Chapter 71- A New Threat
Me: Boy are you guys in for a surprise in this chapter.
Rarity: No matter, I can deal with any threat that opposes me!
Me: Er, right. Anyway, I don't own the rights to Naruto Shippuden or My Little Pony Friendship is Magic.
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A whole day had passed since Rarity had battled Fluttershy. She had spent a good three hours trying to repair her wounds, with much success. She sealed the cuts on her skin, mended her broken ribs, and even fixed her mane. After that she had slept for quite a while, her exhaustion pulling her into a deeper sleep. When she had awoken, the sun had set once again. Now she was on her way to Canterlot, where she would do battle with Princess Celestia herself. She had all of the Path powers she needed to be successful; so now it was just a matter of execution. Rarity had placed Ryujin under her control, so now she could use him to do anything she wanted without question. She glanced up at the night sky and saw the stars twinkling above; just as they had always done. They didn't seem to give signs of any ominous activity at all, which Rarity chuckled at. Canterlot was in for a big surprise. She cackled wickedly and continued on her way.
It had been shortly after eight o' clock in the morning when Inoichi had found Zecora on his front doorstep. He was shocked to see the zebra in such a condition, and surprised she was still alive. He knew who was responsible for her injuries, and it frightened him to think that they might be next, that this might be a message. He gently scooped the unconscious zebra into his arms and walked inside, shutting the door with his foot behind him. He carried the zebra to the living room and laid her on the vacant couch and immediately went to fetch some medical supplies he had prepared in case such an event happened. He entered the kitchen where Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Spike sat silently eating their breakfast. They had awoken to discover Fluttershy was gone, and they knew what fate she had met with. They had decided not to talk about it, as that would only add to their sadness. Inoichi rushed passed them and quickly gathered gauze, medicinal elixirs, and some food pills and returned to the living room. His hurriedness attracted the curiosity of the others and they followed him into the living room, gasping as they saw what had happened to Zecora. Inoichi kneeled beside her and began treating her immediately, wrapping her wounds with gauze, pouring a medicinal elixir down her throat, straightening her leg and bandaging her broken arm before applying what little medical ninjutsu he knew. Miraculously, he was able to mend a few of her bones, restoring her arm and leg into working condition.
The others crowded around Inoichi and Zecora, staring with shock at the wounded zebra. When Inoichi had done all that he could, he stood and placed the food pills within the zebra's reach and turned to the others.
"What happened to her?" Asked Spike.
"Rarity happened to her." Twilight replied solemnly.
"She'll be alright. Her breathing's stabilized, and I managed to mend most of her broken bones. She'll need more medical attention in the future, but this is all I can do." Inoichi said to them. He looked over his shoulder at the zebra.
"She's the only one to have survived one of Rarity's attacks. Either she's just that sturdy, or Rarity's trying to send a message." He said.
"How long until she wakes up?" Twilight asked.
"She won't wake up for at least a few hours. She had taken a pretty serious beating." He replied. Then he remembered something.
"Twilight, weren't you versed in medical ninjutsu as well?" He asked. She nodded. She looked down at her hooves.
"I'm not incredibly good at it, but I could probably help Zecora's injuries a little more." She said and looked back up at him.
"Would you? The sooner she wakes up, the better." He said.
Twilight nodded and Inoichi moved out of her way as she walked over to Zecora. She placed her hooves over the zebra's chest and began to concentrate, the familiar green aura taking shape in the air between her hooves and the zebra's body.
"Come on, we should leave Twilight to her jutsu." Inoichi said ushering the other two out of the room and leaving Twilight alone with Zecora.
A few hours later, Twilight was still healing Zecora when the zebra began to stir. Twilight stopped her jutsu and stared at Zecora as her eyes fluttered open. Zecora looked around the room and attempted to sit up, wincing as she did so. Twilight gently pushed the zebra back onto the couch, urging her not to move.
"W-where am I?" Zecora asked.
"You're at Inoichi's house. It's alright, you're safe now." Twilight replied.
Zecora breathed a sigh of relief.
"My mind is able to think with clarity, now that I'm away from Rarity." Zecora said.
Zecora's voice could be heard from the kitchen and Inoichi, Spike, and Rainbow Dash joined Twilight at Zecora's side.
"How are you feeling?" Inoichi asked.
"Before I thought I was due, but now I feel almost like new." She replied.
"That's good." Inoichi said nodding. Spike walked over to Zecora.
"Rarity did this to you?" He asked her. She nodded.
Spike's eyes began to fill with tears as he realized the Rarity he had once loved was now the one responsible for all of his friends dying. His heart ached with the pain of this realization.
"Can you tell us anything about what she is up to?" Twilight asked as she gently moved the dragon away from Zecora.
"I can; for I know Rarity's evil plan." Zecora replied. Inoichi, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash all looked at each other with a glimmer of hope in their hearts. They each leaned in.
"Well? Let's hear it." Twilight said.
"Rarity will head to kill Princess Celestia." Zecora said. They each gasped. Kill Princess Celestia? How could Rarity hope to do that, and what could she hope to gain?
"And after the light has been sent to part, she will go after the Crystal Heart." She continued.
"The Crystal Heart? What does she want with that?" Twilight asked.
"She is tired of spilling blood for a stain; she wants everyone to share her pain." Zecora replied.
"'Share her pain'? What does that mean?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"It means she'll make everyone feel the same loss in their hearts as she feels in hers." Twilight replied.
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened and her heart sank. Did she hear Twilight right? Is that really what Rarity could be planning to do? She shook her head, it couldn't be. Her heart raced with panic as she thought about what it would feel like. Her panic then gave way to anger. She couldn't, she wouldn't let that happen. She gritted her teeth in anger and she scowled. She ran over to the door of Inoichi's house and ran outside before taking flight. She could hear her friends screaming for her to stop but she wasn't about to let Rarity go through with her plan. She flew as fast as she could around Equestria, looking for Rarity. As she flew, the golden sun began to set, casting an annoying glare in her eyes. She tried to search despite the glare but found herself unable to. She had no choice but to land and search when the sun set. She descended and landed next to a cave that resided next to a solitary tree surrounded by green grass. She sat in the shade of the tree and watched the sunset.
I wish he were here. She thought to herself and sighing.
She gazed into the sunset and remembered all of the times they had shared. She shook her head. Now wasn't the time to be getting nostalgic. She watched as the sun finally set completely behind the horizon. If Rainbow Dash failed to stop Rarity now, this may be the last time the sun would be seen at all. Rainbow Dash stood and spread her wings once more.
"I won't let that happen." She said and then took flight.
Rarity was walking along a solitary path that led from Ponyville straight to Canterlot. She was about halfway when she heard someone shout her name.
"Rarity!" She heard.
She stopped and glanced over her shoulder, looking up to see Rainbow Dash flying directly toward her. She turned around to face Rainbow Dash as she flew toward her.
"What do you want?" Rarity asked. Rainbow Dash landed and stared at Rarity with daggers shooting out of her eyes.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She asked.
"Oh? So I take it Zecora finally told you my plan, eh?" Rarity asked with a grin.
"Yeah, and just what the hell are you trying to prove?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I'm not trying to prove anything. You see, I've killed three of you so far. Why should I try to kill any more of you?" Rarity replied.
"That doesn't explain why you're going to take over the Crystal Heart!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Oh you naive girl, Rainbow Dash. If everyone understands my pain, then no one else will challenge me. Thus, no one else has to die. Except, of course, Princess Celestia. And you, if you stand in my way." Rarity said.
Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth. At that moment the wind picked up and blew Rarity and Rainbow Dash's mane. The wind was travelling from behind Rarity and toward Rainbow Dash, causing their dresses to billow as well.
"Why does it matter so much to you anyway?" Rarity asked tilting her head in curiosity.
"Because I have a boyfriend too!" Rainbow Dash blurted out. Rarity's eyes widened in surprise.
"You mean...?" Rarity asked. Rainbow Dash nodded. Rarity couldn't seem to tear her eyes from Rainbow Dash.
"Well no matter, I'll still kill you and be on my way." Rarity said.
"I don't think that would be a good idea." Rainbow Dash said.
"Of course not, it would be your death. No one thinks their own death is a good idea." Rarity said chuckling.
"No, that's not what I meant." Rainbow Dash said. Her head was tilted so that her eyes didn't show, instead being shrouded in shadows.
"Hmm?" Rarity asked.
"You don't know... What power he has..." Rainbow Dash said.
"His power? Ha! Don't make me la-" She was cut off by a sudden pain in her left eye. She sank to her knees.
"What is this?" She asked fearfully. At that moment the world around her seemed to disappear and she was taken to a land that was burning and scarred.
"What is this?" She asked looking around. Then she realized she was seeing a vision. Above her was a small cliff, the fires that raged around it illuminating it in a scarlet glow.
"No... Please..." She heard it. It sounded like her own voice.
"It's too late to beg for your life." She heard someone say. It sounded as if there were multiple voices speaking in unison.
"I'm... Sorry..." She heard her voice say. Then she saw what appeared to be a hedgehog floating higher into the air. He held his hands above his head, a powerful and bright energy gathering between his palms.
"You shall pay for what you have done." He said. At that moment Rarity was surprised to see another version of her standing up, severely wounded.
"What... Is this?" Rarity asked in horror.
"Chaos..." The hedgehog said.
"No..." The other Rarity said.
"Devastation!" He thrusted his palms downward and a giant swirling beam of energy decimated the cliff and the area surrounding it with a piercing scream.
At that moment the vision ended and Rarity was sitting there, panting and breaking into a cold sweat.
"W-what was...?" Rarity choked out.
"You don't know just how powerful Power Player can be." Rainbow Dash said. Rarity stood up slowly, her legs shaky. "W-what would incur that much power?" She asked.
"If you killed me, no one would be safe. Especially not you," Rainbow Dash replied. Rarity gulped.
"I see. So you have an immunity card, do you?" She asked trying to regain her composure.
Rainbow Dash nodded. Rarity smirked. She produced some of Tid's chains and sent them flying toward Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash took flight.
"Ha! That won't work on me!" She said flying around in the air.
"Oh? Is that so?" Rarity asked with a smirk. She reached out her left hoof.
"Universal Pull," She said. Rainbow Dash continued to fly for a few seconds before stopping abruptly and flying toward Rarity. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened with surprise.
"Silly Rainbow Dash, did you forget I have the power of attraction as well as repulsion?" Rarity asked as she flew toward her.
She wrapped Rainbow Dash in Tid's chains when she was close enough and bound her to a nearby tree. Rainbow Dash struggled in vain against the chains.
"Sorry, but you know exactly how unbreakable those chains are by now, don't you?" Rarity asked with a smug grin.
She walked up to Rainbow Dash and placed her horn to her forehead.
"I'll be taking your power now." She said.
Blue light once again radiated from her horn and the blood marking that Tid had written on Rainbow Dash's forehead appeared. When the extraction was complete, Rarity took her horn from Rainbow Dash's forehead and looked at her with a sly grin.
"Thank you for so kindly giving your power to me. With this, I've become twenty percent cooler." Rarity said.
Rainbow Dash spit in Rarity's face. This enraged Rarity. She slapped Rainbow Dash and stared at her with furious eyes.
"It's time I repaid you for calling me worthless. You shall suffer a fate far worse than death." She said.
"What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash asked. Rarity activated her Mangekyou Rinnegan.
"I'll put you under a genjutsu to torture you. When you are released, you'll be filled with the pain of losing the one you love!" Rarity said staring into Rainbow Dash's eyes.
"No!" Rainbow Dash shouted, but it was too late.
She cast her genjutsu and Rainbow Dash's pupils dilated. Rarity took a step back and laughed manically. Then she turned her head toward Canterlot.
"I'm coming after you next, Celestia."
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Me: Wow, who would've thought Rainbow Dash had a boyfriend that was that powerful.
Rarity: No matter, she's no longer an issue.
Me: You handled that situation well, I must say.
Rarity: Why thank you. Now it's time I killed Princess Celestia and stopped the sun from rising.
Me: You have fun with that. Anyway, don't miss the next few chapters! They'll tie up this arc, so check 'em out! See ya then!