The Dog of the Lunar Republic

Over the course of the next week refugees and volunteers had been pouring in from the ass ends of the known lands to offer aid to Luna and the Elements.

The Night Corp. had been training extensively and had been suited for war. They had their armour, their weapons, and their training on how to act as a team.

Gilda and Rainbow Dash were the Air based fighters wielding a halberd and a katana respectively. Gilda would take the main front in her heavier metal armour while Dash would weave around her skilfully in lighter manticore leather armour.

Swapper 3 4 had taken his job as the team's infiltrator with great skill. Even the team sometimes forgot he was there due to his self taught training that came with being a changeling survivor.

Then there was Telvanni and Twilight. Telvanni was a weapon in of himself, his teeth and razor sharp claws meant for hunting served just as good for offensive capabilities. Twilight played a defensive support role with shielding and healing spells but backed it up with a surprising aptitude for the wielding of a rapier.

Then there was Scootaloo. The tenacious filly wasn't part of the team but she practiced diligently with Rainbow and Gilda and boggled every beast’s minds when she picked up flying in one day under Rainbow's tutelage. Scoot's also trained to fight with the group, her natural litheness and agility making her a force to be reckoned with when she went after somebeast with her twin daggers.

The Night Corp was having their first mission in a few days. Recover the Elements and discern the where abouts of a few particular ponies. Apparently Shining Armour and Cadence were missing, as was Octavia Philharmonica-Scratch, Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon Heartstrings, and Big Mac while he tried to salvage anything from the ashened Sweet Apple Acres.

~~~~~~~

"So how are you feeling about this Twi? I am warning you now, your brother could be anything from imprisoned to brainwashed and I can't tell you how things will happen if we find him." Telvanni explained, wishing the mare would take up his mother's offer to remain at the castle.

"It's that exact reason I have to go. My magic rivals that of both Luna and Celestia so if he is imprisoned or brainwashed i have the best hope of being able to save him!" Twilight countered. Just then she got this odd look on her face and rushed to the cludgie spewing her dinner from the previous night into the ceramic bowl.

Telvanni padded over quickly to check on his marefriend. "You okay Twilight? You aren't getting sick, are you?"

Twilight shook her head. "No, just one of your memories. I think I'm going to head to the library to get some reading done before we leave. It'll help calm my nerves."

~~~~~~~

"Come oooooooon!" whined a little orange filly as Rainbow slipped into her streamlined blackened manticore leathers. Scootaloo was desperate to go on the mission with Rainbow, but the motherly (only to Scoots, and only in private) mare shook her head.

"No way, now how. This mission is critical and dangerous and there is no way I'm putting you in harm’s way. I told you I would take care of you, and I will, but that means that you can't be running around on missions with me. It's too dangerous. Besides, I need you to sign these while I'm gone so we can present them when I get back." Rainbow reasoned as she hoofed a stack of papers towards the filly.

Scootaloo read over the papers three or four times before she jumped up and threw her arms around Rainbow's neck. "Sign papers, you got it Dash!" Pulling her head band on (it was made from three strips of manticore leather braided together and adorned with both Rainbow Dash's given feather and enchantments that meant it would never fall off and Scoots could always be found by Rainbow) the filly grabbed the papers and took off for the library so she could get a hold of a quill and some ink.

~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash and Gilda glided over the walls in there enchanted stealth suits. The suits were all black, but if seen from below against the night sky they would show the stars through them as if nothing was there at all. Silence was the only noise as the pair slipped through one of the open windows and into the building. Once inside Gilda activated a way stone that Twilight was able to home in on and teleport to.

Set and prepped there was a diluted flash as Swapper, Vinyl, Telvanni, and Twilight appeared in the hall way. Swapper immediately set off on his own as the rest of the group moved towards the room that held the Elements, Equestria's singular hope for restoring Celestia to her former self. As the group set off along the hall they turned a corner to find a pair of guards with their backs to them. Gilda readied her halberd but Twilight stayed the gryphon’s claw, recognizing the guards as her former escorts when she was a filly.

"Non-lethal only."

Nodding Telvanni moved forward and smacked the pair’s heads together before laying them on the ground. Continuing along the group silently and non-lethally put down five more sets of guards before reaching the chamber that held the Elements.

Twilight, knowing that she should still be able to unlock the chest that held the artefacts, moved forward first, removed her head gear and pulled the door open to reveal....

~~~~~~~

Shining Armour watched in anticipation as the doors started to open. Just as they came loose and his guards made to pounce they all froze. There before them was Twilight, the very mare they were told was kidnapped and in Nightmare Moon's dungeon!

"Twily, you're safe! How did you escape from Nightmare Moon and her Diamond..." Shining trailed off as he noted the very same 'Diamond Dog' as well as a griffon, another unicorn and a pegasus. "Twily, what's going on?"

Twilight, while happy to see her brother, knew in a heartbeat Celestia was already on her way to the room. "Shining, does Celestia have the Elements?"

"Uh, yeah, why, what is going on Twilight?" Shining asked worriedly.

Twilight looked conflicted for a moment before answering. "I believe Celestia has been corrupted by the same being that made Luna into Nightmare Moon. She set fire to Sweet Apple Acres and then tried to execute my friends and their family for not telling her where I was!"

Shining looked shocked at this almost to the point of disbelief.

"Listen, it isn't safe for you or Cadence in Canterlot. Gather the guards that watched me as a filly, most are unconscious at the moment, and head for the Everfree as soon as you can, alright?" Twilight urged.

To reinforce Twilight's statement Celestia burst into the room at that exact time and pulled the head gear from each of the Night Corp. members.

"Destroy these heathens, but leave our Daughter for us!"

The guard closest to Celestia suddenly morphed into Swapper and threw down a smoke bomb. "Twilight pony, we must flee now!"

Without a word more Twilight teleported the Night corps. out of Canterlot.

~~~~~~~

Twilight was pretty pissed on the way back. "Well, that probably could have gone better...."

Telvanni smiled warmly and lifted her onto his back. "It could have gone worse love. We are all safe and alive, and you twere able to warn your brother. We may very well have garnered allies."

The group continued along for a ways drawing nearer to the edge of the Everfree when Gilda chimed in.

"So, what do we do now? I have ponies I'll be apologizing to and we'll all be training, but what else?"

"I will most likely work on various chemical formulas for non-lethal tactics against the equine genus." Swapper 3-4 noted.

"I'm by far the most combat ready, I was thinking of taking as much of a damn break as mine mother allows. That and if I take a break Twilight's coming with me." Telvanni groaned. He was fed up with war. "What about you Rainbow?"

When Telvanni brought the polychromatic mare up everypony was suddenly curious, for the normally brash and outspoken mare hadn't said a word.

"Uh, what? Oh, what am I doing when I get back? Cool pegasi stuff, y'all wouldn't understand."

Gilda stifled a chortle. "You're going to hang out with that little orange filly aren't you?! Hahaha!"

"Buck you Gilda!" Dash snapped back abnormally fiercely. "None of your business."

After Rainbow's outburst everypony just stayed quiet for the rest of the trip.

~~~~~~~

Scootaloo was bouncing about eagerly outside of the main doors. As soon as debriefing was done Rainbow was going to meet her here, the Night court would open and then they could get everything finalized. To say the filly was excited would be akin to claiming Twilight was a light reader.

The doors creaked open and a cyan blur speed out and tackled into Scoots sending the two pegasi rolling on the ground while the elder set about tickling the filly's sides. It wasn't until Gilda stepped out with a snide "Really, Dash?" that the polychromatic mare let up.

"Whatever Gilda, go boil your feathers! Come on Scoots, we're first in line!" Rainbow laughed. At this point the elder pegasus was also hopping from side to side waiting for the guards to allow them entrance. "Come on, come on, come on, come on!"

The doors slid open again and a guard stuck his head out.

"First in queue for the Night Court step in."

"This is it Scoots! I told you I wouldn't leave you!"

~~~~~~~

"Absolutely not! I am sorry Rainbow Dash, but the members of the Night Corps. are not allowed off spring, they are far too busy and far too at risk of death. How do you think that filly would feel if you died on a mission?" Luna stated flatly, trying to end the hour long argument that had been going on. "I can find her a perfectly good foster home anyway!"

Rainbow snarled at the thought. "A perfectly good foster home? Is that a joke? Or did Celestia send you to a perfectly friend filled moon!"

Luna's eyes narrowed dangerously at that remark. "I suggest you watch your tone..."

"Oh and how would Scoots feel if I died on a mission? Pretty damn bad I'm sure, but how would she feel if I turned right now and looked at her and said, 'Sorry kiddo, I lied, I can't make sure your safe and never alone again, hope it all works out.' Besides I've already told Scoots about the risks, isn't that right squirt-" Rainbow looked around suddenly, realizing the little filly wasn't behind her anymore. "Celestia damnit!" Judging by the drops of moisture leading out the door Rainbow easily pieced together that Scoots had run. Sliding her hood and goggles on (as she was still in her stealth suit) Rainbow shot out the door.

Two Lunar soldiers made to follow but Luna stayed them with a wave of her hoof, mind reeling from the mare's words. "When she returns, she is to have full custody of the filly Scootaloo...and my apologies. Night court is now closed."

~~~~~~~

Scootaloo was wandering around the forest dejectedly. Luna was going to send her away to some foster home. The mere thought of foster homes made the poor filly shudder and subconsciously press her hind legs closer together. She was not going to a foster home. Hell, she had her knives and knew how to use them; she would kill anypony who tried to drag her to one. The memories of her ill fated experiences with ponies of the opposite gender were wearing on the already upset filly's mind and it was mere seconds before she was curled up in a ball sobbing...and alone.

Dash said she wouldn't be alone...but the stallions promised they wouldn't hurt her.

With the feeling of her heart and will to go on being ripped in twain and the thought that even Luna refused her a family and accepting she would never have one Scootaloo cried all the harder.

~~~~~~~

Rainbow had stayed up all night on a mission and was honestly exhausted, but she knew she couldn't give up. She had to find Scoots. She promised the filly she wouldn't leave her, she'd bucking promised, and she would condemn herself to the most excruciating punishments in Tartarus before going back on that promise.

She would never allow the filly that was practically family to her go it alone, Luna be damned and if she had to fight Discord to ensure it.

Dash suddenly froze as she heard the tell tale noises of a crying filly. Heart soaring in hopes of it being Scootaloo Rainbow flew straight for the noise to find her filly with a knife to her wrist.

It was as if the very claw of the devil gripped Rainbow's heart as she blasted forward catching Scootaloo just in the nick of time and the pair tumbled to the ground.

"Ra...Rainbow Dash?"

"Damn it Scootaloo! What were you thinking?! What the hell were you thinking! What is your problem?! I've been looking everywhere for you and I find you trying to do that!?" Rainbow snapped. It wasn't until after she'd said it that she saw Scootaloo was on the verge of tears. On the edge of tears herself Rainbow gripped the filly in a tighter embrace. I thought I'd lost you Scoots! Why'd you run like that, I thought you were gone!"

At this point the orange filly was crying just as hard into Rainbow's chest. "I'm sorry; Luna said she was going to send me away. I didn't want to go away. I didn't want to go to a foster home...please, please don't make me go to one of those places!"

"Never, Scoots, never! You're my family now, I don't care what Luna says, and I don't ever give up on family!" Rainbow assured.

The pair stayed like that for what seemed like hours, Rainbow rocking Scootaloo comfortingly in her lap. After a time Rainbow spoke up.

"We should probably get back before nightfall kiddo."

"But, what about Luna?" Scootaloo whispered sadly.

Rainbow looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "Well, if Luna doesn't like it she can snap off her horn and shove it up her rear, how's that?" Dash laughed, ruffling Scootaloo's mane fondly. Rainbow and Scoots both turned to take off when Scoots looked down for a second.

"Rainbow..."

"Yeah, squirt?"

"I love you mom." Scoots sighed happily as she turned to face her hero, her idol, her mother that she'd always dreamed of.

~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash blasted through the castle straight to Luna. By the grace of the stars Twilight and Telvanni were there too. Slamming into the ground in a sideways roll, wrapped around her filly, Rainbow came to a stop, panting and wheezing with tears running all down her face.

"Rainbow, what happened, where's Scootaloo?" Twilight asked worriedly.

Rainbow stood up carefully lowering something to the ground, her entire front covered in wet blood. The mare grabbed Twilight desperately.
"Help her, do something! Please!"

Twilight was shocked, as was Luna. Neither had ever seen the Element of Loyalty so distraught. It wasn't until they looked at the form Rainbow had carried in, a small orange filly with a broken spear haft thrust straight through her torso.

Twilight stammered as tears began to fill her own eyes. "I....I...Ra...I'm so....I can't fix this...I'm so sorry!"

Luna also looked upon the unconscious and nearly dead filly dejectedly. It was then that Telvanni spoke up. "Mother, the life force spell. We could use that!"

Luna just shook her head gravely. "That requires another life and one of family to be sacrificed. We have no family and Rainbow Dash is far too important anyway."

Rainbow knew the spell; it was in one of the Daring Doo novels. It required somepony that the injured considered family to give their life to save them. Eyes narrowing determinedly Rainbow unsheathed one of Scootaloo's knives and slit her own carotid in an instant.

Twilight stood shocked and even Luna and Telvanni were surprised.

"Scoot's doesn't have....the life force left.....to save....my life, but me...being bigger and stuff... mean I can still save her. Do it Luna!" Rainbow gasped as her lifeblood flowed out.

Luna immediately started magically weaving Dash's severed artery back together, so in anger the desperate mare slit the other artery too.

"NO! Save my filly! Save Scoots!" Rainbow screamed pitifully. The hard desperate look in her eyes suddenly softened as she scooped upon the barely clinging to life filly that meant more to her than her friends would ever understand. With pleading, crying, wonder filled eyes Rainbow levelled her gaze with Luna.

"Please, save her....I have all I could want....she....she told me she loved me, called me mom...I had my family, and the girls....I'm content with life...but please, keep her safe Luna, don't let her go...don't....please....she made...the world for me....let me...make the world...for....her..."

~~~~~~~

Scoots was floating through an inky blackness filled with odd floating picture frames that seemed to show different parts of her life. Moving towards one she grimaced and turned her head away. It was the first time she'd learned to hate foster homes.

Hopeful it would get better the filly moved to the next one. It showed a particularly bad winter where some kin pony had rushed her to the hospital with hypothermia.

Continuing forward Scootaloo followed a timeline that led her up to her first time in Ponyville, it was then she heard the voice, her mom’s voice.

"Hey, squirt, you going to keep staring at pictures or come over here and talk?"

Rushing over Scootaloo threw herself around Rainbows neck. "You're ok, I saved you didn't I, I stop the other pony!"

Rainbow got this sombre look on her face and put both hooves on Scootaloo's cheeks while planting a kiss on the filly's forehead.

"I don't get it mom, I saved you. I saved you! Wait...did I die? Mom, am I dead?"

Rainbow shook her head as tears formed at the corners of her eyes. "Scoots, I'm so proud of you right now. Not even joining the Wonderbolts compares to how amazing you are, do you know that?"

Scootaloo suddenly looked unsure at what was happening. "What's wrong, I died didn't I? It's not fair, it's not fair!" the filly started to kick and scream.

Rainbow pulled Scootaloo close and smoothed her hair comfortingly. "No, you’re not dead Scoots, you are not dead! But Scoots, you...were dead."

"What?"

"But I came to replace you. You aren't dying on my watch. Just remember, I'll always be with you Scoots, in your heart, and in your mind. And always remember, kiddo, I will always love you, and I will never stop believing in you. I love you Scootaloo, never forget that." Dash explained as her form began to fade.

Scootaloo desperately clung tighter to the fading Rainbow Dash as if she could hold her there.

"Please, Mom, don't leave me, please, I'm sorry!"

Rainbow had now completely faded leaving Scootaloo seemingly alone.

"Please Mom, Mom! Mom come back! Mom, I don't want to be alone!"

"I'll never leave you Scoots, you’re the little Filly Angel, you saved me, and you redeemed me. I'll always love you, and I will never leave your side, kiddo, believe it."

~~~~~~~

Scootaloo awoke with a start, finding every member of the Elements and of the Night Corps. as well as Princess Luna waiting for her to awaken, every single on except her mom.

"So, she's really gone..."

The silence was an answer in of itself. Scootaloo hung her head, but found she couldn't feel sad.

"I will never leave your side, kiddo, believe it."

She did, she really did. For some reason, probably because she was known for her bull headedness, Scootaloo could swear she felt Dash in the room with them. It was then she noticed and oddity about her mane. It had grown about two hooves longer and was almost Fluttershy's length; on top of that she also caught sight of a rainbow hued braid in her mane. Smiling knowingly Scootaloo knew Rainbow still had her back, that her mom was still there. The filly immediately hopped out of the bed and realized she wasn't quite as short as she had been. Not as tall as a full grown mare, but not as short as she had been, that and her wings had over doubled their original size and now appeared similar to Luna's. There was also a colour difference; her feathers had dappled cyan at the tips. While admiring this she noticed one more crucial difference to her body.

She had her cutie mark!

It was almost exactly like her moms, but the first two strip of colour were magenta and orange with the final stripe being a rainbow. A pony like Diamond Tiara would say it meant she was a copy cat, but to Scoots, it meant she was loved and she belonged.

Finally regarding the group Scootaloo quickly thought of something to say, especially since most of them, Pinkie the most obvious, seemed to be taking Dash's death hard.

"I want to be clear, I never wanted this, but it would be dishonourable to Rainbow's memory if I don't make the most of what she gave me. Another thing, don't feel sad. This is Rainbow Dash we're talking about right?"

"Buck yeah it is, Kiddo!"

"Hay, as long as she's enjoying heaven right now, I know I'll make it through the night. And I know she's enjoying heaven. I know it's hard...and I just had her as a mom here on Equiis for less than a day, but we can't let that stop us. We need to end this, otherwise I can guarantee more deaths, and more orphans, and neither I nor Dash could allow that!"

With out a word more Scootaloo took off out the window and blasted into her first Sonic Rainboom, the one for Dash, the one for her mom.