P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort)

By the time Rebel had gotten home the sun was begining its daily routine of dancing across the sky, his eyes bloodshot and his legs weak as he used magic to open his door. He crumbled on his bed and tried to sleep but couldn't, he had too much to think of. Why him? Why now? None of it stood out more than one sentence said by the princess 'It is on your head'. he looked out the window to see many ponies beginning their day about Canterlot, many ponies protesting but some showing semblance of a time long passed, a time when ponies would just socialize with eachother, no problems among them. A time when it didn't feel like a dystopian police state. Sure it looked like the friendly Canterlot from before but nothing about the insides of the city was the same.

After taking a long look at Canterlots shape, his lack of sleep finally caught up to him. Those words still in the back of his mind as he began to dream. The same nightmare he always had, Running through the streets with his old squad trying to quell the citizens but to no avail. The insults being thrown at them by the people, then and unruly unicorn with a deranged look in her eye levitating Dim Night, his long time friend, and plucking out his eyeballs 'Reb!' he would scream but to no avail. his other men were now getting mutilated as well he could only look in horror as the men he cared so deeply for were brutally murdered in front of him, and eventually him galloping away like a coward but as he was running in the back alleys something changed. the streets elongated and the crowds were gone.

"Rebel Flame" a soft yet regal voice same from all directions "Look at me."

Rebel was looking all around, this wasn't the usual dream he had with the ponies running at him with the limbs of his squad being thrown at him, it was much more calm. "Who's there?" he began "this isn't real, this is a dream, YOU are not real."

"I am very real" A dark blue alicorn, Princess Luna, appeared before him "I understand your feelings, your want to avoid this mission because of the deaths of your squad."

"Those men, were more than my squad. They were my family, my only family." He began "You don't understand this feeling."

"The feeling of having your family taken away, to be alone." Princess Lunas voice became more stern "I was away from any signs of life for one-thousand years. I understand."

"You get to see your family again though, I don't." a tear came down Rebels face "If this was some sort of ploy to get me to do what Celestia wanted you fucked up."

"Rebel, you were the one who left, you could of saved them, their deaths are on your head" Luna looked at him and for some reason he calmed down. those words got to him. Just like that those words that have been bouncing in his head had been given meaning 'on your head' such a small phrase has made more sense than ever before. and it all lead to one simple word. Redemption. Just like that Rebel woke up.

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Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne reading a letter as the doors to the throne room are nearly broken off. The guards move in flocks towards the wreckage and just like that Rebel walks into the throne room.

"I'll do it." Reb was breathing heavily as he tried to think of more to say "Not for you, not for Canterlot, not for Shining Armor, but for me. This is a matter of pride and redemption."

"So you will aid us." Celestia grew a small grin on her face "you do remember what i said right?"

"It's on my head." and just like that Rebel Flame teleported out of the throne room.

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"Man, this sucks" Maple Muncher began "First the get rid of sarge, NOW we get this new leader whos supposed to 'rix our problems'"

"I bet it's just one of those basic training squares." Super Fly begins mocking a Drill Sargent "Drop and give me twenty! Your a maggot! Eat your vegetables! Do your homework! Stop mocking me!" Maple and Super Fly began laughing "So Wall Buster, whats your take on this guy?"

"I don't really care as long as i get to break stuff" Wall breaker said looking at a nearby cinder wall.

"Thats Wally for ya, one track mind. if he has a mind" Anarchy said from his "comfy" bed.

Just as their conversation was getting good, The door flung open hitting Maple Muncher in the face and Rebel walks in with a stern look on his face "What is pride?!" he yelled.

"First of all" Maple Muncher began "your dumbass hit me with the fucking door, next who the fuck are you?

Rebel looked at Maple Muncher "What. Is. Pride!"

"Answer me" Maple began only to be cut off by Anarchy.

"Dude, i think this is the guy." Anarchy began "Calm down Maple"

"As of today" Reb began "I will turn you into a group of militant warriors, ya snots."

The four stallions one unicorn, two pegasi, and a earth pony, looked at him quizzically as if they have seen him somewhere and burst out in laughter.

"Is that the guy from the bar?" Maple began "So, hes the loon?"

Their laughter exploded, tears were running down their faces as they began to comprehend the situaltion.

Rebel stood there until their laughter dulled down, his face like stone. "Look, we have three days to get ready for the mission, now ill ask you all again. What is pride?!"

"Overcompensating for something in you lower regions" Maple said and they began laughing again but this time Reb used magic to levitate Maple "H-Hey?! what are you doing?"

"Pride is something you need. it means Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort, you have until the end of the day to memorize that, if you can't. It wont be pretty." Rebel walked out slamming the door behind him.