square as the wall buckled and gave way, the now gaping wall swallowing Andrew into darkness.
Instinctively Luna tried to reach out to Andrew with her magic, trying desperately to catch him. Luna looked deep and dredged up whatever magic she could find inside herself. Her horn glowed with whispey sparks, before going dark as her magic failed her. Pain wracked her body, and with a final groan her body went slack, falling silent. Autumn Song rushed from the other six mares, reaching Luna’s side quickly.
Nightmare spun around before the wall of the store had even finished collapsing, pale red magic pulsing around her horn as she fired spell after spell at the mares, only to watch them be deflected by the elements growing power. The Alicorn Amulet pulsed, glowing around her neck as she desperately put a shield around herself, pouring her power into it.
Twilight, standing at the center of the mare’s formation, concentrated on her element of magic, letting the familiar pulsing flood her body with energy. She could feel her tiara hum with power, her body glowing magenta, matching her element perfectly. The other mares elements glowed as well, the auras of power slowly reaching towards each other as all six of the elements pulsed together.
“Now girls!” Twilight shouted, closing her eyes tight again.
Together the six element bearers focused, the energy swirling around them before firing off. A rainbow beam, fired from the combined glows off all six mares, cut across the square and smashed into the pale red bubble that Nightmare had erected. It poured against it, the bubble shaking, trembling and cracking before finally giving way, the beam of harmonious magic roiling in to fill the space. For a long moment, Nightmare could not be seen through the glowing power that surrounded her, and continued to pour from the elements. Finally she appeared.
Completely unharmed.
She stood at the center of the rainbow colored magical energy, her eyes wide and her face shocked. Her mouth hung open as she undoubtedly screamed, no sound to be heard over the roiling energy around her. The magic continued to dissipate around her as if it was flowing towards her neck. Finally, all the magic that had pooled around her disappeared, sucked into the Alicorn Amulet, which glowed brighter and brighter. The magic continued to pour into the amulet, now being fed directly from the beam of energy that crossed the square. The element bearers swayed as there elements glowed brighter, their pulsing growing faster. The Alicorn amulet pulsed as well, slowly gaining speed as it was fed immeasurable amounts of magical energy.
“What!” Nightmare Terror screeched, seemingly unable to move. “What are you doing to my amulet?”
“What are you doing to the Elements?” Twilight fired back, now gritting her teeth from exhaustion.
The pulsing of the alicorn amulet continued to speed up, until finally its frequency matched that of the elements. The now synchronous pulsing continued to increase, until it seemed to be one continuous shining, casting long, dark shadows along the square. Autumn closed her eyes tightly, but the blinding light shone threw her lids. Just as it was becoming completely unbearable, when Autumn began to worry if she would be struck blind, the light ceased with shockwave that washed over the whole square, shoving the elements to the ground.
All six of the elements struggled to stand immediately, all disoriented and weak from what had just happened, all breathing heavily as if they had galloped a marathon. Twilight struggled to rise onto her shaky hooves, only to see that Nightmare Terror was already standing. Her appearance had changed, her alicorn features fading, now only slightly larger than your average unicorn. Her armor was gone, as were her fake wings. Despite the changes she seemed in relatively good health, unharmed from the blast or from what had happened before. That is, until she screamed.
“IT BURNS” She shouted, her hooves struggling with the Alicorn Amulet. “Get this thing off of me!”
Smoke rose from around her neck, the amulet glowing as if had just been pulled from a fire, red hot and crackling from heat. Finally the tortured mare succeeded, unclipping the amulet and throwing it to the ground, where it skidded away. Her neck was charred and burnt, smoke still rising
“What did you do!” She shouted at the unsteady mares, her eyes red and bulging from pain and anger. “What did you insufferable mares do!”
“What did we do?” Twilight shouted back, now leaning on Applejack to stay upright. “What did you do?!”
“You ruined my plan!” Nightmare screeched, ignoring the unicorn. “Damn you to Tartarus!”
Nightmare took a step forward, her eyes wide and manic. The mares stumbled back, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie unable to stay upright in their weak state. Nightmare saw them stumble and fall and she stopped, her manic snarl slowly turning into a smile.
“I suppose you really didn’t do that on purpose.” She guessed, looking over the six mares as they stumbled, ignoring Autumn as she tended to Luna. “After all, you look particularly… weak.”
“So are you!” Rainbow shouted back, her wings drooping. “We destroyed your Alicorn Amulet!”
“That is true.” Terror admitted, examining her now unadorned hoof. “But other than that…”
She suddenly reared back, her horn glowing before firing a bolt of magic in the center of the group, which exploded, digging a crater into the ground. The mares were thrown aside, Rarity and Pinkie Pie catching more of the blast than the rest, skittering away over the ground.
“It seems as if I have retained my normal powers, which should be more than enough to beat you all!”
Nightmare took several menacing steps toward the group, her horn already glowing as she readied another attack.
“Any last words?” She asked, her insane grin wide on her face. “Perhaps you could beg for mercy? Cry for-”
“Beg later. I’m not done with you.”
Nightmare Terror turned around, her eye wild as they searched for the origin of the voice. They settled on the gaping hole in the side of the store, the same store she had sent Andrew threw not minutes before. She watched as the rubble shifted, a battered Andrew slowly walking out from the darkness. He was bleeding profusely, his chest covered in cuts, the blood making it hard to see them at all.
“How are you standing Human?” Terror asked incredulously. “And why do you return? I have already proven that I am stronger than you.”
Andrew ignored her, and continued to walk out of the store. When he was finally out of the shadow he stopped. His right hand opened, and from it fell a blood covered shard of glass. He raised his right hand and placed it on his stomach, gritting his teeth. His eyes locked on Terror’s as he called upon his magic, pouring it into his own flesh. Immediately the cuts that covered his front began to glow, clearly showing that they were carved with purpose, runes shining clear as day. Uruz lay in the center, surrounded by a circle of Kenaz, Eihwaz and Ingwaz. Other smaller runes connected them all, save for two identical runes that he had carved higher on his chest. Two bloody Tiwaz symbols were carved carefully near his neck, quickly glowing as he charged them with his magic.
Not a second after they began to glow they began to burn, his blood sizzling and splattering as he poured magic into the markings. Andrew’s neck corded and bulged, his teeth creaking as he bit down, fighting back a scream, the magic literally burning itself into his skin. Smoke began to form, rising up as he continued to pour magic into the markings. His left hand was curled into a tight fist, his whole body coiled until finally the runes on his skin pulsed. He stumbled forward, catching his breath, eventually standing up straight.
“I’ve made improvements.” He gasped out.
Nightmare stared at the human, mouth agape, eyes wide in shock once more. She stood in stunned silence while Andrew slowly walked across the square, eventually reaching his fallen bat, picking it up and holding it one handed over his shoulder.
“Y-You think your twisted self-mutilation will intimidate me?” She asked when she finally regained her senses. “I will break you!”
Nightmare’s horn glowed once more, her face in a grimace as she fired bolt after bolt of magic at Andrew. Andrew deflected the first bolt with the bat, smashing it out of the air and sending it careening into a nearby building. Shot after shot of pink magic fired from the mare’s horn, Andrew blocking them with surprising speed.
“JUST DIE!” Nightmare terror screamed, her horn now continuously glowing as she wildly attacked. “YOU BROKEN APE JUST DIE!”
Andrew said nothing, only jumped to dodge a particularly dense barrage. His leap carried him a dozen or so feet into the air, far from the blasts. He continued to dodge and deflect, ignoring Nightmare Terror’s screams and insults.
“I WILL END YOU” She screamed again, now hovering several large rocks, hurling them at Andrew. “I WILL!”
Andrew dodged the rocks easily, smashing one to pieces with his bat. He skidded to a stop, watching Nightmare Terror closely, failing to notice an approaching shadow
“Andrew! Watch out!”
Andrew whirled around at Autumn’s shout, catching sight of the massive boulder moments before it impacted him. At the last second he brought up his hands, dropping his bat in the process. The weight of the giant rock pushed him back, feet carving tracks in the dirt, his muscles corded. The stone glowed with magic as Terror tried her best to crush him beneath. With a grunt Andrew dug his feet in, his arms bulging and the runes on his neck pulsing as he pushed back, his whole body straining as he struggled. The force of Andrews push fed back into Nightmare Terrors spell, her magic failing. The boulder crashed to the ground, shaking the square. Nightmare Terror faltered, her legs shaking, threatening to give. She pulled in breath greedily, her eyes flush with rage.
Andrew pulled away from the boulder, slowly turning around to watch her struggle to stand, struggle to breathe. He turned away from her, walking towards the Autumn and Luna, going to check on them.
“DON’T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!” Terror screamed, furious at being so nonchalantly ignored, charging up her horn. “I’ll KILL YOU A-”
Andrew stopped as Nightmare Terror’s horn glowed, calling upon his own magic. Sparks glowed around his hand as he reached for his bat, which had rolled away from him. It glowed with his magic, leaping off the ground and rocketing towards Andrew. He ducked, the bat missing by inches, continuing its beeline trajectory over his head, across the square and directly at Nightmare Terror. She reacted fast, her horn glowing to create a bubble of protection around her, instantly surrounding the mare. Just before the bat smashed into the shield her horn crackled, and a small hole appeared.
The bat passed through the hole easily, striking Terrors head, the thick wooden end smashing her jaw at an incredible velocity. The impact knocked Terror on her back, silencing her and cutting off her spell. The bubble disappeared, and Andrew turned back to Autumn and Luna, walking to them.
“How is she?” He asked Autumn, kneeling beside her. “Is she going to be okay?”
“S-she will make it, as long as we get her some h-help soon.” Autumn answered, her eyes wide. “What about you, you-”
“I’m fine for a bit more, don’t worry.” He answered calming, cutting of her further protest with a pat on her back. “I’m going to check on the others. Keep an eye on her, this isn’t over yet.”
Andrew stood and made his way over to the other mares, rushing slightly to meet up with Twilight, who immediately cast as scanning spell over his chest.
“What in tarnation did you do to yerself Andrew?!” Applejack asked, shaking her head. “There’s so much blood!”
“It just looks like a lot.” He explained, looking down at his blood soaked chest and stomach. “Are you guys okay? How are Rarity and Pinkie Pie?”
“Out cold.” Rainbow Dash answered, standing next to Rarity worriedly.
“They need medical attention.” Fluttershy added, pushing her muzzle into Pinkie Pie. “But their pulses are steady.”
“It’s almost over now.” Andrew assured them, looking to Rainbow Dash. “Can you fly to the hospital? Get some doctors down here?”
“Yeah!” She answered with a nod, taking off and flying away, clearly still tired from using the elements.
“Fluttershy, could you take a look at Luna?” Andrew asked the pink haired Pegasus. “She took a pounding.”
Fluttershy nodded, nuzzling her friend one last time before walking to Autumn and Luna, the former standing to make room. Andrew turned back to Applejack and Twilight, the latter having finished her scan.
“I’m going to finish this.” He explained simply.
“What do you mean, finish it?” Twilight asked. “She seemed-“
Twilight’s sentence was cut off by a quiet moan coming from Nightmare Terror. The beaten mare stirred, moaning and groaning as she did.
“When I’m done, I need you to do something Twilight.” Andrew explained, ignoring the noise and movement. “You aren’t going to like it, but I need you to promise me you will do it.”
“What is it?” The unicorn mare asked, watching the human closely.
“I’ll explain when I’m done. I just need your word.”
“I promise I will help you.” Twilight agreed, nodding hesitantly.
. “But what are you gonna do?” Applejack asked.
“What I was brought here to do.” He explained, walking past Twilight and Applejack, toward the slowly waking Nightmare Terror.