A Dog's Loyalties

As Rufus, Rover, Fido, Spot, and Twilight arrived to the castle they were surrounded by the guards and before anything could be said Rufus punched a guard in the muzzle and the others jumped into a brawling pile but Celestia separated them before it could get any worse. "This is hardly the place for horse playing," Her voice was calm and smooth like a river, "You're Rufus right?" Rufus could only nod as he stood before this monarch calm and cool from years of experience. "Don't be afraid, you're not in trouble." Rufus glanced at Luna,

"You, you're the mare from my dreams." Luna nodded as she approached Rufus,

"Yes I warned you of the threat to your new home. I am glad to see you still live." Celestia smiled,

"Rufus we have a gift for you," A large jug was levitated towards Rufus, "Please drink all the liquid in this container." With shaky paws Rufus reached out and took the jug and without hesitating started to drink. It was thick, creamy, and viscous that threatened to choke him despite how easy it went down. As Rufus finished the jug he fell to his knees gagging and choking.

"Treachery!" Rover shouted as he rushed to Rufus' side. Rover's paw only touched Rufus for a moment before pulling away as it burnt him while Rufus' body began to smoke as small tongue's of flame danced across his body before dying out as Rufus began vomiting.

"What the hell was that?" Rufus stood up and leaned on Rover for support as Celestia smiled.

"It was a special concoction made to free your powers from their limitations. Twilight notified me of you're magic and I had decide to bestow this gift of trust upon you." Rufus chuckled as he stood on his own.

"There's more to this than you're letting on Princess. What's really happening?" Luna sighed and nodded to Celestia who replied solemnly,

"I regret to admit this but out of our curiosity we continued searching through different dimensions and in our absence Tirek has once again escaped Tartarus, and Sombra has somehow returned. They have joined forces with Chrysalis to bring destruction to all of Equestria. Rufus opened his mouth to speak but fell into a hacking fit coughing and retching up his guts. "That will pass, your body simply has to adjust to this new magic within you now." After the fit subsided he stood up and smiled a bit,

"Ok, I'll help you out. You have the diamond dogs on your side.

Back in Ponyville Rufus, Twilight, Rover, Fido, and Spot were stopped at Sugar Cube Corner for a bite to eat as Pinkie Pie droned on about old stories and trips she had been on with Twilight over the past year, but Rufus was preoccupied with his thoughts. As Rufus absently ate an all too familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts as a minotaur walked in flanked by two others. Confident and arrogant he smirked at Rufus, "Ah, I thought I recognized you runt, What are you doing here Rufus? It's been ages since i've seen you." Rufus sighed as he finished his cupcake,

"Oh, it's you Torbin. I've got enough to deal with right now, so get out of here. This isn't the Badlands, and you won't find what you're looking for."

Torbin laughed as he sat beside Rufus with a twisted grin on his face, "Oh, but it seems I have found who I've been looking for." Torbin grabbed a mug from the counter and chugged the contents right down before speaking again. "You've been making quite a name for yourself around here, I've heard you've got some better handling on your powers. So, your old uncle Torbin thought he should bring you back into the fold." Rufus finished his cupcake as he stood up and glared into Torbin's eyes before planting a muzzle-breaking punch into his face, and sending him flying into the street.

"Now you want me back," Rufus growled as his breathing grew faster and his eyes began to water, "You abandoned me because I was too weak! I'll never forgive you for that!" Rufus grabbed Torbin by his arm and threw the bulky minotaur through a tree as dark green tongues of fire began to rise from his smoldering fur, but before Rufus could follow up the cart he threw that morning crashed down upon Torbin. "I was wondering when that'd fall back down." As Rufus began to calm down and the fire on his body died away Twilight and Pinkie ran to him.

"Are you ok Rufus? That was crazy, what did he do?" Before Rufus could answer Pinkie held a cupcake out to him,

"Here this'll help you calm down." Rufus took the cupcake and ate silently as he dried his tears and sat down panting as he hugged Twilight and Pinkie close,

"I'm sorry I broke down like that. Torbin was a brutal and cruel minotaur. It felt good to put him in his place though." As Rufus began to calm down Pinkie poked him in the stomach with a wide grin on her face,

"I want to throw you a welcome to Ponyville party. I haven't had the chance yet but I think now would be a perfect time to do it for you." Rufus smiled and nodded as he poked her back,

"That sounds like fun."