//------------------------------//
// Chapter 63: This Is Who I Am 
// Story: Quest For Equestria 
// by Skyguy626 
//------------------------------//

As the Harmonic Heroes made their way to the clearing, Sutakira voiced something he has been wondering for the past half hour, "So I have been wondering, why would the Nightmare Forces try and take one of us?".
Luna cleared her throat gaining the attention of the rest, "Together you possess the Elements Of Harmony, which have defeated the Nightmare Forces before. Now they will come after all of you, the heroes who can defeat them... and destroy your home...", the princess explained. Skywalker scoffed at this, "I would like to see them try.", the young knight said while thinking, "I finally have a home and people I care about... I will not let anyone take that away from me.".

"I sure hope Rarity is okay. I can't imagine anything scarier than being kidnapped and taken to a Nightmare Dreamscape.", Fluttershy voiced her worry. "Well... being locked in a Asylum, with the patients freely roaming the grounds and a supernatural entity who can attack at anytime.", Phoenix said causally gaining a fearful look from Fluttershy. In a flash of light a small rope appeared in front of their feet and hooves.

"Oh what are you gonna do with that? Tie down the moon so we can walk towards it?", Griffifth said sarcastically as Luna charged the rope with her magic before sending it towards the moon, and with a mighty pull from her magic she brought the moon closer to the planet

Griffifth's mouth dropped open. "The flightless will have to use sure footing... As we try to save Rarity, my sister will begin to prepare Ponyville.", the night princess informed them before turning to face the group again, "This is your last chance to change your minds...".
Skywalker started to levitate slightly above the ground before interrupting the princess, "Please princess. When we're together, the Harmonic Heroes can overcome anything.". The others nodded as those with the ability of flight took to the air as the others got on the rope.
"As long as we get Rarity back it'll all turn out just dandy!", Big Mac said before charging towards the moon.

"Well, that's one small step for ponies, one giant leap for ponykind!", Twilight said as the heroes made their way towards the moon. "In space no one can hear you scream!", Pinkie said as she danced over the rope. "That will come in handy when I'm chocking the life out of the Nightmare Forces.", McGrath thought to himself, trying to keep his cool.
"Say Rainbow, why did you thought Twily was a spy during the Nightmare Moons invasion?", Sutakira asked a he flew up next to the cyan Pegasus. "I don't know. She knew stuff.", Rainbow tried to excuse her behavior. "Yeah but, wouldn't you think that creatures who haven't been seen for a thousand years in Equestria, would possibly be more likely spies than Twily was?", the bluenette pointed out as Rainbow rubbed her manes, "You guys were cool..."

Not much later, the Harmonic Heroes plus Luna arrived on the moon. Turning around they saw a beautiful view of the planet below. "Hey guys, have you noticed this is the second time we're in space?", Griffifth said gaining a nod from the guys minus Big Mac. "I fly through it all the time.", Skywalker told them. "Wait a minute, how come we can breath on the moon!?", Sutakira shouted, realizing he could take in air. Before anyone could explain, Luna informed them that they must hurry because they will know they had arrived.
"Who is 'they' exactly?", Rainbow asked "When the Nightmare Energy came back to life it needed a form to take. Unfortunately, the peaceful inhabitants of the moon became its victims. Every being has some darkness in it, the Nightmare Energy exploited that natural darkness, twisting, turning it, growing. In the end, they became creatures of darkness like those from the Dark World, known as the Corrupted. They are now abominations, beyond the hope of salvation.", the princess added with a regretful look.


Meanwhile over at the Nightmare Castle, the Nightmare was observing the arrival of the Harmonic Heroes through a mirror. "It seems the Harmonic Heroes have arrived.", the Nightmare said before turning towards Morgenstern who was looking over the sleeping form of Rarity, "I see. Then I guess it's time to welcome our guests.", Morgenstern said as he conjured his Keyblade, the Morning Star, in his left hand, touching the tip against the unicorn's horn. Rarity's eyes opened in shock as Morgenstern send a blue flame like energy into her horn into the rest of her body. Rarity screamed from the top of her longs as her nerves felt like they were set on fire.

Turning around as the Nightmare entered Rarity's body, Morgenstern folded his right arm over his chest while propping his left elbow up on it and placing a hand on his chin. "It seems Charles son and Lily's little sprout have become friends and become part of a group who are the only ones who could stop me... Is it fate, or destiny? I can never decide...", he pondered before disappearing in a cloud of dark mist.

Back over at the heroes they made their way towards the Nightmare Castle, full intend on saving their friend. Suddenly, Luna raised her hoof making the others stand still. "Wait, there is something coming...", and as if on cue, a storm of black mist came rushing towards them, "Run! I have no power of this Nightmare Mist!", Luna said as they started to run away from the mist.
"Ugh, Nightmare Forces, Nightmare Dreamscape, Nightmare Energy and now Nightmare Mist! What is this Bloodborne!?", Griffifth shouted as the gang tried to get to safety. "I have a feeling we have done this before!", Big Mac shouted.

"Indeed." a cold voice came from the shadows as the Nightmare Mist swirled around them conjuring up a army of Corrupted. "You want some? We aren't afraid of you!", Rainbow boasted but was cut off by a cold laughter. One corrupted stepped forward as it shaped into a cloaked figure, even thought this couldn't be the real thing, the heroes could feel the power and authority the real thing would command. "Some of you are afraid. Isn't that true... Luna? Is that what you're going by now?", it added with a cold chuckle.
"That is my name, my past as Nightmare Moon is long gone.", Luna told him bravely but the cloaked figure let out another cold laughter, sending shivers down the heroes spines.
"But there is something you fear. Come back as Nightmare Moon and I will spare your friends and Equestria...", the cloaked figure was interrupted by Skywalker as he got between him and the princess. "You won't lay a finger on Princess Luna!", Skywalker declared as he activated his lightsaber. "You still stand up for her, even though she broke your heart?", the figure said with a slight chuckle.
"I don't care if she broke my heart or not! I will not let some wannabe Square Enix villain take another of my friends!", Skywalker said taking his fighting stance. 
"Darn tooting!", Applejack added she and the rest of the gang took their fighting stance. "Despise how I treated him... he still stands up for me...", Luna thought to herself as the figure lets out another cold laughter. "I see. Then I hope this will be challenging.", the figure said before releasing his form.
"That voice... Why did that sound... familiar?", where the thoughts of both Skywalker and Phoenix. Both of them get ripped out of their pondering by a large magic eruption, blinding them for a second. As the light died down, a tall dark unicorn with flowing purple manes was standing before them. "And now the Harmonic Heroes will be destroyed by one of their own. By the new Nightmare Queen, Nightmarity.", the figures voice came at them from all directions as the creature called Nightmarity opened her eyes and flashed them a psychotic smirk.

A stunted silence followed before the Harmonic Heroes burst out in laughter, "We have to fight Diva?", Phoenix shouted over his laughter. "Yea, please. Don't give us a make over!", Big Mac added. All of the heroes laugh except one, McGrath had retreated into his head upon seeing what had happened to his girlfriend.


McGrath had founded himself in a black void, on his hands and knees. "Told ya, you destroy everything you touch. You had a taste of being happy for a little while, but that ended up with her paying the price. How selfish could you be?", a dark reflection of himself mocked him. "Its true... You are right... I'm hopeless... I'm just an experiment... gone horrible wrong. I should have never been created...", McGrath muttered to himself. The dark reflection grinning like a maniac, but his smirk turning into a nasty frown as a small light appeared before McGrath.
"That's not true, you idiot! You have come such a long way, you have gained friend who you care for and who care for you in return. True, there is a lot of anger and hatred in you, but there is so much good in you. A light that none have ever managed to step out. Now its time to tap into your anger, your hate and your love and unleash the true power within you. You can save me, my darling David.", Rarity said, making McGrath look up. "Your right...", he said as he stood up, "My name is David McGrath, I'm putting the past behind me... And save the one I love most. This is who I am!", McGrath said as he stood up, the dark reflection turning into stardust only to be absorbed by McGrath.

"It's true your powers defeated me before, little heroes, but what will you do now that I've taken one of you? Without all of you, your Elements of Harmony are powerless. Bit of a pickle isn't it?" Nightmarity gloated as the other heroes tried to get through to Rarity.
"Rarity? Can you hear us? You have to fight it!", Skywalker said trying to make his friend see reason. "You humans are dense aren't you? Remeber that Nightmare Force you all 'destroyed'with your little Elements of Harmony? Well You didn't do such a super job after all! Rarity is gone! Do I need to make a diagram or something with pictures so you can understand?", the nightmare queen spat to the heroes who all looked desperate.

Before anyone could respond, McGrath stepped forward, a fire burning behind those emerald eyes. "Leave this one to me.", he declared as he stood between his friends and Nightmarity. "Tell me, can Nightmare Forces feel fear?", at this Nightmarity burst out in laughter before blasting him with a spell. "No, we are fear incarnate!", Nightmarity chuckled thinking she has destroyed one of her enemies.
Much to everyone's surprise the smoke caused by the impact of the spell was blown away, taking ever emotion he had, McGrath pushed and broke the limits his infected genes could give him, transforming him. McGrath's normal brown hair had turned into gold, flowing as if it was a flame. He had gained a tail and his upper body is covered in green fur, his shirt and hoodie having disappeared. A powerful aura surrounded him with sparks of pure fire around him. "Nothing harms me, but I know pain. I know pain and sometimes I share it with people like you.", the transformed McGrath said before charging at Nightmarity and with a single energy charged punch to her jaw, separated Rarity and the Nightmare from each other. In a flash of green light, McGrath caught, Rarity bridle style, she slowly opened her eyes to see a smiling McGrath look at her. "I knew you would come...", Rarity gave him an tired smile. "I would never let anyone harm the mare I love.", McGrath said her placing a kiss on her horn.
"D-Did he just punch the Nightmare out of her?", Twilight said as the friend group rushed towards the couple. "Screw that! Did anyone of you knew McGrath is a Super Saiyan!?", Sutakira shouted.
Noticing that the Nightmare was recovering, McGrath handed Rarity to Skywalker, "You guys go on ahead and take Rarity to the Equestria, I have a score to settle.", McGrath said turning around to face the monster. "Alright, be careful.", Skywalker said as the gang made their way back to the rope. Luna was reluctant to leave one of her friends behind, be she knew this was something he had to do alone.  

The Nightmare flew at McGrath and punches him in the face, McGrath made no effort to dodge or counter and just took the punch, the Nightmare quickly following up with a barrage of punched, ending in a headbutt. The Nightmare starts laughing like a maniac, thinking his enemy was in pain. After a bit of waiting McGrath launched a kick so hard into the Nightmare's stomach that a lump in the same shape as his feet foot appears on the other side of the Nightmare. "Oh look, it seems I am a size 9." McGrath said sarcastically before elbowing the Nightmare away, sending him across the surface of the moon, and in a flash of green light, appearing above him, delivering a kick in the chin sending the Nightmare to the ground, much to the other Nightmare Forces amazement. The Nightmare stood up and tried to retaliate with a headbutt, but McGrath simply countered with a swift kick to the head sending him back to the ground, with enough force to create a massive crater in the ground.

McGrath looked down into the hole to see if the Nightmare was still alive and to his surprise the Nightmare jumped up, grabbed both of McGrath arms. "Now all I have to do is suck you dry till you agree to be the new host for the Nightmare Forces!", the Nightmare declared as some of the familiar vapor started to circle around McGrath's arms. "Ayup... Seems I'm not going anywhere. Tell you what. Corrupt me as much as you want, in return I'll take your hands." he replied as he jumped up and smashed the Nightmare's face in the with his feet. McGrath kept on pushes his feet so hard that both of the Nightmare's hands come off, and the creature was send flying into a wall.
"So to rephrase the question, do you Nightmare Forces feel fear?", McGrath said crossing his arms. The Nightmare seemed so scared that it tried to scurry up the pit and starts running away. "All the answer I needed.", McGrath said with a smirk as he levitated himself up.
Locking his eyes on the target, McGrath charged energy into the palms of his hands before thrusting them forward. The Nightmare never stood a chance as he was obliterated in seconds, leaving another new crate on the surface of the moon. "This one is for Rarity..." McGrath declared as he landed back on the moon. The other Nightmare Force looked to him in complete and utter fear and with a single glare, they flew back to where their kind belonged, in the Dark World. "Now do you understand why so many people love me even though I'm the biggest dick in all of Equestria? It's because I'm David fucking McGrath. Accept no substitutes!", McGrath shouted from the top of his longs before disappearing in another flash of green light.

Back in Ponyville, Celestia was busy preparing her guards and the little town for the invasion of the Nightmare Forces.
"Cutiemark Crusaders reporting for duty!", Applebloom said as she and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle arrive. "How can I help my Big Bro rescue my sister?", Sweetie Belle asked sadly. "Even the smallest ponies can make the biggest difference. We must hurry before...", Celestia started but she was cut off as the Harmonic Heroes arrived back with an worn out  Rarity on Skywalker's back.

"You manged to save, Rarity? What happened?", Celestia asked looking over the friends. "Wait, where is my Big Bro?", Sweetie Belle asked. Before anyone could respond a large explosion illuminated a spot on the moon. "Do you think, David is okay?", Rarity asked weakly lifting her head up. "I'm sure he's fine, Rarity! After all he is David McGrath.", Pinkie said trying to reassure her friend.
In a flesh of green light, McGrath still in his transformed form appeared, "It seems this form pushes my power beyond the limit. I can feel it surging through me...", he thought to himself as he walked towards his friends. "Big Bro? Is that you?", Sweetie Belle barley got out, as he turned his gaze towards her. She closed her eyes as he ruffled his head, "Indeed I am, Belle. Better than ever.", he said with a smile.

"But now you won't be my big brother anymore...", Sweetie Belle said sadly, making the others wonder why. "Do you mind explaining this, Sweetie Belle?", the princess of the sun asked, gaining the attention from the little filly. "Well you see, my sister is only into natural blonds.", Sweetie Belle explained as everyone burst out into laughter. "But what about the Nightmare Forces?", Luna asked, McGrath explained what happened after the friends left. Closing his eyes, as McGrath transformed back into his normal self, except that their was no a tail sticking out of the back of his jeans. "Huh, I guess that is staying...", McGrath muttered to himself. "I could think of a thing or two were it would come in handing.", Rarity added with a smile before closing her eyes, falling asleep, something the other heroes could use as well.