Mortal Kombat: Defenders of Equestria

Chapter 2: Rarity

20 years ago

Canterlot Castle

Five mares and a baby dragon trotted down the halls. The silence gave atmosphere to their sorrows. Not one of them knows where their friend went. The beloved pegasus just vanished. Only Flim and Flam knew what happened to her but they refused to speak. Fluttershy’s poor cottage had been demolished, her animals ran away into the Everfree forest, no sign of her existence was present.

Twilight’s greatest fear was that she was no longer among the living. The element of kindness had shattered. A sign of true evil.

“Darling,” the white mare whispered, “We’re here.”

Twilight glanced up to see the two sisters in strange armor.

Celestia wore some sort of tribal skirt and brace, similar to those temple ponies when they met the real Daring Doo, she even had war paint plastered all over her. Seeing Celestia like this was as bizarre as Discord organizing. The sight was intimidating, as though she was prepared to pounce on the first pony that angered her.

Luna was subtle on comparison. She wore tucked robes that could’ve been mistaken for pajamas. A straw hat laid on top of her head. One would think she was a strange peasant if she did not adorn her robes with blue jewels. She held a smile which gave off a pleasant welcome. Strange since it was usually Luna who held intimidation and Celestia the warm welcome.

“Oh dear,” Rarity gasped, “Those are rather ghastly outfits to wear. Especially for a princess.”

Luna giggled, “Tis be strange times indeed.”

Celestia huffed, “It is not the time to jest, Luna!”

Everyone present jerked away from her. Celestia’s anger fumed around the room. Fluttershy would run away the second she huffed.

“Apologies, Princess,” Rarity bowed, “We’re here to answer your summons.”

“And where is Fluttershy?” Celestia boomed, “Has she abandoned Equestria and her friends?”

“Tia! You’ve gone too far!” Luna scolded.

The ponies bowed their heads in silence. A grim gust of wind swept in their ears.

“I see… Is there something you wish to tell me Twilight?”

Twilight lifted her head with curiosity.

“Something about… an element’s destruction?”

“H-How did you know?”

Celestia bowed her head, “I’m sorry,” tears welled in her eyes, “I let my rage get the better of me. There is much I have to tell you… and everyone in Equestria.”

“Sister…”

Celestia held a hoof and walked behind the throne. A light shined bright as a secret passage opened. Celestia beckoned the ponies and dragon to follow her.

The passage stretched for miles, seemingly to nowhere until they came across a treasure trove of crystals. Green, glowing, eerie crystals. The thought of Fluttershy cowering in their presence made everyone sulk their way in a large open area.

“This is where it all began…” Celestia lamented, “This is where Kombat began.”

Pinkie eyed Twilight.

“What?” Twilight yelled.

“I don’t know…” Pinkie rubbed her chin, “I feel like you were suppose to correct her spelling.”

“Uh, sugarcabe, how can somepony need a spell check when they’re speaking?” Applejack asked.

“I’m sorry, it’s just… It just felt like something she’d do.”

“Oh come on! I’m not going to go as far as correct somepony’s speech habits.”

“Yeah… right…” Rainbow rolled her eyes.

“ENOUGH!” Celestia roared, “I must tell you this for the sake of our lives.”

Everyone sat silently. Fearful of Celestia wrath.

“As I was saying…” Celestia said with a cough, “Mortal Kombat started long ago before Luna’s banishment, a couple years after Sombra’s defeat. A vicious demon known as Grogar invaded our lands. With him was a force of a thousand armies. All of them deceased warriors, criminals, mercenaries, any being who knew how to fight all yearning to tear the flesh from our bones.”

Most of the ponies nearly vomited including Rainbow and Applejack. Pinkie’s hair deflated. Spike screamed as Rarity fainted on top of him. Celestia continued once she woke up.

“I knew we could not stand a chance at the time so I issued forth a most desperate last resort. I had proclaimed Mortal Kombat. A curse that forced the armies away for an unknown amount of time.”

“You mean it could’ve only lasted a year or more or less?!” Twilight stammered.

“Woowee we were lucky it lasts so long, right princess?” Applejack weakly smiled.

Both princesses sighed, “It has recently ended,” they said in unison.

A wave of fear flooded the chamber. Not a single being was able to breath at that comment.

“Well technically it just recently started… with the death of a good friend…” Luna muttered.

“WHAT?!” the ponies chorused. Pinkie fainted.

“How do you know that?! You can’t know that! Fluttershy’s not dead!” Rainbow wailed.

“Rainbow Dash!” Celestia barked, “Your friend did die and now there’s a good chance we all are unless you listen to me right now!”

Rainbow backed down, shaking with anger and sorrow.

“Mortal Kombat states that a force from another realm can not harm another until a being from the protected realm joins the invading realm willingly.”

Pinkie jolted up with accusing eyes, “Are you saying Fluttershy joined an army of undead killers and now we’re all dead because of her?”

Celestia nodded.

Everyone laughed so loud it echoed through the castle, which was miles above them. The thought of Fluttershy being the cause of unimaginable doom to Equestria was the biggest joke they ever heard. As the laughter died down, the scowl on Celestia’s face burned a hole through their hearts.

“You’re not joking… are you?” Rainbow turned pale white.

“Somehow, someway, the forces of Tartarus convinced her.”

“Tartarus?!” Twilight screeched, “We’re going to war against Tartarus?! The realm of the dead, the origin of all evil, the land filled with monsters even nightmares fear?!”

“You see why I was desperate to prevent their invasion.”

“Until now!”

“Twilight! I understand your fear but you must calm down and listen to the final words I have to say.”

Twilight sniffled with a nod. Celestia sighed with a mournful gaze.

“We have to do anything and everything we can to defend Equestria. Gather all allies who are willing to aid us. Train our military. Find warriors with mythical powers. Everyone, everywhere, all ages, all species, must do what they can to save not just our land but life itself.”

The mares and dragon bowed once she was finished. Their new tasks was given to them and everyone in Equestria.

“Thank you, Radio Wave.” Celestia dismissed a pair of news ponies, who had been their throughout the whole issue.

“Was a pleasure, Princess, our ratings will sky rocket thanks to you.” he stated as he left to never be seen again.

“While a tad over dramatic,” Rarity chimed, “How do we know when we find warriors with mythical powers?”

“You simply ask them,” an ear shattering voice chuckled, “Princess Celestia has appointed me as one of the top trainers for our special forces due to my glorious kombat abilities.”

“Blueblood,” Rarity seethed with anger.

“Oh… it’s you,” Blueblood glared at her before turning his head, “A peasant like you would most likely join Tartarus and become a blood thirsty brute.”

Rarity snapped and struck him in the back of his head.

Round 1

“How dare you!” Blueblood threw a green energy ball at Rarity.

Rarity simply stood there as the orb flew over her head. Her horn spilled an ice cold mist around her. The mist froze the air around her to create ice armor. She froze a small trail in front of her as she charged straight towards Blueblood.

The force of her charge sent Blueblood hurling through several crystals. Staggering, Blueblood threw a golden energy ball. It struck directly in between Rarity’s eyes.

Rarity growled as her horn glowed blue. Several ice swords manifested around her. Blue blood’s eyes widened as the swords quickly aimed at him. One by one, the swords flew towards him. Some missed but most sliced him. As an added effect the cuts began to freeze Blueblood.

Rarity huffed before turning around.

Round 2

A golden clone of Blueblood kicked Rarity upward followed by a golden orb striking her backside.

Rarity landed hard in the dirt only to hear Blueblood taunt her.

“Brr… You’re the coldest mare I’ve ever met.”

Rarity turned and blasted Blueblood with an ice beam, freezing him instantly. She finished with a hard kick to his face.

Blueblood recovered quickly and delivered a powerful blow to Rarity’s crotch.

This resulted in her collapsing to the floor in tears.

Round 3

“That was a cheep shot you varmint!” Applejack jeered.

“Not cool, bro,” Rainbow stated.

“Finish her!” Celestia demanded.

Everyone stared at Celestia with horrified expressions.

“What?!” Blueblood shouted,”I didn’t like her but I’m not going to kill her!”

“This is Mortal Kombat,” Celestia glared at Blueblood,”One of you will have to finish the fight one way or the other. Preferably death.”

“I said I’m not killing her!” Blueblood declared.

“I’ll be more than willing to kill you,” Rarity roared before planting her horn into Blueblood’s abdomen.

Blueblood instinctively pushed her away.

Rarity refused to give up and created an ice hammer to pound Blueblood’s skull flat. However his skull was dense and caused the hammer to shatter.

Blueblood’s face planted into the ground, rendering him unconscious.

“I’ll spare you this time,” Rarity spat.

The rest of the ponies were stunned at her remarks.

“Were you really going to kill Blueblood over a petty insult?” Twilight asked.

“I suppose not but I would solely because he’s an infuriating stallion,” Rarity sighed.

“You’re a cold heated bitch,” Rainbow stated after a brief moment of awkward silence.

“In this era we will need more ponies like Rarity,” Celestia stated, “We are in desperate need of ponies who can and will be ruthless to their foes, ponies who would kill without hesitation, ponies who are willing to defend this realm.”

Everyone regrettably nodded in agreement. The order was made clear. It did not need to be said. All that mattered was Equestria’s protection.

“Oh and Rarity.”

“Yes, Princess?”

“You’ve adapted well to ice magic. I’d like you to teach some special forces in that field.”

“I’d be honored,” Rarity bowed before leaving with her friends.

Ponyville

Rarity finished her outfit, as instructed in a letter by Celestia.

Blue steel breast plate with matching shin guards and mask along a dark near black stealth suite. Using her ice magic would cause the steel to harden even more, making a near impenetrable defense. She would also gain the ability to project an ice clone without sticking to frost.

She tried it on for a test run.

She did not expect her shop to burst into flames.

Round 1

“Murderer,” an angry whisper called.

“Fluttershy?”

“I no longer go by that name,” the specter Scorpion revealed herself. Golden flaming armor contrasting to Rarity’s ice cold steel shone in the orange glow of the burning building.

“It’s true…” Rarity’s eyes watered, “You did become a demon.”

“I became free. King Sombra showed me the power to punish the likes of you.”

A chain ending with a rabbit skull grabbed hold of Rarity.

“GET OVER HERE!”

Rarity was violently pulled by Scorpion and received several furious kicks. The force of the kicks sent her flying through the window and into the market place.

Rarity slowly got up to see Scorpion jump out of the ground.

“Remember Angel, Rarity? Remember how you skinned him alive IN FRONT OF ME?”

The chain flung to Rarity as fast as lightning. She didn’t have time to counter as the rabbit skull bit firmly into her flesh. Scorpion whipped the chain to sent a raging fire ball to her. The fire burst out of the rabbit skull to encase Rarity in a ball of burning hate.

Behind her came a pool of lava where a horned monster crawled out.

“I made plenty of friends in Tartarus,” Scorpion sadistically laughed, “They’re a thousand times more generous than you’ll ever be.”

With a growl, Rarity shot a ice ball at the monster and threw it at Scorpion.

“I don’t know who you are but you’re not Fluttershy!”

“Of course not! You killed her!”

“I would never!”

Rarity froze the ground and slid to Scorpion. This put Scorpion in a daze which Rarity took full advantage of. She swiftly embedded her hoof into Scorpion’s gut to squish her innards. She then froze a trail of blood she pulled out and impaled Scorpion.

Round 2

Scorpion burst into flames and melted the ice.

“My fire will not be quenched with ice,” Scorpion scowled, “Your attacks are as petty as your sense of fashion.”

Rarity went wide eyed with steam trailing out of her snout.

“It… is… on!”

Rarity summoned an ice wall that she pushed forward, intending to crush Scorpion with it. Scorpion however teleported and kicked the back of Rarity’s head hard enough for it to crack. She then stomped on her back to snap her spine in half.

Rarity made a quick recovery and threw the closest thing she could grab at her foe… an old mare with a basket of oranges.

The old mare screamed as she was being thrown and left a bloody print on Scorpion’s figure.

“Sorry!” Rarity shouted.

The old mare simply got up and went back to what she was doing before being thrown.

“Using the elderly as weapons? For shame Rarity,” Scorpion shook her head, “Although, I didn’t expect better from you. Blueblood wouldn’t even do that.”

This set Rarity off the edge. She made a mad dash through Scorpion. Plunging ice daggers across her body. The daggers encased her in a thick layer of ice. Rarity finished off with a firm kick that sent Scorpion into a carrot stale.

“My carrots!” a mare with orange hair cried, “That’s it, I’m moving to Fillydelphia!”

Rarity walked over to Scorpion. The thought of her once shy and timid friend turning into the demon before her made her want to cry. Celestia had said it was best to kill of an opponent but Rarity couldn’t kill Fluttershy even if she was turned into a bloodthirsty monster of hell.

Just then, a black mist surrounded the two. The vile stallion Sombra manifested between them.

“Poor, poor, Scorpion,” he lamented, “I gave you the power to punish the one who wronged you yet you seem to be unable to finish her.”

“You!” Rarity growled, “You’re the one who turned Fluttershy into this monster!”

Somber chuckled, “No, my dear, that was all your doing.”

A misty display appeared before them. Scorpion managed to sit up to gaze at the screen. It showed Fluttershy with her happy woodland critters. A bear, ferrets, squirrels, even Angel bunny were happily hopping around her simple cottage. Then the screen darkened. Two twin stallions overshadowed Fluttershy with malicious grins. Fluttershy’s cottage decayed as bulldozers plowed the kind mare’s home out of existence. A familiar white unicorn appeared behind Fluttershy. She froze the poor mare in ice. With the most sadistic grin an evil tyrant would have, the white unicorn drove a cold dagger into the bunny.

“NOOO!!!” Scorpion shouted.

“That is not me!” Rarity claimed.

Her plea fell on deaf ears as Scorpion pulled off her mask to reveal her true face, a flaming pony skull, and burned Rarity to ash. Miraculously, her outfit stayed intact but scorched.

Sombra’s resurrection chamber

Tartarus

Rarity’s eyes opened in a strange room similar to Twilight’s library. It dawned on her that she was in the center of a blood filled dish that was enough to fill two Celestia sized ponies.

“Aw, you’ve awoken, good.” Sombra hissed.

“What do you want?”

“A proposition,” Sombra chuckled evil, “I grant you new life in exchange for your eternal service to me.”

Rarity refused the offer.

“Oh? What if I grant you the power to share your presence?”

Rarity’s ear twitched but turned away swiftly.

“Not enough? Fine I shall grant you the ability to collect all the material goods your heart desires. Anything and everything will be yours for the taking. I offer you that, the ability to share your presence, and a new life in exchange for your eternal service to me.”

Rarity pondered her situation. She hopped her friends would save her but did not know how long she could last in this realm. She knew that giving in would lead to her own demise but enduring an unknown amount of torture was unpleasant.

“Hmm… I’ll allow you time to think of your choice. In the meantime, enjoy your new home.”

With that, Sombra disappeared. Rarity was free to wonder Tartarus as she pleased. She journeyed across the endless wastes, fought many beasts, evaded torments that would break any sane individual.

The journey was endless.

There was not hope for her.

Every day ended with her returning to Sombra’s forsaken castle where he sipped tea in a jeweled cup and asked the same question.

“Come to accept out deal?”

This lasted for days… months… years? Who knows how long it actually was. At the end, Rarity no longer looked like Rarity. Her hair was unkempt and blacked with ash. Her eyes held bags under bags under bags. She was as thing as a skeleton. Worst of all her hooves were splintered and cracking off with each step.

She finally caved in. Accepting Sombra’s terms.

Black liquid poured into the room, surrounding Rarity. As the liquid oozed over her, giving her shape and form, she felt rejuvenated. The oily substance granted her powers she could only dream of controlling. Suddenly friends and loved ones didn’t matter to her. The thought of others left her mind long before accepting Sombra’s deal.

Once the black liquid crystalized a new Rarity was born. Now she only cared for her desires. She wanted everything that was denied from her in her previous life. She spent years giving gems away. Gems she dug up herself. Now she wanted them all for herself. She wanted to adorn her designs with her gems. She wanted to wear her designs. She wanted everyone to know the designs belonged to her and her alone. She wanted Equestria to know her name. She wanted… to have everyone bow to her.

She wanted it all.