Five Virtues: The Journey

Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x ?

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Story Start

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Nightmare Moon had disappeared as quickly as she arrived. The incident sending many of the town ponies into panic as they ran to get back to their homes.

"Ow, what happened?" Spike asked as he began to stir from his shocked induced death faint.

"Take it easy. You passed out from anxiety when Nightmare Moon came." Naruto explained as he turned his attention back to Twilight. "Twilight here just finished explaining to me how she knew so much about our little guess." He said as the Unicorn continued to search for the book.

"Elements, elements, elements... Ugh! How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony?"

"And just what are the Elements of Harmony? And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you and these freaks here spies?" Rainbow Dash demanded as she and the other ponies that Naruto had grown accustom to bustle into the Library. Suddenly, Applejack pulled Rainbow Dash to the ground.

"Simmer down, Sally. Twilight ain't no spy. At least ah don't think Nahruto wouldn't have brought 'er around if that was the case." Applejack argued.

Naruto turned to the Unicorn. "Twilight you should tell them."

Despite being a bit reluctant, the Unicorn couldn't waste time with these other ponies mistrusting her.

"I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her, but I don't know what they are, where to find them, I don't even know what they do!" she explained with a dismayed sigh.

"The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide." Pinkie Pie read off the title of a book she scrimmaged as she threw the book to Twilight.

"How did you find that?!" the unicorn questioned, the fact that she was stumped adorned her face. From what little she had seen this Pinkie Pie was something of a screwball. Not the type that would be organized or much less pick up a book for fun.

As always a colorful smile propped up on the face of cotton candy pony. "It was under "E"!" Pinkie Pie harmoniously sang when a great big grin.

"Oh," Twilight awkwardly mumbled. Pushing down her embarrassment she began using her hooves to carefully scan the pages. She gently brushed away the dust that cluttered the age old tome. The condition of the book consisted of brittle pages to the worn out cover signifying that this book was indeed quite old and some of its writing faded. "There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now…" the location had turned out to be the one and only Everfree Forest.

"The Everfree Forest!" the ponies murmured as they reached its outskirts.

"Whee! Let's go!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed with its usual exuberance.

"Not so fast. Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own." Twilight insisted.

"No can do, sugarcube. We sure ain't lettin' any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple." Applejack remarked. The rest of the ponies "hmph" in agreement but some were still shaking.

"I'm coming too." Spike insisted.

"No way Spike. This is too dangerous." Twilight told him. She wasn't sure what type of creatures was in this forest, but she didn't want him to get hurt.

"It can't be any more dangerous in there then with Nightmare Moon out there. Besides, I've come to know this forest quite well. If anyone knows how to maneuver their way through here its me." Naruto informed them as he moved to the front of the gathering. "If we all stay together, keep our heads low, and keep quiet we should be okay."

Twilight silently agreed as there was no logic to refute this. After all they couldn't waste time. "So how much do you know about this forest?" Twilight asked as they traveled along the dark forest.

"I've come to met some of the wild life here before. I've been trying to find the spot I originally ended up here for quite some time. You already know how I met Applejack and Rainbow here, but that is an interesting question. How about the rest of you?"

"Ugh, Heavens no! Just look at its… it's dreadful." Rarity remarked with a shiver.

"And it ain't natural. Folk say it don't work the same as Equestria." Applejack remarked with her usual drawl. "Ah do my best to stay away as often as possible."

For all intents of purposes this place reminded him of a bigger Forest of Death with some mysticism thrown in. With all the matter of creatures he had been fighting he had gotten as strong as he used to be just prior of pain minus the boost of transformations and most of his jutsu. Because of that he had to work on developing his nature element and shadow clones in order to compensate for what he lost. "I still don't understand why its all so mysterious to the rest of you." Naruto remarked.

"Nopony knows. You know why?" Rainbow Dash asked some of the girls in a creepy voice.

"Rainbow, quit it." Applejack threatened her, though the nervousness in her voice seeped out as they continued their tek. .

"…cause every pony who's ever come in, has never come OUT." The rainbow maned body let out when the cliff below them suddenly fell apart.

Suddenly, the cliff falls apart. Spike was able to grab ahold of a stable piece of ground. The others let out a yelp as they were sent falling with the exception of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were able to get airborne.

"Fluttershy! Quick!" Rainbow Dash cried out.

"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness." Fluttershy panicked. She moved as fast she could managing to grab Pinkie, but thanks to the Mare's unusually low wing strength the two were sent plummeting towards the ground. Because of that it meant Rainbow had to go after them to make sure the two weren't hurt.

"Y-Yes…thank you." She remarked rather bashfully. She couldn't help but think that it was like a scene right out of her shining prince fantasies. Though, it wasn't like she had feelings for Naruto or anything. He was a friend, a nice and good looking friend, but not one she thought of in that way.

Leaving Applejack and Twilight on the edge, the former holding the latter why the hooves as she threatened to tumbe over.

"Applejack! What do I do?" the panicked Twilight asked Applejack. Applejack couldn't help but sweat as she tried to come up with something. Between her poor grip on Twilight and the loosening land, if she were to pull her up they would both go tumbling over. She glanced over the side and then realized what needed to be done.

"Let go." Applejack told the unicorn as calmly as possible.

"Are you crazy?" Twilight cried out as she lost any semblance of her usual composure.

"No I ain't. I promise you'll be safe." Applejack told her earnestly. She could see the Unicorn was filled with doubts and was scared.

"That's not true!" she didn't want to die. She had so much to live for. She couldn't let go. She was too scared. How could this Applejack ask her to let go?

"Now listen here. What I'm sayin' to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe." Applejack insured her again. "This ledge won't hold for long. Just trust me ah wouldn't steer you wrong."

Twilight closed her eyes and prayed to Celestia the farm pony was right. She let go and she could feel herself plummeting down. Suddenly her descent was stopped and she found herself floating. Was she dead? She opened her eyes and found herself being carried by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

With that they were all united. "Thank you…all three of you." Twilight thanked them. She shuttered, thinking of what would had happen if she went on her own like she wanted too. "We have to keep moving. If we don't find the elements soon there won't be stopping Nightmare Moon."

"One thing…we have more immediate problems." Naruto remarked as none other than a Manticore now blocked their path. This was a creature Naruto had never seen before with a gamboge colored coat and red mane, but he recognized what portions of the animals made this creature. The creature had a body of a lion, a scorpion's tail, and a pair of dragon-like wings.

The creature let out a ferocious roar that nearly sent the group flying from the intensity of it. "A manticore!"

The manticore raised its paw and swiped at the group whom easily dodged the attack. Rarity being the closest was the first to react, kicking the creature in the face. "Take that, you ruffian!" she remarked, but the assault only seemed to infuriate the creature and it countered, slashing at Rarity and messing up her hair.

"My hair!" said Rarity as she ducked away from another attack.

"Wait." Quietly called out Fluttershy but it was in vain. Naruto jumped forward and headbutted the creature, causing it to roar out in pain and disorientated it. Seeing the opportunity Applejack leaped on top it.

"YEE-HAW! Get along, little doggie." said Applejack as she started to ride the monster cat. Drawing its attention to her as the others circled it.

"Wait." Fluttershy called out again, but was cut off when Applejack was thrown off the manticore.

"Whoa! All yours, partners." Applejack said as she signaled Rainbow to have a turn.

"On it." said Rainbow Dash as she charged right for the manticore.

"Wait!" said Fluttershy but still she couldn't stop the Pegasus from attacking. The manticore swatted Rainbow Dash away.

"Rainbow!" Twilight shouted.

"Oh, you just made a big mistake." Naruto shouted as he leaped over the creature. Landing on its head he leaped up off it and launched himself in the air. With this next attack he would knock the creature out with a single decisive blow.

Finally Fluttershy dug from deep within herself and shouted, drawing the attention of everyone. Causing everyone to stop and look at her. Resulting in Naruto landing in a tree thanks to his concentration being broken.

The manticore grunts at Fluttershy as she approaches it.

"Shhh... It's okay. Oh, you poor, poor little baby." Fluttershy cooed in a motherly tone.

"Little?" Rainbow Dash snarked.

"Let me see," Fluttershy said, working her magical as the creatures responded. Suddenly, the manticore lifts up its paw and everyone sees a big thorn.

"A thorn? All that for a thorn?" Naruto remarked with a throaty whisper.

"Now this might hurt for just a second." Fluttershy said to the beast as she pulled out the thorn. The manticore then roared in pain.

"Fluttershy!" everybody said as they called for Fluttershy to run away only for the creature to begin licking Fluttershy like some sort of tamed cat.

"Aw you're just a little ol' softie, aren't you? Yes you are, yes you are." Fluttershy said as she was giggling while continually being licked by the manticore. Before the manticore went into the deeper parts of the forest.

"How did you know about the thorn?" Twilight Wondered.

"I didn't. Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness." said Fluttershy. After hearing this, Twilight smiled.

Naruto couldn't help but feel that same cold shiver. He was almost sure Nightmare Moon was responsible for these incidents, but the question was if this being had the power equivalent of a god in this world why not finish them off?

"Eugh. My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck." Rarity complained as the way started to go dark as everyone entered an area filled with tall trees that blocked the moonlight. "Well, I didn't mean that literally."

"That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn't even know it." Twilight remarked.

"What I wouldn't give for a flashlight no jutsu." Naruto mumbled under his breath. That same cold chill coursed through his spine. "Does anyone else fill that?"

"Feel what?" he asked as someone suddenly bumped into him. "Oopmh!"

"I didn't see you there, my apologies."

"Feel what?" Rainbow asked.

"That surge of coldness. If I didn't know any better I'd say it was…" Naruto was cut off when Fluttershy suddenly screamed at the sight of something. "It's just mud." Suddenly, Applejack screams when she sees a tree with a horrific face. "Ahh!" Simultaneous screams echoed as all the twisted faces of the trees were suddenly illuminated. Though despite the panic there was one distinct sound of laughter among them. "Bleh. Ooo!" said Pinkie Pie as she was making funny faces in front of a tree.

"Pinkie, what are you doing?! Get away from that thing." Twilight shouted at her.

"There's nothing to be afraid of." Pinkie cheerfully remarked. "When I was a little filly and scared of darkness and shadows my Granny, Granny Pie told me that being afraid and hiding wasn't the way to deal with your fears. You gotta stand up tall and learn to face your fears. You'll see that they can't hurt you and just laugh to make them disappear." She remarked as she continued making faces and laughing.

"Well at least a better alternative to singing." Naruto remarked.

"Hey…" Pinkie said drawn out. "what's wrong with singing?" Pinkie Pie asked with something that could have been considered a glare if it wasn't Pinkie Pie.

"Nothing, you have lovely and energetic singing. Just isn't the time right now." Thankfully the pink pony didn't pressure it farther as they continued their trek until they reached a huge river. Rainbow probably could ferry all of them over, but there was no telling what sort of dangerous creature could be in the water.

"How are we gonna cross this?" asked Pinkie Pie. Before anyone could think any further, they all hear crying in the distance. "Huh?"

A flamboyant looking sea serpent was crying about something.

"What a world, what a world." said the sea serpent as he was sobbing which was the cause of the river's rough waters. Everyone approached him.

"Excuse me, sir. Why are you crying?" asked Twilight.

"Well, I don't know. I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke just whisked past me and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off, and now I look simply horrid." The serpent cried in distress.

"Oh, give me a break. " Rainbow remarked.

"That's what all the fuss is about?" Applejack added, just as unsympathetic to the serpent's plight.

"Why, of course it is. How can you be so insensitive? Oh, just look at him and such lovely luminescent scales." The upscale Unicorn appraised.

"I know." said the sea serpent.

"And your expertly coiffed mane."

"Oh, I know, I know."

"Your fabulous manicure."

"It's so true!" said the sea serpent with a gasp.

"All ruined without your beautiful mustache."

"It's true, I'm hideous!" he responded with a wail.

"I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected." said Rarity as she cut part of her tail off. The sea serpent yelped in response to the unicorn's actions.

"What did you do that for?" the sea serpent asked.

"Rarity, what are you-" said Twilight until she sees Rarity put her severed tail on the part of the mustache that was cut off. The sea serpent then lets a moan of joy.

"Oh-hohohoho! My mustache. How wonderful."

"You look smashing." Rarity complimented as she admired her handiwork.

"Oh, Rarity, your beautiful tail..." Twilight remarked with a gasp.

"Oh. It's fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season. Besides, it'll grow back." Despite the brave face the unicorn was putting, it was obvious it took a lot from her to do something so generous.

"So would the mustache." Rainbow Dash muttered under her breath and rolled her eyes. Twilight then gasped as she sees the river settle down.

"We can cross now. Let's go." said Twilight. Suddenly, she and the other ponies were lifted up by the sea serpent. "Ah!"

"Allow me." said the sea serpent as he formed a bridge using body allowing the ponies to cross the bridge.

They continued their trek as the fog began to thicken. They could see the faint makings of a ruins in the distant.

"I see some ruins. The Elements of Harmony must be there. We made it." Twilight proclaimed with a rush of excitement.

"Twilight, wait for us." Applejack called out as the Unicorn rushed ahead.

"We're almost there." Twilight called back to them when the ground suddenly gave away beneath her. "Whoa!" Suddenly, Naruto grabs her.

"What's with you and falling off cliffs today?" Rainbow Dash remarked as she took to the sky above.

"Now what?" Pinkie Pie asked as she sees the bridge loose on the other side.

"Duh." said Rainbow Dash as she shows her wings. Rainbow Dash then flies over to the other side to tie the bridge. "Oh yeah." As Rainbow Dash ties up the bridge.

She then heard the faint whisperings of raspy voice echoing from the fog.

"Who's there?" Rainbow demanded, readily moving into a defensive gesture.

"Rainbow..."

"I ain't scared of you! Show yourself!" she demanded with her usual bravado.

"We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria."

"Who?"

"Why, you, of course."

"Really?! I mean... Oh yeah, me. Hey, uh, you wouldn't mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ya? 'cause I've been trying to get into that group for like, ever." She remarked with her usual boasting.

"No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us, The Shadowbolts." Suddenly, the mist clears to reveal three mares that look like darker versions of the Wonderbolts. "We're the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria, but first, we need a captain. The most magnificent-"

"Yep."

"Swiftest-"

"Yes."

"Bravest flyer in all the land."

"Yes, it's all true." said Rainbow Dash as she starts chuckling.

"We need... you." The lead among them continued to boost her ego.

"WOOHOO! Sign me up. Just let me tie this bridge real quick and then we have a deal." said Rainbow Dash as she went to finish the job.

"No!" shouted the Wonderbolt. "It's them or us."

"What's taking her so long?" asked Twilight. She and the others then see Rainbow Dash talking with the Shadowbolts. "Oh no. Rainbow! Don't listen to them." The mist then intensifies.

"Don't worry." Naruto remarked. "Rainbow's most positive trait is her loyalty. She won't let us down."

"Well?" asked the Wonderbolt.

"You... Thank you! For the offer, I mean, but I'm afraid I have to say no." said Rainbow Dash. The Wonderbolts then disappear as they turn back into Nightmare Moon's shadow mist.

"See? I'd never leave my friends hangin'." Rainbow Dash said as the ponies and Spike cheer and they cross the bridge and entered the ruins.

"That over there! That must be them!" Spike pointed out to the five objects on small pillars on the other side of the room.

"The Elements of Harmony, we've found them." Twilight exclaimed after such a dangerous journey they finally found them.

Suddenly large volumes of mist began to gather. The mist began pouring out of cracks in the floors and walls and through the open windows of the ruins. The mist began forming the shape of large body. Aspect of the creatures began to thin out and expand with long bat-like wings, and scaly body. One the shape finally finished its transformation it was a charcoal scaled dragon, mulatto eyes, and violet paper see through wings. The creature let out an intimidating roar that caused cracks to appear in the foundation and the building to shake. It appeared the Mare of the Night grew tired of using mere distractions and decided to finish them off.