The Dog of the Lunar Republic

A.N~ So here’s my apology for a shite chapter. I’ve worked and reworked it and finally said eff it because I know exactly where I’m going after this chapter, I just couldn’t get this chapter to work out well.
Anyway I’ll come back and fix it when I get my head on straight, but in the meantime here’s what happens.

It was past lunch time and while a little less sore Twilight was still laying on the couch Telvanni had put her on after breakfast. She had splayed her legs for comfort and was enjoying a 'Lycans~A Culture' thoroughly. Telvanni was lying across the room amongst a few different books he'd been reading.
The Lycan seemed to know she was thinking of him too.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine Telv. Still a little sore, but my last scan showed that most of the muscles are already doing better. I'm still trying to figure out how we didn't do any major damage, you were a little on the large side." Twilight quipped, a light blush showing through her cheeks despite her comfort around Telvanni.

Telvanni got up and came over to sit by Twilight. "You know, I really am sorry for hurting you."

Twilight smiled sweetly. "You made it up to me later, even though you wore me out. But, if you’re really feeling bad you could try massaging my stomach. It might help the muscles sort themselves out."

Telvanni got to work gently kneading at the mare's stomach causing her to give into a fit of giggles every now and again. After ten minutes or so Telvanni leaned down and planted a kiss right on Twilight's belly.

And the front door opened.

~~~Two hours prior~~~

"I'm telling you all that it happened. Hay, Pinkie believes me, and so does Flutters! I know what I heard!" Rainbow Dash insisted. She had rounded up all but Twilight for lunch at Sugarcube corner and began trying to explain to them what Twilight and Telvanni had done just last night.

"Really Ardee? You expect us to believe that Twilight, Ponyville's resident egghead, bookworm an' introvert went home last night an' had wild sex with Telvanni? Ah'm havin' trouble believin' that." Applejack snapped skeptically.

Rarity was quick to add her own piece. "Besides dear, I don't even think it's possible for their bodies to match, and it is terribly unladylike to scatter rumours about like that."

Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes as Pinkie offered that they go over and talk to Twilight.

"I'm quite sure Twilight has a reason for screaming last night if we ask her....if she wants to tell us of course..."

~~~Present Time in Twilight's house~~~

Everybeast froze. Twilight was laying on the couch, hind legs splayed towards the door baring all, Telvanni with his lips planted on Twilight's belly, and four mare slack jawed at the sight with a fifth looking like she wished to melt into the floor.

Nobeast could think of what to do or what to say....
So cue Rainbow Dash in three two one-

"Ha! I told you she totally screwed Telvanni last night! Looks like they were going for round two!"

At this Telvanni jerked his head back and Twilight snapped her legs shut and rolled over while Pinkie busted out laughing and the other girls turned a dark shade of red in the cheeks.

Twilight quickly went into her defensive story mode, anger rising to levels that allowed her to lie without it being noticeable.
"I fell down the stairs last night and twisted my stomach muscles. Telvanni was giving them a massage and kissing it better! Screw you Rainbow!"
'How dare she take my private business and spread it around town like that!'

Rainbow Dash shut up fast and looked to AJ who just shrugged.

"Well Twilight, why haven't you gone to the doctor? Honestly darling I know you probably checked yourself, but the spell is unreliable when self used. Allow me." Rarity said kindly as she scanned Twilight before the lavender mare could object.
'Oh my, oh, OH MY, Sweet Celestia what did they do?!'
"Twilight...um...certainly a hay of a fall....how large was this fall exactly?"
Rarity's cheeks could have illuminated a dark room at this point and the others were quick to pick up on it.

"You totally did! Ha, I knew it! Lemme guess, doggy style?" Rainbow laughed as the girls rolled their eyes save Pinkie who looked just as eager to find out.

Forgetting about her injuries for a moment Twilight tried to roll off the couch and tackle the polychromatic nuisance but quickly fell over as pain shot through her hips.
"Rainbow, just give me another day or so and when I find you I'm going to kick your flank!"

Rainbow fell over laughing feeling really smart...until a pair of furry claws latched onto her and she found she couldn't get loose.

"I've got Rainbow Twi. She's going nowhere anytime soon." Telvanni grinned.

"Thank you Telv. Girls, could you wait outside for a moment?"
Without waiting for an answer Twilight magically pushed the girls outside and slammed the door shut and threw up a sound proofing spell.
"Telvanni, go wait in the other room please."

With a nod Telvanni padded off as Twilight cast a spell to secure Rainbow.
"Now Dashie, I teach you to respect other ponies’ privacy..."

About ten minutes later Twilight invited everybeast back in as Rainbow Dash sat in the corner with a scowl on her face and a magical band that secured her wings for the next 24 hours.
"Just needed to talk to Rainbow was all. Anyway Telvanni and I will actually be leaving for Canterlot later tonight. While Rainbow and I were talking Luna sent me a message inviting Telvanni and I to visit in Canterlot so she can spend some time with him."

The girls nodded and told the pair to have a good time and made to leave when they realized Rainbow Dash still hadn't moved or said anything.

"Ya comin' Ardee? Twilight has to pack an' such." Applejack called.

"No I'm not! I'm staying right here for the next day! Go away!"

Twilight rolled her eyes and reached out with her magic causing Rainbow to jump up and yelp from surprise as her cheeks turned bright red.

"Fine egghead, I'm moving, and everypony else can shut up!" Rainbow growled as she 'walked' out of the tree house, hindlegs spread oddly as she walked with an odd gait.
The rest of the girls followed her out with puzzled looks on their faces.

As the front door shut Telvanni looked to Twilight. "What'd you do to Dash?"

"Well, if she goes into heat within the next 24 hours, she is now 'equipped' with something to extinguish those 'fiery' urges." Twi quipped as she teleported upstairs to start packing.

On a hunch Telvanni checked the kitchen and found the 10 centimetre wide fire extinguisher missing and promptly busted out laughing.

~~~~~~~

Celestia had stacks upon stacks of her war records piled next to her and was frantically reading through each one. To her horror many things that had never made sense to her before were becoming all too obvious. Like how the war even started. She had always believed it was an attack by scared and desperate Everfreeians after one of their settlements was destroyed by wild animals. But here it was list that Knight Captain Bitter Root had led an unprovoked assault on the settlement instead. Later she found records that implied Bitter Root had been killing off peace envoys her sister had been sending and sending back their severed tails and carved off cutiemarks. Other records pointed out the Bitter Root had also been going into Everfreeian camps and killed the stallions and forced the older colts to join them in return for the lives of their surviving family members.
So many things that started to make sense of the strange behaviour and 'charisma' that Bitter Root had were explained by the simple fact that her second most trusted leader had been a monster.

'Could that mean that Telvanni was right? He had blamed Bitter Root saying that the Captain had murdered Evening Star. What if the Lycan was right and Bitter Root was using it as a catalyst?'

Doubts began plaguing Celestia. How many ponies has she trusted that have decieved her? How many ponies had allowed her rule due to fear? If she couldn't even control her soldiers how could she control her country?

'Am I even fit to lead?'

'Of course I am...I hold more power than anypony else in the world. I just need to rework my approach.'

'Of course, I'm so glad I thought of that! Now, where to find information on different approaches to ruling a country?'

'Maybe if I check that bookcase in the far corner? The one all by its own.''

'Well, starting at the far end and working back works.'

Celestia trotted over to the book case furthest from her spot and realized it had but a single book, bound in black cloth and without a title.
'What and odd book, I wonder what's in it?'

Suddenly curious Celestia opened the book to its first page just as tendrils of smoky black magic wrapped around her.

~~~~~~~

Telvanni, still favouring walking on four legs, had proved to be crucial for Twilight getting around. She could hold their bags up with magic, but she was still sore from the previous night's fun and laid across the Lycan's broad back and shoulders.

"So, Luna's not going to get mad or anything when she finds out we did things, is she?" Twilight pondered having not even thought of how to explain her situation. "I mean, I could lie and say I fell down the stairs but I don't know if she'd believe me."

"Believe that you what, my little pony?"

Twilight jumped as Telvanni let out a barking laugh. Luna had heard the tail end of her plight.
"Mother, Twilight's having some pains in her back legs. She fe-"

Luna shook her head with a light smile. "Had I known you two were that interested in each other I would have told you a spell that makes certain muscles a tad bit more flexible and Twilight wouldn't be curled up on your back right now. I'm glad that you have both found love, should I be expecting a daughter in law anytime soon?"

Telvanni ducked his head slightly. "It was kind of spur of the moment and I wasn't about to ask Twilight to send my mother a letter asking about sex while I had my muzzle between her legs, or any other time for that matter."

"Do you have a spell that could possibly help me out now though Luna? Being carried around is nice, but the looks I'm getting are embarrassing." Twilight muttered.

"Of course Twilight. I'll send the book to your room while you two get ready for dinner." Luna smiled.

Telvanni continued on towards Twilight's old tower room to unpack.

~~~~~~~

Celestia had struggled hard but with an underhoofed tactic to distract Celestia's concentration from her mental defenses the dark entity had seeped into the Alicorn's very being.

"Now Celestia, aren't you pleased with the knowledge you've uncovered?"

'Get out of my body!' Celestia screamed from her mental prison.

"A tough one eh? Well, let's take a trip down memory lane until you realize I'm right."

~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash was hating her life. Stupid Twilight had put her in a really awkward position. Hay, the egghead probably knew that Dash would have to stay at Pinkie's, and that Pinkie would insist on some fun.
'Damn fire extinguishers...maybe Flutters would understand if I explained it to her.'
With that Rainbow Dash trotted off towards Fluttershy’s house, face flushed due to every movement shifting things.

~~~~~~~

Dinner had been a simple affair, Luna not having the same want for fanciful things or elegance that Celestia held. Topics of conversation ranged from the obvious (Where's Celestia? How is Twilight and Telvanni's relationship working out, what's for dessert.) to the not so obvious (obscure historical tidbits, Lycan's ticklish necks and ears [giving Twilight a rather devious grin], and other not so usual topics.)

Twilight enjoyed a crisp rose petal salad with a apple spice topping mixed with cashews and Luna ate the same while Telvanni enjoyed a deer rib (boneless) sandwich that was actually cooked inside the dough of the bread.

Once dinner was finished and a few announcements about Telvanni's status as a legal party of the royal family and his status was taken care of the three set off to bed (Luna as well, having been up all day for Celestia.)

~~~~~~~

"So, the great Lycan Telvanni finally decided to pull his fat lazy ass out of the time pools? Oh, and he's got a marefriend now too! All the fun stuff happens 1000 years after I'm dead! So unfair." laughed a royal blue Pegasus stallion with a polychromatic mane.

Telvanni shook his head, looking around the inky black that surrounded him.

"'Bout time he showed up too here I was getting bored!" added a second voice belonging to a deep brown griffon.

Looking around Telvanni realized he was surrounded by his former Night Corp. comrades including Braxus the Minotaur who hadn't survived up until the final battle.
"What is going on? What are you guys doing here?"

Chromatic Blur stepped forward. "You are going to experience war soon Telvanni. A war like no other. Fear not, for it shall not last long, but you will be faced with decisions that you have never had to face before. When she offers her aid, my descendant Rainbow Dash can be relied on-"

"And my own descendant Gilda has trained well." Gasca added.

Each representative of the races stepped forward and offered Telvanni their own forms of support. Before fading to black. Telvanni sat in the darkness for what seemed like years when a twisted form of Celestia suddenly appeared from thin air cackling madly before fading away. That image was followed with one of Twilight screaming in agony. Telvanni only saw her face, but he knew whatever was hurting her was serious. Images, each one worse than before flashed through the Lycan's dream before he finally jolted awake.

~~~~~~~

The griffoness was practicing her swordplay as per usual routine when she blacked out. As she opened her eyes she found that she was surrounded by darkness until an oddly familiar Griffon stepped forth.

"Gilda, you possess the spirit of a warrior priestess, and no doubt would be such if the clans still held to their old warring ways. In time to come your friends will need you. Go to Ponyville with haste!"

"I don't have any friends in Ponyville!" Gilda shouted, realizing that she was back in her normal surroundings. "Not anymore...but still, if Dash needs me!"

~~~~~~~

"Shadowscale, doth thou feel the ancient corruption stirring? We should’st gather our dragons and make haste to Equestria, I fear that this war will be the end of us all should we allow it's stirring." whispered Teegra, a young dragon cursed with blindness but blessed with foresight.

Shadowscale shifted a second before standing. "Then let us make haste."

~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash was squirming wildly, having the job of extricating her nuisance half way done, when she found herself sucked into a black void.

"Rainbow Da-what the hell?!" Chromatic Blur sputtered as he turned his gaze away quickly. "I don't have much time but I am here to warn you. Your skills that allowed you to save Fluttershy will be needed soon. Also, you will play an important role for an equally important filly who needs you. You know who this filly is; you will find her in the 'clubhouse'. And seriously, what the hell?!"

Rainbow stayed on her back for a moment before a clang of something metallic hitting the floor and a feeling of emptiness and relief got her attention. Quickly she thought back to when she had saved Fluttershy, her mind darkening at the memories.
'...filly who needs you...'
"Scoots!"
With a flash Rainbow was shooting towards the CMC clubhouse.

~~~~~~~

Forty-three chitinous pony like forms flew towards Equestria. Six years prior they had been three thousand strong and bent to the will of a evil a foolish queen. Now but forty three remained, and they answered the call of their ancestors, the call to return to the Princess of the Night.

~~~~~~~

Reaching out with her link to Twilight, Celestia detected tenderness in the mare's stomach and a spell made to relieved pain and muscle stress caused by birthing.

"This is my final piece of evidence Celestia. He took her, caused her such pain, and she cannot even see it. He will cause her great pain within the next year Celestia, and you can put an end to it. You can save her! You can save her and avenge Evening Star! But there is his mother, she will turn against you, she does not care for Twilight, does not recognize blood family! She but recognized the mongrel! They must both be stopped. Now go to Ponyville! You must secure the Elements lest they be used against you!"

Celestia's gaze hardened. She had been shown the 'truth' for the whole day and she knew that she was Equestria's only hope. She would save them! She would save them all!

~~~~~~~

Telvanni was regarding the quivering stallion before him with much interest. The 'thing', a unicorn, held a sword shakily in his magic.

"Back beast, I am Prince Blueblood and you shall not come further."

'Does this idiot truly think I fear for mine life in regards to him? This is pitiful.'

Just then Twilight rounded the corner and took in the sight of Blueblood curled up nearly in the fetal position holding a sword aloft.
"Telvanni, I see you've met Blueblood, er, 'Prince Blueblood' that is. Blueblood this is Telvanni, official title Telvanni Nocte-Luna, legal adopted son of Luna Nocte-Luna. I guess that makes him a prince too. Anyway Telv, Luna said she was ready to see you."

Telvanni nodded and lopped off towards his mother's room while Blueblood continued to sit there in shock.

"You know, you're lucky he found you too humourous to be a threat, otherwise you would be dog food about now." Twilight laughed before trotting off after Telvanni.

~~~~~~~

Scootaloo stirred slightly, twisting around to stretch her back after a long nights sleep on the hard wooden floorboards of the Clubhouse. It wasn't the most ideal sleeping spot but it was better than the alley behind Sugarcube corner she'd originally had and a million times better than under some random tree.

Sighing she started hiding her belongings for when the girls showed up. That's when she smelled it.
It was smoke and reminded her of cooking apples.
'Why the hay do I smell smoke?'

Trotting over to the door she pulled it open the see that Sweet Apple Acres was ablaze all around the clubhouse! Frantically grabbing her scooter and not even bothering with her helmet the filly set her mind to her newest task.
'Get out of the fire, check on the Apples!'
Hoping on her scooter the orange filly took off through the smoke and trees. Dodging licks of fire and falling branches all while keeping her head low like they taught in school Scoots raced through the trees not even realizing she was delving deeper into the flames.
'Come on Scootaloo, you worked Whinnyapolis at seven, you can work this!' the filly thought. Whinnyapolis....bad place for a 7 year old, but that was 7 years in the past and she was not weak or defenseless anymore!
She kicked her wings into over drive. She would fly out of here had she known how but the best she could do was glide with them. Suddenly a tree dropped right in front of her and she was sent tumbling into the ground.

~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash had already searched the clubhouse and found nopony and the smoke was about to drive her off until she noticed a lighter line of ash. It was like something had pushed through here.
"Scoots wouldn't take her scooter to leave, she'd fly. Celestia I'm stupid for thinking that.'
Dash was about to take off when something nagged at her. Almost told her to follow the line. Kicking up ash clouds in her wake the mare tore off using the line in the ash as a guide.

Tearing along after the trail Dash had to get lower and lower to the ground. She knew that if she didn't find the end of the trail soon she was going to have to gain altitude for some real air. Urged by her sudden realization that she was on a small amount of time Rainbow pushed herself ever harder, her wake clearing flames two metres out as she passed by. Finally she managed to spot something. It was Scootaloo's scooter that Rainbow had given her to replace the original when it got too small. The thing was twisted and broken from impacting a tree and Rainbow knew Scoots had to be close. Her worry was how close the flames where to the area.
"SCOOTALOO! SCOOTALOO WHERE ARE YOU!"

Silence.
'Oh please Celestia no!'
"SCOOTALOO!"

"D-Dash!?"

Rainbow shot off three metres to her right to find Scoots curled up by a tree covered in ash.
"Yeah, it's me kiddo. Come on, we're getting out of here!"
Wrapping her forehooves around the blackened filly Dash shot up through the smoke and tore off towards town.

~~~~~~~

Telvanni had just finished explaining his dream when a messenger came in to warn tehm of the smoke billowing over Ponyville.

"I don't understand Luna, is it a dragon? What the hay is going on!?" Twilight yelled as the Alicorn fitted the unicorn with armour.

"Simple, Ponyville is in trouble and you won't stay here even if I order you to. Celestia had this armour commissioned for you on the off chance anything bad ever happened and it seems something bad has indeed happened." Luna explained. As she finished securing the final strap she suddenly got and idea and used magic to remold a metal loop coming up from Twilight's shoulderblades.
"For the off chance Telvanni needs to get you to safety."

That very same Lycan entered the room not seconds later with metal mesh bracers over his forearms and over his shins.
"I have gotten mineself ready mother, we leave on your mark."

~~~~~~~

Dash was exhausted but was not about to stop to take a breather until she knew Scoots was safe. It was like some part of her awakened when she noticed Scoots stuff sprawled around the clubhouse.
'Idiot! Obviously she's been living there. She's a homeless orphan and I should have recognized it. Hay, I was a homeless orphan! I'm going to fix this thought, and Scootaloo is not going to be alone anymore!'
The thoughts surprised Rainbow herself. Sure, loyalty and all that, and Scoots was a great kid, but she should have been there before.
'I'm here now!'
As she neared town she saw a large crowd of ponies and the girls as well as Celestia. The girls were waving at her frantically and yelling something but Dash's vision had tunneled and all she had eyes for was the ground as she descended.

Ground, such soft grass. Rainbow Dash was about to close her eyes when she noticed something in her friends eyes.
Fear.
'Time to wake up Dash. Catch a nap later! Besides, Scoots still needs taken care of!'
Shaking her head violently her hearing began to kick in again.

"-which leads me to our current dilemma. Are you, Rainbow Dash, more loyal to your Princess, or to these traitors!" Celestia's horn glowed a four magical blades appeared at the girls throats.

Dash was at full attention now. "Wait! What the hay is going on!?"

"Your friends have opted to join my sister in her conquest for eternal night and have aided in the abduction of my daughter!" the Alicorn screamed as the blades pressed harder on their throats.

"STOP!" Dash made to move forward bit remembered Scootaloo and froze, casting her glance back to make sure the filly was ok.

Celestia laughed evilly. "Ah, so suddenly the brash irresponsible fool knows what it's like to care for somepony. I saw that look, the look only a mother knows, that look of fear and terror for their foals safety. Tell Dash, when did you have time to get yourself knocked up?"
As she spoke a magical spear began to form facing the unrecognizable Scootaloo.

And it was all the incentive Dash needed.
"BITCH!"
Throwing herself forward she attempted to tackle Celestia but found herself floating with a forehoof less than an inch from the Alicorn's face.
"I'll kill you if you touch her!"

Nopony knew where Dash's words were coming from, hell Dash herself barely knew, but Dash didn't care.

"Hmmm, executions will be in order for the traitors....and their accomplices. You never know how deep in the family it runs." Celestia mused, eyeing Sweetie Belle, Big Mac, Applebloom and Grannie Smith and drawing cries of outrage from Applejack and Rarity.
"Well, since I have Dash right here let us begin. And don't worry about your daughter Dash, I'll make it painless...ish."
As Celestia formed a blade to press against the pegasus’ throat all hell broke loose.

First was a large furry form that slammed into Celestia like a freight train. Next everything went pitch black and ponies started screaming until the light came back.

"Flee my little ponies! Flees to the Castle of the Moon in the Everfree! Twilight lead them there!" cried Luna, having just appeared.

Dash was on auto pilot. Recognizing the Castle of the Moon as a safe haven through some ancient instinct the mare swept up Scootaloo and flew wildly off towards the only castle she knew of in the Everfree.

~~~~~~~

Telvanni slammed into Celestia, rolling with the fall to ensure he came up on his feet. Smiling viciously the Lycan waited for the Alicorn to regain her senses.
"So then Tyrant Bitch, shall we commence with round 28?"

Celestia grunted as she rose. "You've been keeping track?"

"Always keep track of my enemies failures." Telvanni half laughed as he dodged a bolt of magic lobbed his way. "Oh, but wait, Luna says no hurting you yet. That's fine though, I'll just leave you to her."

"You will return my daughter to me you rapist bastard son of a whore!"

Telvanni's eyes narrowed. He knew Celestia was referring to his birth parents, but that wasn't how he took it.
"You will not speak of Luna like that!"
Throwing himself at the Alicorn again he feinted and let Luna take over while he dashed for Twilight to get her to safety.

~~~~~~~

Winging her way to Chromatic Blur's old room in the Royal Suites on intuition Dash took Scoots straight through to the bathroom and laid her gently in the bathtub before turning on the water. She found a small hoof towel and some soap and began gently scrubbing away the soot and dirt that covered Scootaloo's coat. A sense of warmth, pride and fulfillment rushed through Rainbow's veins as she cleaned up the 14 year old filly.
'Is this what being a mom is like? I mean...I don't even know how Scoots'll react, but I won't let her go through this alone. Not like I did...never like I did.'

"Mmm? Where am I?"

Smiling at the groggy filly Dash rubbed her head playfully. "You’re getting a bath because you smell like toasted chicken."

Scoots head shot up suddenly. "What happened?! Sweet Apple Acres was on fire!" Tears were forming at the edges of the filly's eyes as the realization hit her that she'd lost everything and may have even lost her friend Applebloom.

Dash pulled Scoot's in for a hug. "Applebloom's ok, and so are the Apples. Last I saw Luna and Twi were helping them." Wasn't a lie, not really the truth either. "But what I want to know is why you never told me. Actually don't answer that. I'm and idiot for not seeing it before. I'd never once met your parents, and even after your wings came in you still never flew...and I was like that too. I never had a home, and I should have seen that you were alone but....I don't know, I don't have an excuse I was just being stupid and not seeing what was right in front of me." Dash finished, tears running down her face.

Scootaloo had never been hugged like this before. Never had this feeling. She couldn't put her hoof on it, but it was like Dash's embrace was telling her that nothing could hurt her and she could just let it all go. Breaking into small sobs all the hard times came rushing back to her. All the times she used Dash as a model for how to act and how tough to be.
"You saved me...why?"
It wasn't anger, nor indignation; it was the confusion of a filly who had never understood that feeling of love on such a personal level.

Dash just squeezed the filly that much tighter.
"Because Scoots, I look at you and I see me. I know I act tough and cool and like nothing can touch me, but I hurt and I don't want you to hurt like I have. I may have bucked up and not been there for you before, but if you'll let me, I'll never let anything hurt you again."

"Really?"

Dash held Scootallo out at arm’s length and looked the little orange and black smudged filly in the eyes.
"I promise on my wings that I won't let you be alone. Now all that touchy feely stuff is sliding away and reality is setting in, and I suck at touchy feely so why don't we get cleaned up and then take a nap, eh?"

Scootaloo couldn't hold back a giggle at the incredibly 'Rainbow Dash' thing to say and nodded.

Ten minutes later Scootaloo was curled up on the bed wrapped in Rainbow Dash's wings. Nothing could touch her there, she was safe, she was not alone, and she was loved.

~~~~~~~

Telvanni was quick to catch up with Twilight and lift the mare up onto his shoulders. She wasn't exactly accustomed to running around in forty pounds of armour.
Or to Celestia going batshit crazy and trying to kill ponies.
"How are you feeling Twilight? I know that must have been a shock to see Cele-"

"Wasn't Celestia. I felt something familiar. It was like Nightmare Moon but it wasn't. I'll need to talk to Luna when she gets back." Twilight interrupted.

"Well tha's all fine an' peachy Twi, but what in the hay is goin' on?" Applejack snapped.

"Don't quite know myself...Um, Celestia seems to be under the impression Luna is trying to take over Equestria. Don't know why, but that's what's going on. By the way, where's Rainbow?" Twilight replied as calmly as possible.
'Keep calm on the outside and think it all out Twi, no more ‘want it need it’ episodes.'

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both jumped forward when this was brought up.
"We think she's got Scootaloo. When she came out of Sweet Apple Acres she had a pony with her. I couldn't tell because of the ash and soot but I think it was Scootaloo!" Sweetie explained.

Telvanni nodded.
"Dash is probably at the castle then, let us make haste to join her for we shall have company soon enough."

~~~~~~~

"Tia, what are you doing? You have attacked Ponyville and threatened to kill the Elements and a foal! Why are you doing this?" Luna cried.

"Fool! You have brought your son here in an attempt to over throw me. You have had him fool my faithful student and stolen her from me! I will have her back and We will rule Equestria!" Celestia roared.
With a flash of magic the Solar Alicorn teleported to Canterlot to prepare her soldiers for war.

"If this is you wish Tia...PONIES OF PONYVILLE, IT APPEARS MY SISTER IS ILL. FOR ALL THOSE WHO WISH IT, I OFFER FOOD SHELTER AND SAFETY IN MY CASTLE IN THE EVERFREE. EXPECT AN ESCORT FOR YOUR SAFETY TO ARRIVE WITHIN THE HOUR!" Luna offered in her Royal Canterlot voice before flying back to her castle.

As she flew Sweet Apple Acres burned to embers behind her.

~~~~~~~

"Uh, yer kiddin' us, right Ardee?" Applejack sputtered as Rainbow finished telling them about Scootaloo's new living status. "You kin hardly even take care of Tank and yer hardly responsible."

Dash's eyes hardened. "More responsible than you would think. Besides, I look back now and realize I've always kind of known, I was just too scared to say anything!"

"Cause everypony knows yer gonna muck it up! Seriously Ardee, yer not mother material, Ah would know!" Applejack yelled back.

"You think you know everything about handling fillies cause you had to raise Applebloom?!"

Applejack's ears dropped and she looked around furtively. "Ah, uh Ah didn't raise her. Mah parents did."

"Bullshit AJ! I know when a pony doesn't have parents! You don't have parents! I'm not stupid. I'm taking care of Scoots and that is final. You don't like it you go buck yourself!" Dash snapped, hitting far below the belt.

"Well at least Ah'm not some jacked up on mah own damn ego hothead that cain't act like an adult ta save her life! Hay, it’s like you never even grew up! An' like Ah said, you can barely take care of yerself, how do ya expect ta take care of a filly. Besides, every filly needs a pa figure but yer some filly fooler who can't look at a stallion without ga-"

*SMACK*

Applejack froze. Her head had been twisted down to the side and her hat lay on the ground in front of her.
'She punched me...that little bitch flat out punched me?!'
Applejack looked up to see that Rainbow had left and the girls all save Twilight and Pinkie were giving her dirty looks.
"What!? Y'all know it’s the truth! She just need ta stop bein' so damned hard hea-"

*Smack*

Again Applejack froze. Her head hadn't been moved much and she had full view of who just hit her.
"Flu...Flut...Fluttershy? What?"

Fluttershy was shaking with rage. She was even angrier than when she chased off the dragon from Equestria six years back.
"Rainbow acts like a kid because she was too busy looking out for herself to be one. Then she had to act even more responsible when I showed up. I had a dad, but I didn't want one. My dad was a foalaphile and came into my room almost every night. When Rainbow found out she tried to stop him. Instead he knocked her out and then hurt her right in front of me! I ran away with Rainbow two days later and she got a job to take care of me and get me therapy. She didn't get herself therapy, just me. Was all she could afford. She supported me until I got the job as a veterinarian in Ponyville. That was when she was finally able to kick back and enjoy life without the responsibility of taking care of somepony. NEVER think that she's irresponsible!"
Without a word more Fluttershy turned and trotted out followed by Rarity who had a hoof on the pegasus’ shoulder.

Twilight just sat there slack jawed and Pinkie's mane was dangerously close to deflating.

"Ah need to go think..."

~~~~~~~

Applejack sat at the precipice of the cliff where years prior Rainbow proved her loyalty by reaffixing the bridge. Kicking a small stone she listened to the echoes as it fell deeper into the earth before finally giving nothing but silence. Everything that had happened slowly began to creep in on her. Celestia gone mad...The farm, oh the farm. It had been her everything, all that remained of her parents aside from her Stetson. And now? Not even her friends. She'd been stupid. So stupid.

"It'd be so easy. To join that stone and never have to deal with it again. After all, you've lost your parent's, your farm, and your friends."

Applejack turned to see Telvanni behind her.
"Ain't you s'posed to encourage somepony, not make them feel bad..."

The Lycan glared at her. "Oh, my apologies. Nothing is wrong in the world and this is all a bad dream. When you wake up everything will be sugar and spice and everything nice... Sorry Aj but I don't mince mine words. Habit I picked up when everything I did or everything I said meant that something somewhere was going to die. So you've lost your parents? Well at least you knew them. Dash had nopony, Fluttershy would've been better off without anypony and even my birth parents died, never knew them. So you've lost your farm? I've had friends lose their lives. You can rebuild your farm, you can fix things with your friends. I can't bring the dead back to life. I know I'm being blunt as a dull and rusted axe here but you need to understand that giving up at anytime, especially now, will doom Equestria and your friends. Now, go find your family and help figure things out. I know they'll be as hurt as you."
Telvanni turned and padded away, ears perked slightly at the sound of hoof steps following after him.

~~~~~~~

Luna had called the meeting. The other races had arrived and been introduced. The Changelings led by one Swapper Three Four, a hoofful of gryphons that Gilda ( much to Rainbow Dash's surprise) showed up with, the two dragons Teegra and Shadowscale, and to everypony's surprise a tall albino stallion that was freakishly skinny stepped forth from the shadows dressed in a suit going by the title Dr. Ake Ula announced himself, flanked by Vinyl Scratch. Also in the room were the Elements and Telvanni.

"Ah, Drakula! A pleasure. Tis nice to know that somebeast of the old Corp. is alive!" smiled Telvanni, shaking the slender ponies hoof.

"Ah yes Telvanni. I can say I am shocked to see you here. I watched the Elements strike you down." Ake replied. "And I am Docter Ake Ula now. This is my daughter and heiress Vinyl. I figured the Corp. was to be resurrected so I decided to let Vinyl choose whether or not she wanted my old position."

Vinyl stepped forward with a grin. "That'd be a buck yea pops. You taught me everything I need to know, I'm all for it!"

"Yea well while you three catch up on old times, I gotta ask when we start training. Shits hitting the fan soon ponies and we need to gear up!" Gilda snapped.

Luna turned and regarded the griffoness coolly. "I sense a familiarity with you. Do you perchance know Rainbow Dash?"

"She knows me Princess. We used to be friends." Rainbow growled.

"Explains a lot. Gilda, you will be taking the griffon position of my Night Corp. I wouldn't have the descendant of Gasca work anywhere else in my forces."

Gilda nodded, remembering the tales of Gasca whose name had been well known as a glorious fighter amongst her peoples.

Teegra was next to speak. "Celestia fears my kind too much and has learned brutal counter spells. Our dragons cannot aid in the Corp. For that I am sorry."

Luna nodded assuringly. "It is fine Teegra, hatchling of Shadowscale. I understand that it is too unsafe."

"Now jus' hold on here a darn minute! What in the hoof is goin' on here? We've got dragons, griffons, whatever the hell those are-"

"Vamponies sis, chill." Vinyl interjected.

"Vamponies! Oh and let’s not forget Changelings, you know, the things that tried to kill us all!" Applejack snorted.

Telvanni was quick to break into his old military status.
"Correct. The dragons owe Luna, the Vamponies need her night to survive, some griffons sided with her against Celestia one thousand years ago as did some ponies, and the changelings were only banished due to their whole hearted support for Luna. All of the Elements will be getting non combatative jobs to protect them physically and mentally from the war because we know Celestia won't show her face until she either gets desperate or captures you all. As much as I hate to say it, we are preparing for war. Now I've already sorted you by your talents. Fluttershy, you will be aiding in the dealings with the local fauna and as a nurse. Applejack, we will need you to operate the food that we will have to start growing. Rarity, you will have a team to help you make uniforms and tents. Pinkie Pie is going to be in charge in morale. Just a few lighthearted events every three or four days to keep the soldiers from getting to down and to keep the former Ponyvillians content. Twilight will be under the watch of the Night Corp and will operate with us as she is most likely a HVT that Celestia will want to capture. Finally Rainbow Dash. You will be a courier so-"

"Whoa there dog. I'm not running around with a bunch of letters. Try Cloudkicker or Blossomforth for that one, hell even Thunderlane. I do not run messages. If Gilda's helping keep Twi safe then so am I!" Rainbow countered.

"It's war Rainbow Dash! Ponies die in war!" Twilight cried, highly uncomfortable with strangers protecting her, much less somepony she cared for.

"Yea, and ponies die when they touch fo.....Ponies die outside of war too!"

Telvanni stared into Dash's eyes until the pegasus locked gazes with her.
"Flutterhsy's dad I presume. Yes she told us. She laid into Aj after your argument. That's why you both ran away instead of reporting him. I have to say I'm impressed. Most fillies wouldn't have the mental fortitude to push being used out of their minds. Nor would they be able to kill somepony what, hours later? Minutes? I'm guessing minutes. He wasn't planning on being done that night was he?"

"No the bastard wasn't, but I made damn sure I was the last one he hurt! So yeah, now you all know. I got screwed as a filly and don't like stallions because of it and I’m a murderer. Tough shit, I got over it. Shy needed me and now Twi needs me. You try and stop me and I'll kick your flank!" Dash yelled.

Telvanni extended a claw, grasping Rainbow's forehoof and shaking it. "Welcome to the team. Now that leads Swapper 3 4 as our changeling member and we are full. Get to bed everybeast, we will be having a long day tomorrow!"

~~~~~~~

Scootaloo had woken up and immediately started looking around nervously; almost scared that at any moment somepony would show up and tell her that it was all fake and Dash wasn't actually going to be there and that she was alone. Her fears had grown and grown as the hours went by until she suddenly heard the door open. And there she was.
"Rainbow! Please tell me it wasn't a dream!" the filly cried as she wrapped her hooves around the older mares neck.

Soft hooves embraced Scootaloo in return.

"Of course it wasn't a dream squirt. I told you I won't leave you. Though granted I didn't think that through well enough. I will have to leave every now and again on missions, but I will always come back." Rainbow assured as she plucked a feather from her wing. "Take this. As long as you have it I will always find you."
'I'll be having Twi enchant that later.'
Smiling to herself Dash lifted up the filly that would never grow up and be 'just like her' and placed her on the bed before hopping up and laying next to her protectively.
"Night squirt."

"Night Dashie."

~~~~~~~

Twilight was having a near existential crisis as everything came rushing to her. She collapsed crying as Telvanni quickly came padded over and held her close.

"She's like a mother to me! Why would she do this? And...and all these others! There is going to be war! I've seen war, I don't want it, I don't want it!" the mare sobbed.

"Shh, shh, I know Twi. I don't want it either, but we have to. There is something we can do to fix this as soon as possible though. Are you able to access the physical Elements?" Telvanni asked knowing the answer could very well sooth Twilight.

"Yes, but what does it matter. Ponies are going to die and it's all because I hurt Celestia. This is all my fault!"

Telvanni hugged Twilight close and began rocking slightly. It worked on him after he'd sent Braxus to his death.
"We sneak in, we get the Elements and we cure Celestia. That is what we're going to do. We will end the war as soon as possible and minimize as casualties. But to do that we need to be on the ball."

"I...but....I caused this, I'm a terrible pony."

Telvanni leaned down and planted his lips firmly on Twilight's drawing her into a passionate kiss.
"No. You are an amazing pony. You don't judge on appearances, you judge on actions. If it makes you feel any better than think about this. Do you really think that is the Celestia you know? Remember how you told me she used to tickle you if you got too rambunctious. Or how she would sing you to sleep if you had a nightmare? That is your real Celestia, and we just need to bring her back."

Twilight nodded after a time and the pair eventually found their way to their bed, Twilight sleeping soundly in the arms of her Telvanni.

A.N~ NO!
That's for any of you who think or want me to do a clop scene involving Dashie and Flutters dad. Maybe I'll explain how Dashie killed him later though.

Oh, and there you have it! Why is Dash OOC? Because she, like me, carries two personalities. The DILLIGAF fun side and the serious shut the fuck up no nonsense side and then the mix of the two. Most people that act like Dash(nothing hurts them they are invincible) actually have a deep emotional side that they don't show often(or their just big headed assholes).
Focused a little more of the Dash and Scoots this chapter just to get that explained and gave a better reason for Celestia going balls to the walls crazy.