Chapter 67- A Sour Apple
Me: Alright, it is time.
Rarity: Time for my fun to begin?
Me: Yes.
Rarity: Oh joy! I'll handle the disclaimer for you dear. Tid doesn't own the rights to Naruto Shippuden or My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
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Rarity sat in silence as she waited for her Chakra to return to its former levels. She sighed in her boredom, wishing she could have something to pass the time. She glanced at the monitors, the screens showing dark rooms and hallways with no change. As she sat, her mind began to wander. She began to search for ways to replenish her Chakra faster. She doubted she could have someone use medical ninjutsu on her. She remembered a temporary fix for her Chakra issue, but Tid had suffered from its side effects and she didn't want to go through that. How long did it take for Chakra to replenish, anyway? Surely it couldn't take this long, as Tid and Itachi used Chakra almost daily and found themselves able to use it again the next day. At that moment something popped up on one of the monitors. Rarity leaned forward and gazed into the monitor that showed the hallway leading to the main room. Rarity grinned. "It seems I've found myself someone to keep me occupied."
Applejack said nothing as she left Inoichi's house. The others followed her to the door, worried expressions on their faces. She walked through the doorway and left the others standing there without a single look back. She walked down the path that led into the middle of Ponyville, heading straight for the base. The night air was cool, almost cold. Applejack shivered, not from the cold air, but rather from what she was about to do. She had volunteered to be the one to kill Rarity. "Gosh darn it, why did I have to go and open my big mouth?" She asked herself in frustration. She didn't want to end Rarity's life; no one did. Sure, the fashionista did get on her nerves a lot, but who'd want to end her life? She was one of the best friends Applejack had. She had to admit, Rarity was always there for her. She always attended her rodeos, was always there when she was down, and most of all, she was always a great friend. She couldn't remember how many nights she had spent crying on Rarity's shoulder. They were such good friends; it was hard to believe something like this could even happen. It almost didn't seem real; it couldn't be real. But she had seen what Rarity was capable of, what she had become. It weighed heavily on her heart to have to end Rarity's life, but it was something she had to do. Applejack closed her eyes as she walked, a single tear dripping down her face and onto the hard ground.
Applejack approached the secret entrance to the underground base, looking around quickly so as to make sure she wasn't being watched. When she had determined the coast was clear, she entered the base, sealing the entrance behind her. The hallway she stood in was dark and somewhat ominous and unnerving. She took a deep breath in and let it out, trying to calm her nerves. She cautiously put one hoof in front of the other and made her way toward the door at the end of the hall. Her reflection in the steel walls caught her attention in the corner of her eye and sent her heart rate soaring; making her think it was Rarity. "Just calm down, Applejack. You're not in any danger," She gulped. "Yet." She muttered. She continued walking down the hall until she could see the red neon sign that marked the entrance to the main room. She stopped and stood still, trying to calm herself before facing her. When she had finally regulated her breathing somewhat she gulped and took a step forward, the door automatically sliding open for her. Applejack noticed the room was very dark and empty, the machines that baffled her to no end sat silently in the room, gathering dust. She stepped into the room and immediately the door shut behind her abruptly. This startled her and made her mane stand on end. "This place is just too creepy." She said as she walked toward the center of the room and glancing nervously around. She glanced at the monitor and did a double-take as she thought she saw Rarity's face glaring at her. The monitor, however, remained blank and empty. "Maybe I shoulda turned on the lights." She said to herself as she turned around and walked back toward the light switch. Just then there was a loud crash that made her jump and spin around to face the source. "Who's there?" She called out, hoping she didn't receive an answer. She ran her eyes over the spot repeatedly, seeing nothing but darkness on the opposite side of the room. She backed up slowly and used her tail to flip the switch, the lights bursting to life. When her eyes had adjusted to the light she saw that a box of the weapons Tid and Itachi used was knocked over and had spilled its contents all over the floor. She breathed a sigh of relief. She continued to look around for any sign of Rarity but found none. "Where ya hiddin' Rarity?" She asked trying to make herself sound as brave as possible. There was no response. Applejack stood there for the longest time, her heart racing a million miles per hour. Maybe she ain't here after all. She thought hopefully. She turned to leave when the lights flickered and went out, a strong black wind rushing past her. She turned slowly to the center of the room where the black wind swirled around in a column, faster and faster until it seemed almost solid. A few seconds later the wind ceased and exploded outward, forcing her eyes shut against the powerful gale. When she could open them again she saw the black mare they had once called Rarity standing in the center of the room, her head slightly bowed and her eyes closed. Smoke seemed to be trailing off of her body in wisps, the strongest of which from the tip of her horn. Her Akatsuki dress flowed around her body as if billowing in a constant insensible breeze. The sight was enough to force a few drops of sweat to fall from Applejack's face. "Hello, Applejack." She said, her eyes still closed and her head still bowed slightly. Applejack was unable to move, frozen with fear. "Thank you for coming, I was starting to get terribly bored." She said. Applejack gulped and forced herself to speak. "Rarity, I'm here t-" "I'm well aware of what you're here for, Applejack." Rarity interrupted. Applejack closed her mouth, too afraid to say anything else. "I'd like to say one thing before we begin." Rarity said. Applejack said nothing. "Welcome," She said. Then she opened her eyes, the blue in her eyes seeming to glow in the dark. "To your worst Nightmare."
Rarity stood before a cowering Applejack, glee filling her heart that Applejack was so afraid of her. Unfortunately she couldn't use much Chakra, as her Chakra levels were still incredibly low. That also meant she couldn't use the Almighty Push to protect herself, so she'd have to be very careful. "What's the matter, Applejack? Are you afraid you don't have what it takes to kill me?" She taunted. "I don't want to kill you, Rarity." She said. Rarity smirked. "Good, then this will be that much easier for me." She began to gallop toward Applejack. She pulled back her right arm and thrust it forward in an attempt to punch the still petrified earth pony. In an instant Applejack came out of her haze and dodged the attack, forcing Rarity to punch the reinforced steel walls. She winced as sharp pain shot from her hoof. If she had been any less durable, her hoof would probably be broken. She turned around, holding her hoof with the other and scanned the room for Applejack. Applejack was making her way toward the spilled box of kunai. Let's hope my magic will hold out longer than my Chakra. She thought as she watched. Finally the pain in her hoof subsided and she set it gently back on the ground, returning her attention back to Applejack. When she did so she saw a kunai flying straight toward her. She tilted her head to the right and the kunai scraped the side of her cheek before bouncing off of the steel wall behind her. She scowled as she felt the warm liquid that was her blood start dripping from the wound and down her cheek onto the floor. She used her hoof to wiped the blood from the wound. "You've managed to scratch me. You'll pay for that." She said glaring at Applejack, who had another kunai prepped in her mouth. Rarity used her magic to grab the kunai that now lay at her hooves and levitated it before her, waiting for Applejack's attack. Applejack went to work at throwing kunai toward Rarity with deadly force and accuracy. Rarity, however, had no trouble in blocking all of these. Eventually she'll run out of weapons, then it'll be over for her. She thought confidently.
At that moment Applejack did something unexpected. She grabbed the box of kunai and kicked it, the rest of the kunai that had not been thrown now flying blade-end first toward Rarity with frightening speed. Rarity had no choice but to use what little Chakra she had left to protect herself. She stood on her hind legs and used an Almighty Push, the cloud of kunai dispersing before the wall of wind. As if in slow motion, Applejack appeared from the dust cloud with a kunai in her mouth and forced Rarity against the wall, the kunai held to her throat. Rarity was helpless to defend herself, the kunai she held had been dropped when she broke her concentration. Damn it. She cursed in frustration. Applejack had gotten the better of her. Rarity's arms were pinned to the wall by Applejack's hooves. The only way to break free would be to open the Eight Gates, but how many could she handle at this stage? Not enough. She decided. Applejack controlled her tail like a fifth limb and pinned the kunai against Rarity's throat so as to free her mouth. "Why are you doing this, Rarity? You used to be a kind pony, wouldn't harm a fly. Not look at ya. You've got ta change Rarity, this ain't you." She said, almost pleadingly. Rarity chuckled, closing her eyes and lowering her head as much as she could. "You don't understand a thing, Applejack. If I told you why I was doing this, you wouldn't understand." She said. "Try me." Applejack said slamming Rarity against the wall. Rarity winced. "Fine. You're right, I did used to be a kind pony. I also used to be weak. Don't you see? I had been weak, and that weakness led to me helplessly watching Tid sacrifice his life to protect mine, to protect the lives of everyone in Equestria. I had been too weak to help him, despite my best efforts. That's why I'm doing this. I have power now. I am finally strong enough to avenge him." She said. Tears were welling up in her eyes from recalling her memories of his last moments. "But that don't explain why yer trying to kill us!" Applejack said. Rarity said nothing but stared with hardened eyes into Applejack's eyes. "Why are you trying to kill us after he died to protect us?" She asked. "Because you sent him to his death in the first place!" Rarity shouted with so much anger it seemed to shake the building. "What in the hay are you talkin' about?" Applejack asked. "Don't play dumb with me, Applejack. You know damn well what I mean. True, Tid sacrificed himself for more than just me, but who was it that held me back from stopping him?" Rarity asked, tears now spilling from her eyes. Applejack's eyes widened. As they stood there, it began to settle in Applejack's mind that she was the one who had stopped Rarity from saving Tid's life. As this realization took its full place in Applejack's mind her grip on Rarity loosened. Rarity noticed this and took advantage of the situation to push Applejack away. Applejack stumbled and fell to the floor, staring at Rarity who now held a kunai of her own in front of Applejack's face. The tables had been turned.
Applejack sat on the floor, staring at Rarity, who held a kunai in front of her face. She was breathing heavily, from physical strain or from emotional release, Applejack couldn't tell. Tears were falling down her face, her make up beginning to run as well. "Rarity, if you're gonna do it, then do it." Applejack said. It's all my fault anyway. She thought in despair. "I will, but first," Rarity said moving the kunai down to her side. She pushed Applejack with one hoof on her chest down to the floor, and leaned in until her face was just inches away from Applejack's. "I'll be taking your Path power back." She said. She tilted her head and touched her horn to Applejack's forehead. There was a bright blue light and an unbearable pain shot from Applejack's forehead, forcing her to scream. The blood marking that Tid had written on Applejack's forehead reappeared from within the blue light. Slowly the blood that made up the seal began to make its way up Rarity's horn, disappearing into her own forehead. Applejack screamed in pain the whole time this happened until the mark had been completely drained into Rarity. When Applejack's Path power had been absorbed Rarity stood up, looking with pity on the panting Applejack. Rarity herself was also panting, the spell having taken its toll on her already low magic reserves. "With this power I'll be able to replenish my Chakra much more easily. Thank you so much for kindly offering it to me." Rarity said. "Now that ya got what ya wanted, yer gonna kill me, right?" Applejack asked. "That's right. I'll take all of your Chakra, so you can die knowing your death was not in vain." Rarity said with a smirk. She placed both of her hooves on Applejack's chest and began absorbing her Chakra. Applejack did nothing but watched as Rarity took her Chakra. She could feel power leaving her body. Then something happened to Rarity.
Rarity was absorbing Applejack's Chakra, feeling the power enter her body, when something felt different. She felt her face begin to change and she immediately stopped taking Applejack's Chakra. Panicking, Rarity ran over to the monitor that was reflective enough to show that her face had changed in appearance. Her eyes had changed color, from the luminous blue she was familiar with to a radiating gold. Dark purple lines also stretched across her face, forming a strange design around her eyes and nose. She turned her attention back to Applejack, who seemed equally as mystified by these changes. "What did you do? What kind of trap is this?" Rarity inquired furiously. "I swear it wasn't me!" Applejack said raising her hooves defensively. Rarity took a look back into the monitor. Upon closer examination, she found she liked the new look. She felt more powerful, feeling like she possessed a unique power she had not before seen. What is this? She thought in wonder. She turned back to Applejack and, having decided that this new development was of no threat to her, she walked back over and resumed taking Applejack's Chakra. She used a bit of Chakra to pin Applejack to the floor using Tid's chains. "It'll be over soon." Rarity said. Applejack resigned herself, staring up at the ceiling. Sorry mom, dad. It looks like I failed ya. She thought as her Chakra continued to be drained from her body. She could feel her strength fading. Her eyes widened as she lay there, something appearing above her. Tears filled her eyes as she saw that it was her parents. Their see-through bodies floated close to the ceiling, their faces smiling. It's okay Aj, just come to us. We love you, no matter what. Her mother said with open arms. Mom. Applejack thought, tears rolling down her cheeks. You didn't fail us, Aj. You helped save Equestria, not to mention you were one of the greatest daughters we coulda ever wished for. We love you, Applejack. Now it's time to come home. Her father said. Dad. She thought. She was so happy to see them, so happy to finally be able to join them. You've been strong long enough, so just give up Aj. Your job is done. Her mother said. Okay. She thought with a weak smile. As she felt the last of her Chakra drain from her body, she let her body slacken, her eyes turning dark. I'm comin' home...
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Me: Well, that was emotional. She's in a better place now.
Rarity: Now that I've killed Applejack, I eagerly await my next opponent.
Me: You'll have to wait a bit longer.
Rarity: Oh come on, my fun is only just beginning!
Me: Yes, but I have something planned for this Arc. Stay tuned for the rest of this Arc! See ya!