//------------------------------// // Shadow State // Story: Undestined Friendship // by Boyzilla //------------------------------// Book 1: Magic Chapter 14: Shadow State A train traveled across the landscape, leaving from the forest and into the great grass plains. Its wheels traversing against the railroad as smoke pillars from the head, speed settled at a certain mile, it goes blindly towards the set destination. Within its apartments, three figures rest while the traveling train passes under the starlit sky. The fourth figure, however, remains sightseeing through the compartment's windows. Korra’s eyes scoured the landscape, watching as the terrain flew past with a quickened pace. But she couldn’t help but not shake off an unease forming within her stomach, which had nothing to do with the recent tall tales just a few short hours ago. But it certainly did help explain the differences between herself and the others. Possibly as much as it explained it to them as well. It wasn’t just a differentiation in abilities, but cultures, technology, whole worlds! Unbeknownst to her, or any of the four heroes… Evil is at work… Further ahead, an encampment of darkness awaits. Its servants hammering metallic tools against the rails. While malicious, blackened energies fill the fires with violet-hued flames. A multitude of tents stood standing, but these constructs were not of cloth nor leather, but rather enchanted pieces of steel plates lined upon woven runic wool, held together with magic. A few sparks fly, again and again, it continues the working forces of darkness break apart the railing of the incoming train. The wood is shattered, metal churned, the road brought into ruin. A soldier appears before his commander. “Sir…” A lone figure, hooded-cloaked, decorated in purple with two shredded parts of it wavering in the wind. “What is it?” It replied. “We are successful in destroying the railroad, the infrastructure is proceeding as planned.” “What else?” “Future planning in the war machines in destroying the Fairy Capital lack fuel for the fires.” “The Forest of the Fairy Folk lie at our doorstep, burn it.” The Commander turned, bringing out a small coin-like object. It lit up, glowing a dim light as it brightened with every word that came from within. ”Commander.” It was all that needed saying, a cruel chilling voice that would cause both adults and children alike nightmares for years. “Preparations are underway,” He stated, “As asked, we have destroyed the railroad between the Fairy Capital and the Equestrian Outpost.” ”Proceed.” With that the coin faded back to its dull color. “Sir!” A scout came way, “The train heads this way!” The commander turned toward the direction of the Fae Forest’s location, spotting the incoming train traveled with great speed, steam pillaring from the front. “Fall back, we will sweep for survivors after its initial crash.” “Fall back!” The scout sounded through the encampment, workers and soldiers alike retreating from the destroyed remnants of the railroad track. Steam rushed from the top, the breaking of rails could be heard as the train attempted to stop itself from the collision that could happen once it reached those destroyed rails. Sparks flew as metals broke against metal, fast traveling speed clashing against the stillness of the brakes. The forces of Darkness were sure the train was going to crash with little survivors. Then a blue light burst out from one of the compartments, like a speeding bullet it flew past each compartment from its origin to the front of the train itself. The blue light flew past the head before stopping a dozen meters in front of the train, as if bracing itself for impact. That blue light was Son Gohan, his aura enveloping him as he thrust his arms forward at the moment the train caught up with his location. The half saiyan’s hands smashing against the train which jerked slightly, his entire body skidding along the ground as his feet implanted in the ground were pushed back, breaking the middle wooden section of the railroad as he slowed down the engine. “Aaaaaaah!” Gohan yelled as his aura burst out further, shards of the earth being blasted into the air from below his feet, strength fighting against the speed of the rails. A screeching sound echoes as more and more sparks flew, the rate of the train’s progress slowing exponentially. The train stopped just before the destroyed railroad. “Phew…” Gohan sighed in relief as he let go. The Z-fighter glancing toward the direction of the forces of darkness, his glare giving a menacing look while his senses spread and detected the exact number and energy output of the enemies around him. Gohan turned around, fists clenched while he said, “Seeking to harm innocent people who were only trying to return back to their homes? Not today, I’ll stop you… We’ll stop you!” The Captain yelled to the hybrid warrior, “You and what army!?” Meanwhile, a blond-haired head popped out of the train compartment window, “Hey, is that the darkness army that Gohan’s about to fight?” An identical one appeared in the next window, “Looks like it, let’s help him out!” Without warning, a hundred clones of Naruto came flooding out of the train, windows cracked as they escaped their cramped place and a darkness soldier swore he saw the compartment swell up like it ate too much. The entrance door burst open revealing a waterfall of clones drop out of it, they got up one after the other and assembled near their half saiyan comrade. Then two girls dropped face first to the ground out of the door. “Ugh…” Jaina began, “Stupid… Idiot…” “So much orange…” Korra trailed off. A few minutes ago… Inside the train... “What the hell!” Naruto exclaimed as he was pushed back from the burst of blue Ki that erupted from Gohan’s form. “Hang on, we’re stopping right now!” Gohan yelled, then flew right out of the window, breaking it into a million glass pieces all over the place. Seconds past, then the entire room shook, causing Naruto, Jaina, and Korra to be lunged forward unexpectedly. “What’s he doing!?” Korra questioned loudly as she held onto a seat. “We’re slowing…” Jaina commented, taking notice their speed was drastically reducing. “Kami,” Naruto stood back up, perfectly fine as he used his chakra to stick to the flooring with ease. He stepped to the window, his eyes spotting the darkness forces further ahead. After a full minute, the train finally came to a full stop. “He’ll need some help out there!” “Don’t!” Jaina exclaimed. “Wait, not in here!” Korra caught on quickly. “Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!” “By the divine you idio-Mmmph!” Jaina was cut off as her body was slammed to the ground by the large mass of clones. Present Time. “Naruto?” Gohan questioned as the ninja leaped to his side, the martial artist already in a fighting stance. “Here to help!” Naruto Uzumaki gave a thumbs up, “Let’s kick some ass!” He then slammed his fist into open palm while his clones cheered in the background. “Kill them!” The Darkness Captain exclaimed. “Die!” The forces of evil charged forward with reckless abandon. Naruto was about to charge in, but he was stopped by Gohan’s hand. “Let me start off,” He said, walking forward a bit. “Okay?” Naruto questionably said, shocked at Gohan’s declaration and his current mood. Gohan was not happy. “I’m giving you a chance!” Son Gohan yelled over the entire field, stopping the darkness forces in their motion, clearly surprised by the sudden exclamation. “Turn around and walk away,” He continued. An eerie silence… A step forward, then more, before they once again charged into the fray towards Gohan. “I’m sorry…” Gohan said as he slowly raised both hands to his forehead. Then, his expression changed to one of sheer determination and willpower. “Masenko…” A bright glow emits in front of his palms, a small yellow orb of Ki, spiking in an omnidirectional pattern forming in just a few seconds time. “Ha!” In that moment, hell broke loose. A single yellow beam of Ki erupted forth with both blinding speed and sheer power, arcing above the ground, its presence causing the earth below to break apart, turning into a line of craters just after the head of the wave passed over. It impacted just short of meeting the front lines of the darkness forces, an explosion, unlike any bomb, sounded over the entire battlefield as the shockwave blasted back corrupted soldiers, some incinerated in the blast itself as they vanished into shadow-like remnants that dissipated into the air harmlessly. Others caught into the pillars of smoke and dust generated by the technique’s impact against the ground. A soldier coughed, his eyes barely opening to see a figure stand in front him dressed in a purple Gi before his stomach erupted with unbelievable pain and the entire body of the soldier sent flying, crashing into the other soldiers who in turn fell back to the ground. Son Gohan vanished again, his movement too fast for the naked eye to follow, reappeared before another unit he smashed his fist against its chin, following by an invisible kai blast that blew his back against another unknowing group. The half saiyan bent to the side, avoiding a sword swipe, then turned and slammed an elbow onto the upper abdomen. The perpetrator's blood splashed onto the Z-fighter’s Gi as the soldier coughed it out, then Gohan grasped hold of the chest piece and threw the darkness follower. That soldier landed on top of another, both destroyed afterward as Gohan raised a palm, blowing them out of existence with a blue Ki blast. Twin magical blasts came forward from the nearly still air dust, but the hybrid saiyan battered them aside with ease, opening both palms and returning fire with a barrage of Ki. As more explosions rocked the field with an ever increasing number of craters, the forces of darkness began to slowly realize that had awakened a sleeping dragon. “D-Die!” A soldier yelled as he tried to bash his mace against Gohan’s back, but it went right through as the human vanished into an afterimage. The soldier’s backside was slammed with a harsh kick, his entire body smashed into the ground with a large hole forming from the power behind the attack. Gohan twisted, his arm reaching out and firing a Ki blast, obliterating another attack before he spun and struck another soldier out of the fight with a single blow to the shoulder. He landed, then stood up. The dust finally vanishing revealing the half saiyan surrounded still by the forces of darkness… Half of which were now completely gone. Naruto blinked, all of them, “Damn, that was awesome!” He exclaimed in excitement. “Shouldn’t we help?” One of the clones stated. “Oh yeah, uh, charge!” The original Naruto yelled. As Gohan prepared to continue, he quickly dodged a spinning disc of magical energy, flying into the air a few meters, he noticed the apparent leader of the Darkness Forces look to him with contempt in his gaze. Then, a magic circle appeared below the dark Captain’s feet, and four spinning disc shot out from around him towards the floating martial artist. The Z-fighter raised his hands, firing a series of Ki blasts as a counteraction. The blast traveled through the air with stunning speed, each one impacting against the multiple spinning discs. However, they had little to no effect in even slowing down the magical attacks. The half saiyan found himself dodging them, flying above them as they passed underneath. He glanced towards the technique’s direction and took notice the discs flipping over and came right back at him as if they were homing missiles. “Can’t help but feel like a lot of villains favor this technique,” Gohan said to himself as he moved to avoid another slicing round. Had Gohan killed the Darkness forces a little earlier? No, not exactly, the corrupted followers were already long gone, after all, why would they simply dissipate into shadow-like energy after death if they were alive? “Your efforts are futile, I have complete control over these disks. You’re hardly the first to try and attempt at dodging them,” The Darkness Captain said, not moving from position. Gohan only having heard him because he had made his way towards the commander in a plan to try and use his own spell against him. “And unlike others, I can dispel them just as easily.” Gohan feinted upward, the disks coming down at the commander. Only for them to vanish into light particles upon reaching fifty feet of him. The half saiyan landed on the ground, a dozen or so meters away from the commander of the darkness forces assigned to his location. “Who are you?” Gohan asked. “A mere commander, but if you wish for a name, Istar shall suffice.” He answered. “Doubt you meant the one from Tolkien,” Gohan commented, “What’s your goal?” “None of your business,” Istar replied as the magic circle below his feet floated to behind his back, aimed at the Z-fighter. Gohan shifted back into a stance as he prepared for the incoming attack, his sensing also picking up Naruto, Korra, and Jaina who had recently joined the fight against the rest of the Darkness forces. “Perish!” Istar’s voice yelled, four spinning disks launching from the magic circle behind him. Gohan quickly put his hands to his side, a blue light forming hastily, before thrusting his palms forward, quick firing a weakened version of the technique. “Kamehameha!” The blue wave of energy shot forward with tremendous speed, obliterating the four discs as they were engulfed in the Ki technique. It continued to travel, reaching the Dark Commander in mere milliseconds, but he managed to disappear in a flash of light just before the attack hit him. The Kamehameha Wave still continued to travel, dissipating into the sky harmlessly. Gohan lost track of him, but a second or two later his senses relocated Istar’s position. He quickly turned, his foot dragging against the dirt that brought up small clouds of dust. “Missile Barrage!” Istar yelled once more, a barrage of red hued bolts firing multiples times. Gohan was about to counter, but someone else intervened. “Magic Missile!” A number of white colored magic spheres collided against the barrage of red bolts, the sky above being decorated in a fury of spell conflictions. The half saiyan turned, “Jaina!” “Go, Naruto!” Jaina yelled as her body was enveloped in a display of magic. Naruto and clone appeared behind the magic circle, causing Istar to notice his sudden approach as the two charged at the Darkness Commander with a spiraling ball of chakra the size of the ninja’s head between the two’s hands. “Giant Rasengan!” “Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Istar screamed as his body was devastated by the Giant Rasengan’s destructive capabilities against him. The Commander’s entire form sent spinning, plummeting, and skidding across the ground, throwing up rocks, grass, dirt, and dust as he went before finally stopping by teleporting himself above the ground. “Damnit, where are my troops?!” He yelled, before taking notice most of his troops were gone or knocked out. A single lone Avatar cracking her knuckles, “Troops? Is that what they were?” Korra said, smirking at the commander. “Heh… Hehe… Hahahahahahaha!” Korra made a confused and shocked expression, “He’s… He’s laughing?” Jaina lowered her arm from casting the spell moments before, both swords held tightly in her hands. “I’ve faced few opponents who laughed in the face of death, never have they been a good sign.” “Why do I get the feeling something’s going to happen that always happens?” Gohan questioned. “You got that feeling too?” Naruto voiced, “I only get that feeling when-” “When they transform,” The Z-fighter finished. The cloak fell off. “Well…” Jaina commented, “That’s one odd creature.” “I’ve seen stranger things,” Gohan replied to that. “But if I had to say, he’s some sort of centaur-like being.” The centaur-like creature twitched and contorted, its muscles bulging as horns stretched out from the back of his head, twisting into a curled shape. The mouth expanded, canines growing more monstrous as aura, hue in a shade of purple, expanded outward from his body. The size grew, twice, three times as large, you could stack five clones of Naruto on top of one another to get the sense of the scale of which this captain increased in mass. Korra looked up the huge form of the captain, “That’s… That’s just not fair!” Gohan, Naruto, and Jaina all looked to Korra and said one line in unison. “And you’re telling me this now?” They all said. Korra’s shoulders slumped, “Why do I get the feeling everyone has had crazy adventures concerning building-sized enemies…?” She mumbled to herself. “Giant Apes,” Gohan said. “Tailed Beasts,” Naruto continued. “Disgustingly grotesque ogres,” Jaina finished it off. Gohan shrugged, “It was bound to happen to you at some point Korra, it could’ve been a giant robot for all you know,” He said. “Don’t know what a robot is, but I doubt it,” Korra replied. Istar, the darkness captain, finished his transformation and looked down at the ‘insects’ beneath him. “Prepare to be crushed underneath my power!” “Fat chance!” Naruto exclaimed at him, forming a hand seal, “Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!” A total number of fifty clones poofed into existence around the orange-clad ninja, they charged at the large form of Istar, throwing a number of cloned kunai and shuriken along with their initial attack. Istar raised a hand, a circle of magic appearing in front of him which acted like a shield, bouncing off the thrown weapons. He lowered his arm, the shield dispersing away before laughing maniacally. “Is that the best you got!?” He said stereotypically and used his now huge bulk to swat away any clones that got close enough to his position. “Don’t believe for a second that size decreases speed!” “Oh, I know,” Gohan replied, “I’ve experienced with such methods when I was younger, though he was much more terrifying that you’ll even come close too.” “Korra!” Jaina called out, “Torch him!” “Take this!” Korra said as she thrusts both arms forward, spewing forth a stream of red and orange flames. “Fireball!” Jaina joined in with her concentrated mana conjuring forth a compressed sphere of fire and launching it at the darkness captain. Gohan quickly joined in, his hands going in front of his forehead as yellow Ki energy spiked outward into a spherical shape before he thrust both palms forward. “Masenko! Ha!” Gohan yelled as a wave of Ki shot out. Naruto had a stroke of luck, he started flipping through multiple hand seals quickly. “Wind Style: Great Breakthrough Jutsu!” His cheeks expanded as did his chest, then he released the held breath in an impactful gust of the wind that fired off to Istar. The wind technique fueled the flames of Korra and Jaina’s attack, enlarging them into a wildfire. “That’s…” Istar began to comment on the ever enlarging flaming death coming towards him, “That’s a lot of fire… Shit!” He raised his hand and conjured forth another symbol of shielding. The Masenko technique reached it first, the centaur-like being found his entire form being pushed back strongly, his shield barely held against the destructive nature of Ki energy versus his own magical darkness. But, when the combination of two fire techniques fueled with the element of wind impacted against the shield, it shattered. Istar reflexively covered himself with his arms as the enhanced fires engulfed him. The pain of his skin roasting and burning threatened to put him down, but with a yell, he flared out an aura of purple energy, dispersing the flames. “Hah… Hah…” He breathed deeply before recollecting himself, “Good try, heroes,” He said the last word mockingly. “But I have faced many heroes before, and you’ll fall just like them!” Istar clasped his hands together, channeling his inner magic, concentrating it on his center. “What’s he doing?” Gohan asked no one in particular. Jaina narrowed her eyes, her sensitively of magic gained from not only facing multiple opponents over the years but also due to her draconic heritage, allowed her to sense the magical energy more thoroughly than Gohan, though she would never be able to sense life energy like he does. “He condensing magical energy into his body, with that much it could become unstable and combust outward,” Jaina explained. “Wait…” Naruto trailed off, “So he’s gonna blow?” Gohan thought for a second before it hit him, “Everyone, get down-!” “Rwaaaaaaaaaah!” The dark commander screamed as a blinding light erupted from him and all the energy was released at once. The Avatar, Korra, reacted quickly, slamming her foot down and digging it into the ground. A great wall of earth formed between her and her companions, and the channeling darkness captain that sought to obliviate them. An area of energy came forth, blasting apart the wall and all the surroundings around Istar, but by Korra’s quick action, the shockwave was lessened on our heroes, allowing them to remain mostly unharmed by the attack. “We can’t even get close to him!” Naruto exclaimed. “True, every time I approach he sends me retreating back with his spells,” Gohan replied. “I can charge him with one of my spells,” Jaina began, “My armor provides me with some level of magical resistance, it’ll still hurt a bit but I should remain fine enough to engage him. This should allow you three to follow-up,” She finished as he gripped the handle of her twin blades tightly. Jaina then turned to the orange-clad ninja, “Naruto, think you can distract him?” Naruto grinned, “Distract him? Easy!” Korra pointed to herself, “What about me?” She questioned. The Dragon Knight looked to the Avatar, “I know you prefer the offensive route, but I need you to act as support and keep his attacks from hitting us with your earth abilities.” “Earthbending,” Korra corrected. “That,” Jaina finished. “I’m safe to assume,” Gohan said, “That I’ll hang back until you’ve gotten close?” Jaina looked thoughtful for a second, but before she could reply. Gohan grabbed her arm, and pulled her entire body out of the way, both Naruto and Korra dodging as an array of dark, purple bolts barraged the area. Naruto leaped out of the way, summoning up more shadow clones who spread out to engage Istar. A few of the clones threw kunai at the dark captain, forcing him to disengaged from offensive assault to take a defensive position. They attempted to come close to him, but a wave of magic either disperse them into white chakra smoke or caused them to avoid it by retreating. “Tch, then let’s try this,” Naruto said as he opened his palm, a clone arriving next to him, helping him shape the mold of a Rasengan while the original folded the chakra into the sphere. But instead of stopping at the point where it normally formed the spiraling sphere, he pumped more chakra into it, increasing its size to that of a Giant Rasengan. “Not enough, we need the size bigger,” Naruto said, some sweat poured down his forehead, it was harder to form multiple large-sized Rasengan without Sage mode. The ninja raised it into the air, pouring an incredible amount of chakra into it that gave even him some trouble. It was true, his chakra control had suffered, but with water walking back under his belt and some of his age by the Element of Kindness, he had regained the necessary skill. The Giant Rasengan grew five times its size. Then Naruto charged with it in hand. Istar saw this and fired at the shinobi magical bolts of energy. Naruto Uzumaki pushed the technique in front of him to act like a shield wall against the hostile attacks. But he didn’t need too as walls of earth formed up, taking the bolts and blowing apart. “Go, Naruto!” Korra exclaimed as her body moved, motions flowing with great vigor as she used earthbending to cover the ninja from attacks. “Massive Rasengan!” Naruto yelled, his clones vanishing to give him some needed chakra that was expended on forming the technique moments earlier. Istar screamed out, “How can a lone human do such a thing?!” “You underestimated me! That’s how!” Naruto replied. The Massive Rasengan clashed against the hastily pulled up shield, but it drilled and tore through it with complete ease. It shattered under the overwhelming force of the chakra. The darkness captain put his hand forward, attempting to push back the huge technique that lay against him. His hands burned as the Rasengan tore through clothes and skin, even with magical energy augmenting his abilities, Naruto’s strength was incredible. Then he felt his back being slashed from the other side by two blades. “Fatality!” Jaina yelled the spell’s name as her blades were covered in a mix of red and black aura, attempting to finish the fight while Naruto successfully distracted Istar. Gohan flew overhead, observing the fight but keeping his distance, he would come down if the enemy retaliates and his companions need aid. “T-Teleport!” Istar yelled as his body was enveloped by a white light, before vanishing and reappearing a few meters away. His front red with burns, while his backside bled from wounds caused by the Dragon Knight’s swings. “Damn it, why are you four so powerful!?” Istar yelled before calming himself down, “Fine, if I can’t beat you on my own…” He took out some sort of stone, previously used to communicate with his leader. The centaur-like creature clutching it before throwing it harshly on the ground, breaking it apart. Then, a large cluster of dark energy burst open from the broken stone. Gohan, Naruto, Jaina, and Korra stared at what occurred, as the dark energy twisted and contorted numerous times. Things are about to get a whole lot more difficult.