Pegasi First

Dash let a smile slowly break across her face as she watched Scorcher fall. She knew this was the perfect opportunity to grasp control of the Pegasi army, all she had to do was convince the Commanders.

She turned to face them, aghast from what they had just witnessed, took a deep breath and walked to the centre of the room. "Table" she demanded. The Commanders brought the table back to its original position, then all took a seat around it. "Firstly, I am now in control here. Any problems with that?" She looked from Commander to Commander, judging their reaction. They all shook their heads, causing Dash to smile again. "Good" she whispered.

"Commander Dash?" Commander Soarin said, slowly standing. "What about the Princess? She has to choose who will lead us, she won't let you get away with... That..." He glanced to the pool of blood.

Dash stopped. "Fuck the princess" she said. "Too long Pegasi have been in the chains of Alicorns, and under the demand of Unicorns and Earthponies. All of you have bled for your princess, but we are yet to see her in a battle" she spat at the ground, then flew over to one of the royal banners hanging from the wall and ripped it off. "This is a sign of our slavery!" She shouted, then discarded it from her hoof "This however..." She pulled a large black flag with a red wing on it from the bag that had been resting on her chair. Under the red wing were the words 'Pegasi First'. She held the flag across her chest, unveiling it to the Commanders

Commander Fleetfoot raised an eyebrow. "What are you suggesting?"

"Freedom" Dash said. She turned to a guard "Take this to the bannerponies and have them make copies" she handed him the flag.

"And what does that make you?" Fleetfoot questioned "A princess?"

Dash spat at the ground again "No"

"Captain?"

She shook her head "no. If my title must change from Commander, then it shall be to High Commander." She took ten armbands from her bag and threw them on the table, then slipped one on. The armbands were a replica of the flag, but Dash had a golden star above the wing, and the Commanders had five silver stars. "All free Pegasi must wear one of these" she demanded.

Spitfire stood "You expect the princess to grant us freedom? She won't take kindly to this, especially as we're in a losing war"

"She will do as I demand or suffer the consequences. Commander Spitfire, Commander Soarin, Commander Fleetfoot, stay. The rest of you leave us" Dash put her right hoof across her chest, then spoke "Pegasi First". The Commanders looked puzzled, then one by one copied the gesture, and left. Dash sat down.

"I leave for Canterlot in an hour" she said. "Commander Spitfire, you shall accompany me"

Spitfire nodded "Should I prepare my armour?"

Dash smiled "No, it's already here" she gestured to a guard to bring it over.

Spitfire looked at the armour. "This isn't mine" she said. The armour before her was black with red trim, not her usual white and gold.

"It is. This is your new armour." Dash turned it to reveal the new Pegasi insignia. "See?"

"I'm just worried you know my sizes!" Spitfire joked

Dash laughed, but turned seriously to Soarin and Fleetfoot. "Commander Soarin, you too shall accompany me. Commander Fleetfoot, you shall oversee the production of new armour for the army" she nodded to the guard, who quickly brought over the two Commanders armour. "Commander Fleetfoot, please leave us" they exchanged the new Pegasi salute, then Fleetfoot left.

"We're going to be hung for treason, you realise?" Soarin joked

"Bring us something to drink, and food" Dash demanded of the guard, who swiftly followed her order and placed three full bowls and cups on the table.

"What is this shit?" Dash shouted, gesturing to the bowl

"It's... Uh... Boiled grass, Commander"

"Boiled fucking grass? Do I look like an Earthpony? Do you not have anything better for your High Commander?"

"I'm sorry High Commander, it's all we've got from the rations" the guard stuttered

"Lay off him, High Commander Dash" Spitfire said "He's just doing his job" she nodded to the guard as he walked off

Dash sighed. "Very well... Let's get this done then..." She stood, then pulled her armour on.

Dash pushed the large door to the throne room open, and eyed the four princesses, but focused her gaze on Celestia as she marched in, flanked by her two Commanders.

"Commander Dash, you have new armour?" Celestia smiled, unaware of the situation. Dash stood at the bottom of the steps to the throne.

"It's a custom to bow before your princesses" Luna scoffed

"Pegasi do not bow" Dash spat. "Captain Scorcher is dead" Her focus on Celestia

Celestia looked taken aback by the news "How?"

Dash slowly smiled, still staring at Celestia "Me" she laughed. "And now, it seems, I'm in charge"

The princesses gasped, then looked at Dash coldly, almost in unison. "And you came here for what? I'm guessing it's not to face punishment?"

Rainbow laughed again "No. I'm here to tell you that the Pegasi are no longer under your control. We are an independent pony now, and we advise you to agree"

"You advise me?" Celestia asked. "If you hadn't noticed, we are at war. The Pegasi are required for the war effort"

"Then I suggest you agree" Dash smirked. "However, it seems the Pegasi have been doing all the fighting. It's the Unicorns and Earthponies turn" she paced side to side, then stopped in front of Cadence. "Cadence... I don't remember seeing you at the fall of the Crystal Empire. In fact, I only remember seeing Pegasi fighting. Why weren't you" Dash turned to the other three. "Any of you there?"

"We have to rule"

"Don't give me that shit!" Dash shouted. "You're all too comfortable in your thrones, eating as much as you want because you think you're safe, and you know Captain Scorcher would protect you."

"How dare you?!" Twilight shouted "What happened to you?"

"War, Twilight, war happened." She glared "Now be quiet, important ponies are talking"

Twilight looked offended, and sat back, quiet

"Now" Dash said "I am not as nice as my predecessor. You tell me why Pegasi should defend Canterlot"

"Canterlot is your capital! There are countless ponies here!" Luna shouted

"I'm yet to see a single Unicorn, Earthpony or Alicorn on the front line. Will this change?"

Celestia looked outraged "You are a traitor to your princess!"

"You didn't answer my question..."

"What do you want? Why did you bother to come here?"

"Have you been listening to a single fucking word I've said you dumb whore?" Dash screamed "Pegasi are no longer your toys, either you give us independence or we'll take it!"

The four princesses stood. "How dare you!" Twilight shouted "You're crazy!"

Dash walked over to Twilight "Have you ever fought in a war? Killed something? Been tortured? Seen a friend die? Because I've experienced all those things. Every battle I've been in, only Pegasi have fought. I've worked hard to be where I am now, I'm sure you've heard the things I've done. So I'm sorry Twilight if I'm just a little pissed off, it's just that I don't enjoy watching ponies die."

Twilight stepped forwards "I saw Ponyville fall. I saw ponies die. I didn't see you there, where were you?" She looked at the ground, a tear forming in her eye.

"I was there"

TEN MONTHS AGO (Month 2 of the war)

It was a horrible day in Ponyville. Rain soaked into Dashs fur, causing her to shiver everytime a breeze rolled through the Main Street. She was only a foot solider, one of only a few that had been spared for Ponyville. As they'd flown in to defend the town she was shocked to find there were still civilians in the area. She'd looked around for her friends, and was glad to see they'd been evacuated to Canterlot, however she was surprised to see Captain Scorcher in the group of ponies that had been selected. She wanted to impress him, he was important and could promote her at the flick of a hoof.

Dash was in the front row of the few hundred Pegasi that had lined up for the defence, and was rearing to get stuck in. She fiddled with her knives as they waited for the Griffons to march into Ponyville.

The sound of wings could be heard overhead, so she looked up. She gasped as she saw the sky filled with Griffons. They landed all around the Pegasi, outnumbering them 3:1. Dash cursed her luck. As she looked around she saw too many Pegasi tucking tail and flying away, causing the Griffons to laugh, but laugh was the last thing Dash was going to do, as she saw Scorcher in the pack of fleeing ponies. She sighed, 5:1 now. She looked around her non-traitorous allies, and knew she couldn't let them die here. Although she was nothing on the ladder of command, she knew she had to do something.

She turned to them "we do not die today!" She shouted "today we make history!". This caused a roar from the remaining Pegasi. They charged, flying straight at the Griffons. Dash screamed as she flicked her knives out and rammed them into the closest Griffon. She pulled them out, then pushed them into the Griffons eyes. One down. She span with terrorfying speed with her hooves outstretched, slicing into several Griffons. She landed and looked left: dead Pegasi. She looked right: dead Pegasi. Behind her: dead Pegasi. In front: Griffons. Lots of Griffons. The blood of the dead ran thick through the mud as rain ran down Rainbows face. She wasn't going to give up. She was going to either win, or die trying to win.

Dash was surrounded, but any Griffon that stepped forward to kill her would find a knife in them. She looked around, fierce. "WHOS NEXT?" She screamed. Every other pony was dead. Even the civilians. She wouldn't let that go unpunished. She would kill them all, no matter what she had to do.

"Surrender you pony scum!" A shout from the crowd around her, lost to the wind. More followed, but Dash ignored them. She looked into the distance at Canterlot. No sign of a royal rescue. She felt a sharp pain in her side, then hit the ground, being covered in mud. She felt like she'd been stabbed, she probably had. Her face was pushed into the dirt, then into a puddle of blood. She struggled for air, but found herself drowning in blood. What a way to go.

She struggled in vain, then passed out.