Nightmare Rarity drifted through the dreamscape until she found just the dreams they she was looking for. "Ahhh. Perfect." She was gazing at her friends' dreams. "I was afraid they'd leave me behind. But I know just how to fix that...." By using her new powers, Nightmare Rartiy made her friends suffer through their worst nightmares. Fluttershy was being chased by a dragon, Applejack's whole farm was destroyed, Rainbow Dash was stuck in a dimension full of singing flowers, Pinkie was stuck in a world where no one wanted a party, and Twilight and Sunset saw Nightfall and Gold respectively abandoning them. "HA HA HA HA HA! Oh this is just lovely!" Nightmare Rarity revelled in seeing her friends suffer through their worst nightmares. "I'll make them stay by my side for eternity. That will be the price they pay for the end of their nightmares. And if they don't, I'll torment them with nightmares every night." Nightmare scanned the rest of the dreamscape, and smiled. "Now for my prime target." Nightmare Rarity drifted over to Inferno's dreams. "I'll be sure to give this one my own personal touch..." Nightmare Rarity entered Inferno's dreams and assumed Rarity's normal appearance. In Inferno's dream, he was waiting for her.
"Hey gorgeous! It's always nice to see my treasure.", Inferno said with a grin.
"A pity I can't truly say the same for you.", Nightmare Rarity said with a smirk.
"..What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I can't believe I EVER loved someone as replusive as you.", Nightmare Rarity said with a sneer. "I couldn't possibly ever fall for a dragon." Nightmare Rarity then stroked Inferno's cheek with her hand. "Farewell darling. I'm off to find a much more suitable boyfriend." Inferno's heart sank as Nightmare Rarity's words pierced through his heart.
"Rarity please! Don't leave me!", Inferno pleaded as Nightmare Rarity exited his dreams and resumed her true form.
"Don't worry darling. In fact, now that you fear losing me, I'll be able to keep you forever. Now, you shall be MY treasure.", Nightmare Rarity said with an evil smile. She then picked up on something! "Well, well, well. It appears there's another great source of malevolence. Perhaps I should investigate." Nightmare drifted over to the source,and found a door. She opened it to find a room. "Hmmm. Not your typical villain's lair."
"It appears I have a guest." A hooded figure noted. Nightmare Rarity spun to find the figure sitting in a chair. "Please. Have a seat."
"Looks like you're awake while you sleep.", Nightmare Rarity said a smirk. "My friends don't have the priveledge of being fully aware of the terror they're going through. Well as interesting as this was, I have to move on to Burst's dreams."
"As in...Burst Stream?", the figure asked. Nightmare Rarity paused.
"Yes. Is he a friend of yours? You're welcome to try and stop me..." Nightmare Rarity flared her magic.
The hooded figure chuckled. "I have no love for him. In fact, I want you to give him the worst nightmare possible!"
"What did he ever do to you?", Nightmare Rarity asked.
"Let's just say that it would serve our best interests to make the lives of him and his friends difficult.", the figure said with a smile.
"Then I'll be sure to make his the worst. He's the strongest duelist, so that makes him the biggest threat." Nightmare Rarity left. "Next stop: Burst Stream." She floated over to Burst's dreams. "Oh the terror I'll inflict here..." Nightmare Rarity watched as Burst's nightmare began. In it, Nightmare Moon was leaving him. Walking away and leaving him by himself. Burst ran after her! Reaching out to grab her! But the more he ran, the farther he reached, the farther away she slipped. Burst began to cry as she got farther and farther away. "Oh this is good.", Nightmare Rarity said with an evil smile. She wasn't smiling for long. Nightmare Moon was coming back to Burst! "WHAT?!" In the dream, Moon pulled Burst in for a tight hug. "What's happening?! Who's changing the dream?!" Moon then turned and stepped out of the dream to face Nightmare Rarity! "YOU?!"
"You thought I wouldn't notice the disturbances in the dreamscape?", Moon asked. "I don't know what made you accept this power. But you have to stop this Rarity. This isn't you."
"Well I guess I was wrong. There IS another one like me. Though soon....THAT WILL BE RECTIFIED!" Nightmare Rarity fired a blast of magic at Moon! However, Moon reflected it!
"You may have power similar to mine." Moon then activated her full power and ponied-up! "But what you accepted was only a remnant. I'm the original!" Moon fired a powerful blast of magic! Knockning Nightmare Rarity to the ground! "Rarity, please! I'm your friend. Let me help you."
"This isn't over!", Nightmare Rarity hissed as she retreated from the dreamscape! Moon sighed as she set to work undoing the damage Nightmare Rarity had done.
"I guess a piece of my past self must have hidden in that armor plate. Rarity has to be saved. Someone has to bring her back." Moon then noticed Inferno's dream. "And that someone is you Inferno." Moon vanquished Inferno's nightmare.
"Thanks Moon! That was one really bad dream.", Inferno said with a sigh of relief.
Moon sighed. "Inferno. That dream was more real than you think. And you'll be in danger of losing Rarity forever."
"What're you talking about?"
"Rarity's been overtaken by a remnant of myself.", Moon said sadly. "It latched onto her when I gave her that piece of my armor. Now Rarity has been turned into a nightmare creature similar to me. She may look like her, but make no mistake. There is little to nothing left of the girl you loved Inferno. Save for her love of fashion."
"So when Rarity said those things....that wasn't her talking? It was that...thing she's become?" Moon nodded. "There's gotta be a way to fix this! There has to be a way to save her!"
"There is. But it's incredibly dangerous."
"I'LL DO IT! Even if I have to face her alone!", Inferno declared.
"Good. Because you will need to face her alone. The way to wake her from the nightmare's power, she must be awoken by one who holds her close to their heart. It must be you Inferno."
"Just point me in the right direction!"
"She'll come to you Inferno. But take the advice of a former villain. She'll try to trick you into joining her. Maybe by assuming the form of the Rarity you know and love. But remember: that ISN'T her. She's still asleep within that creature. Waiting to be woken up. When the time comes, it'll just be you and her. Until then, goodnight." Moon returned to Burst to inform him of the situation. Leaving Inferno to his thoughts.
"Rarity...." Inferno clenched his fist. "I WILL save you. Even if I need to protect you from yourself."