Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x Rarity x Twilight x Fluttershy x Applejack x Pinkie Pie x Rainbow Dash x Ditzy x Luna x ? x ?

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For Normal Speech

Inner thoughts, Text read, Italics used to represent characters speaking in different language.

Demonic rage, Demonic characters, Kurama Speak

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Story Start

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How?

How was this happening?

What was this mare doing to her?

Magic had been right. It should have been simple. Eliminating the bearers should have been childs play for her.

The essence of Nightmare had committed unspeakable atrocities. She had killed countless ponies, destroyed so many families, and so many homes. Known by so many names. Taken countless forms throughout the eons.

But the thought of striking down the only ones capable of stopping her made her resistant.

Radiance began unleashing a series of wild spells that Luna protected the down from.

Using her magic Twilight Sparkle's aura extended around nearly everypony, as she prepared to safely teleporting all those who would stand no chance in the ensuing fight that would follow. 'A mere mortal mare has no power over me.'

Radiance readied her horn as she prepared to blast down at the town, readied to wipe out hundreds of lives with her indomitable might.

That would be the only way to solidfy her presence once and for all, but yeah. The image of Rarity's family flickered to her mind.

It made Nightmare's heart sink at just the thought. It was truly a horrible feeling, imagining a loved one in danger like that.

The number of lives that the Nightmare had claimed could not be counted. And when it possessed Luna it had no reservations. When it jumped from vessel to vessel, corrupting the hearts it remained uncontested so why, why when her vessel was a lesser pony did she hesitate?

With the citizens of Ponyville now safely away the Princess and bearers were free to cut loose.

---

His presence.

His presence had been enough.

It gave her the strength to break through the chains that kept her suspended in the boutique.

This was her fault. She had been too weak. She had let Radiance overtake her.

The Nightmare overtook her like it did Luna and there was only one way to make things right. She needed to overcome her doubts and weaknesses.

"Well you certainly came to the conclusion rather quickly. For that I applaud you."

Rarity came face to face with her exact double. "Who…who are you?" she asked as the other Rarity smiled.

"Come now honey you know who I am. I am the new you keep locked up and buried inside. The manifestation of all your dark thoughts. The result of Discord's dark seed and the Nightmare's influence giving me a life all on my own."

"So Radiance didn't send you?"

"No Darling, you called for me all on your own. Was it not your desire to shed away what allows Radiance to hold your body hostage?"

As reluctant as she was to trust this self-proclaimed manifestation of her negativity she had to do something.

"Very well."

Rarity let out a gasp as the two of them popped in front of the Golden Oaks Library.

"Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic. Our leader. There is no lying to yourself. I am you just as much as you are me. Facing your fears will be far less painful then losing those you love. Your bond with Twilight Sparkle you must confess the good and bad. Cleanse both your heart and mind. Erase all doubts and reaffirm your bond was not the whims of destiny as you fear."

Rarity was hesitant to speak. So this is what her other planned for her? She could not be a coward. She had to be strong and overcome the Nightmare.

"Twilight Sparkle. A brilliant mare. She holds magic I could only dream of. She was born in a city and immersed in a world I desired for so much of my life.

And I am jealous of her. Jealous of how she's been blessed with such gifts and spurned them for so long. For a good while I resented her, but as I got to know her better I realized what a wonderful mare she is. Twilight Sparkle is my friend. She is beautiful inside and out and does not use her gifts to get a leg up over others. I will not fault her for faults that are purely mine. I know Twilight will never abandon me, our friendship means too much to her."

Rarity suddenly gasped, feeling some kind of warmth in her chest, as her entire body lit up for an instant. For a brief moment she could feel her elements power.

"Let's move on," The Other Rarity said as they popped in front of Rainbow's cloud house. "Now we move on to Loyalty. Will you continue or will you abandon your friends?"

"I will not run away." Rarity's voice quivered slightly. She would have to get through this. "Rainbow Dash, so brash and arrogant. There was a time I thought I could never become friends with somepony so undignified and so unladylike. If there were two ponies you thought you would never see together it would be the two of us. Deep down I admired how carefree she was and as I have gotten the honor to know her I respect just how deep her loyalty runs. Rainbow is a mare of outstanding character and just because we are different does not make me better than her."

The glow occurred again, lasting a little longer and becoming a bit brighter. "You know, if I must communicate with you than surely you must have a name."

"If you really need a name for me, call me Frugality." The other Rarity identified herself as. "Now on to the next one."

This time they appeared in front of Sugarcube Corner. "Aah the trickster. The Hyperactive pony. How do you stand her?"

Rarity continued on through Frugality's test. "Pinkie Pie. Like so many I thought of her as simple. Like a hyperactive child. I held no ill will towards her, but she was not a pony I would have gone out of my way to spend time with. Seeing her be so carefree and without worry of thoughts of others made me rather annoyed at her. It would only be later would I realized just how much the poor dear held in and just how ignorant I truly was about things. Pinkie Pie is one of the most thoughtful ponies I have ever met. So she is not like everypony else, so what? A desire to bring joy to others out of the pure goodness of one's heart? I owe more to her than I can ever express."

During the transition Rarity felt her stomach was tying itself in knots. In the back of her mind these horrible little thoughts and observations had seemed like nothing at the time. To think she had let things get this far out of hand.

Not Fluttershy. She just couldn't…she didn't want to.

"Here we are," Frugality announced as they were now in front of Fluttershy's cottage. "You simply must hurry yourself along, dear. Our devoted fiancé is giving his all to find you and Radiance is reeling from the fact we've been wrestling for control."

"I…" it made her sick to her stomach. She just didn't want to face those horrible thoughts.

"You do not have a choice Darling. The only way to stop Radiance is if you free yourserlf. If you don't she will kill the others. So just accept that there is a part of you that is horrible. Everypony. Everyone I should say has their dark side. The sooner you get passed this the better. You can be rather dreadful dear."

"I- I'm not!" Rarity managed.

"I already told you. I am all your dirty little secrets rolled into one. Ever sneer. Every false laugh. Every insult. You know that. You called for me. You understand what needs to be done which is the only reason I've been so compliant. If Radiance wrestles full control of you nothing will stop her from killing the others. It hurts. I know. You've been so strong, but you have to continue."

Rarity sighed, closing her eyes, and finally accepting that this is something that had to happen, not stopping the tears now forming, "But- I love them! How could I ever think such things about them? They are the most important ponies in my life!"

Frugality looked at the mare, and her puffy red eyes. Just because she was a specific manifestation did not mean she did not share Rarity's memories or feelings. She was Rarity just one of parts and not the whole. "Its what makes you mortal. It what it means to have free will. You are not the same pony you once were. You have grown and changed. The Rarity you are now is a much better pony than you once were. Its okay. Learn from the mistakes of the past and make a better future."

"I'm sorry." Rarity finally sighed, looking back to Frugality and wiping the tears from her eyes. She had to do this.

"No need to apologize to yourself. Nopony better than I knows how bad you feel. So now we have to finish this process. We need to work together to save everypony from Radiance…from Nightmare. So we need to cast her out from our body!"

"You're right!" Rarity said, her own smile returning as she started to show some enthusiasm, "We won't have anypony inside my body expect our beloved fiance!"

"Oh my how scandalish!" Frugality let out a full bowl snorting-giggle conversation as Rarity's cheeks burned red.

"I spoke without thinking. It appears Rainbow Dash's humor has rubbed off on me." Rarity remarked with a sigh. Anyway it was time to continue. She…herself…frugality was right. Luna overcame her fears and was able to find back. Rarity now had to overcome her own doubts in her friends in over to be able to find the strength to fight back.

"Fluttershy for the longest time was not a strong willed pony at all. I spent so much of my time helping her get things done. And it started to get to the point where I did things not for her benefit, but because it felt good to be needed. Her relying on me was a way to validate that I was necessary in somepony's life when my business was less than stellar at the time." Rarity took a deep breath as her voice cracked slightly. "There…there were even times where I wished she could be somepony's else problem at times. Though, without even realizing Fluttershy thought me so much. Her presence and my time spent around her helped me developed into a gentler pony than I would have been without her influence. Without Fluttershy I would have become like many of those uncouth snob types in Canterlot. She is absolutely wonderful. Beautiful and courageous in her own way. And a part of me was afraid of her no longer needing me in her life once she became braver. When her friends are in trouble there is hardly a pony around braver than she."

Frugality let out a satisfied smile as they teleported to Sweet Apple Acres.

"Applejack. Opposites would not even began to describe how the two of us were. My thoughts of her were where my elitism shined through again. I felt a farmer would not be able to understand sophistication, but once more I was proven wrong. Applejack is and has always been so strong and dedicated to her family. I admire her strength and her honesty. If there were anypony whose word I can trust its hers."

Then it was on to Ditzy Doo. "A walking disaster. My experience with her is by far the most limited. While I did not think of her as stupid I felt she was irresponsible and…" Rarity bit her bottom lip as a look of shame overcame her. "…thought of her as promiscuous without getting all the facts. I soon learn just how much of a sweetheart that mare was and how wise she is. Ditzy may not be a bearer but she is loved all the same. She is part of our little family and I am happy to have met her."

The next place surprised her. It was her childhood home. Rarity lasped into silence for a few minutes before she find a voice to speak. To speak of her insecurities. Of her fears. Of. Of how much she felt embarrassed of her parents. Of how she had her little sister a bothersome distraction at times.

She was going to cry again. How could she have harbored any such ill will towards her loved ones? Just like with each session the glow but this time it was about the size of her heart and it did not fade away. The light stayed constant in front of her.

The memories of the bad flooded. Of how so much time she dwelled on the bad with Sweetie and her parents. The destroyed work. Them not understanding her craft. How much they embarrassed her. How angry she got at her parents for so frequently leaving her over.

It was heart breaking to herself for one who prided herself as one of Equestria's pillars could hold such thoughts.

Noticing that Rarity was on the urge of breaking down Frugality let herself know of all the good that was deep down inside of her. "But you forgot one thing. How you care about your family more than anything. All of them. The Crusaders. Your Parents. The Bearers. You would brave the fiercest fire or storms for them. You would give away your wealth for them. They mean all of Equestria to you and no act is too generous for those you love dearly. No matter how much they frustrate or embarrass you that you love them. No amount of bad thoughts or misjudgments change the fact that you love them and would risk your life for them."

Frugality walked up to the mare, and gave her a meaningful hug.

"It's time, Rarity. Be strong." They appeared in front of Naruto's home. The light from Rarity continued to team with life.

"Rarity, are you ready to finish? Once this is over we will unite. Once that happens your memories and emotions will still be the same, but the Rarity of old will be no more. We will be a whole new Rarity."

Rarity nodded and turned to the house. "Naruto…my dearest Naruto. Sometimes…you really know how to piss a lady off." This time she spoke more directly to the blond. His presence. He was close. She could feel it and somehow she felt her words would reach her.

Frugality's eyes widened in surprise. Well that was unexpected.

"So clueless. Always so noble and so caring. And I hated that I felt I was never good enough for you. That I was not a good enough Alpha. That you would grow tired and bored of me. After all you had the heart of so many mares and I found myself wishing that you weren't so all loving." She wiped her eyes. "I would joke about your allure because I was too much of a coward to speak my mind. And now I realize how horrible it was for me to feel relieved when you made mistakes. So horrible for comparing our friends mistakes to my own to justify my insecurities. Nopony. None of us are perfect no matter how much we strived to be. I know what matters now. I know what is important. All the material possession and fame in the world means nothing without the ponies you love to share them with. And now more than ever I want to be with you. Because I love you and I am in love with you. You are my other half. My soul mate. And now…I will protect you. I will protect everypony. I will protect Equestria. Never again will I ever doubt any of you. Our bonds are far too important. I...I am no longer afraid. There is no more fear in my heart. Those dark feelings no longer hold me down because all of you are my light. Even if it means putting my life on the line I will protect that life...I will protect…everyone!"The light washed over Rarity and soon she began to glow.

Frugality went over and grasped her hands as the energy washed over her.

"Thank you." Rarity smiled genuinely as the two of them were completely engulfed in the aura. Once faded there stood one Rarity. It was like a power surge. At first the Element of Harmony of Generosity affixed itself on her neck and her power radiated outwards. But, the power flow didn't stop. Rarity could feel it pushing her, higher, higher, and higher.

That was when the armor manifested onto her. The power the Gemstone now radiated was incredible.

As the Element of Generosity she felt like she could do anything. With Naruto by her side she felt like there was nothing she could not do. But with the bonds, thoughts, and strength of everypony she felt like everything would be possible.

---

Radiance stood over Naruto's body as she poised her hand at his face. For whatever reason Rarity's struggling had ceased allowing her full control of the dream and robbing Naruto of his ability to fight back.

"And with that! Empathy is destroyed once more." Radiance remarked as she prepared to end his life.

An Element Reborn! The path to true Generosity has opened.

"Radiance…its over." A voice came from behind the dark mare.

Radiance didn't have enough time to turn and face the familiar voice, before a single fist connected with her cheek sending her flying through the other side of the field.

Rarity leaned over and brought Naruto into her arms. Her aura washed over him, mending his wounds. The blond regained consciousness. "My hero." He remarked with a grin. "And here I thought I was going to be the one to save you."

"I believe we saved each other beloved." She said as she turned her attention back to Radiance.

"How? I imprisoned you! How can a mere pony have this kind of power!?"

The look on Rarity's face could only be described as intense, as every spell cast by the Nightmare fizzled out.

"This is my mind Radiance! My body! You are a plague that keeps tormenting our world and one way or another I will see to it that you are destroyed." Rarity's magic bled over to Naruto who also transformed into his armor.

The battle against the Nightmare was finally reaching its conclusion.

Next Chapter: Nightmare Returns: Saving Rarity & End of a Nightmare! Estimated time remaining: 25 Hours, 6 Minutes