Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR
Friendship is Puppies, episode 2
Part 4
[ Everfree forest]
“I said I was sorry. It was dark and I didn't know I was standing on your head.” Twilight rolled her eyes as Rahs continued to pout and ignore her.
While his fur and coat had been cleaned up with a quick cleaning cantrip from Twilight, one that Rarity quickly begged to learn, the back of his head and his nose were still sore from all the hits he'd already taken today. Fluttershy at least seemed sympathetic to him and had offered to put a bandage on his head. Something that Rahs quickly refused. While he expected Fluttershy might be better at medical care than Twilight, he didn't want to risk having his head wrapped in gauze. What ever was harassing them was still likely out there. Rahs didn't really think it was Nightmare Moon herself, with everything she had to do to cement her rule, why would she be hounding them with traps rather than just blasting them into nothing? Particularly if she took out Princess Celestia.
“Would you forgive me for a Rahsy snack?” Twilight pandered with a smirk.
Rahs was less than impressed.” Grrrr.....”
“What ? Mocking you? Of course not, why would your wonderful sister do something like that?” Twilight snarked.
Rahs looked at the others who seemed highly amused by the exchange going on and gestured with both paws to the purple unicorn beside him as if trying to show them what he had to deal with.
“Yep.” Applejack nodded.
“Seems about right for siblings.” Rarity added.
“Only with less mane pulling and screaming, and attack Boulders.” Pinkie Pie chipped in.
“And less wanting to bash them in the face with a shovel.” Fluttershy whispered.
“Glad I'm an only foal. “ Rainbow admitted.
Rahs blinked as he looked at Fluttershy with a bit of worry, wondering if he had heard her right, though no one else seemed to have caught what she said, so he let it drop.
“Not to interrupt this wonderful sibling argument before it gets bigger here, and I do say it is nice to see this from the outside for once.” Rarity pipped up.” But ummm, perhaps I am not the best to be asking this after my recent behavior, but what exactly is a Moon Dog? I've never heard of anything named that before.”
Rahs flattened his ears as Twilight looked up at her brother with a bit of concern. Rahs simply sighed and nodded, trudging on.
“To be honest no pony knows.”Twilight shrugged after the affirmation.”Princess Celestia was the one who first called him a Moon Dog and the name sort of stuck. We've never been able to find anything anywhere about anything like him. The closest we found was an Old Breezy tale about Little Red Trotting Hood.”
“Really? That's was one of Sweetiebelle's favorite stories when she was younger. I don't recall anything about a Moon Dog in it. Really there was just the filly and .. oh....”Rarity exclaimed.“ The wolf, though Rahs doesn't bear any resemblance to the wolf in Sweetie's book, that one looked more like a Timber Wolf.”
“Yeah we saw that one. Most of the illustrated versions show a Timber wolf. The story is actually very region oriented. The wolf's appearance changes depending on the area. Most of Equestria has the Timberwolf look alike. The Minotaur and the Burro have ones that more resemble chimera or maticores. There are two versions however that have something resembling Rahs, The Griffons and a extinct race of ponies called the Crystal Ponies. I got lucky about a year ago finding that last book as it was under at least level six protection at the Canterlot Royal Library. I was actually looking for something else........”
“A secret book of Breezy Tales?” Rainbow Dash questioned.” Should we be worried what was in it?”
“I doubt it. More likely it was the last copy of something from an extinct tribe that they wanted to preserve.” Twilight shrugged.” Thing is in both of those tales Griffon and Crystal the wolf is described more like a Diamond Dog. The kicker however is that in the Crystal book Rhede is a earth pony stallion who tricks the wolf in order to save a little unicorn foal and free the magic it had eaten. It's basically the tale as if the woods pony was the hero of it and little Red was just filly that needed to be saved. There was also a good bit in the book on how Rhede only went to save the girl so he could bed the mother. Evidently Rhede was some sort of folk hero to the Crystal Ponies.
“Eating magic?” Rarity pondered looking at Rahs.
“Yep, Rhede even called it by a name as he slew it. A Witch Wolf.” Twilight explained.” It was enough evidence that I brought it up to Princess Celestia. She laughed it off and told me it was an old pony tale.”
“An old pony tale, and not an Old Breezy tale?” Pinkie Pie piped up with her question.
Rahs blinked and froze in place looking at Pinkie Pie then Twilight who slowed noting her brother had stopped.
“What is it?” Applejack asked.
“Woof.......” Rahs grumbled.
Twilight blinked and stopped dead as well, her eyes narrowing as her ears flattened to her head.
“Yeah that is true....” Twilight grumbled. “Now I'm twice as motivated to rescue the Princess.”
Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack blinked in confusion looking at Fluttershy and Pinkie to translate.
“He said Princess Celestia called Nightmare Moon and old pony tale too.” Fluttershy whispered.
“Well now ah'm curious too.” Applejack nodded.
“ I for one want to hear more about these Crystal Ponies, they sound fabulous.” Rarity questioned.
“Can we maybe get the Element things and beat Nightmare Moon first?” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.”You know before we do anything fabulous?”
“Well, we found the river.” Pinkie Pie chimed up happily.
“Yes, well as true as that is Pinkie Pie,.... now what....?” Rarity sighed.
The river was a rolling mass of white water, surging over the banks and casting water high in the air as waves broke and splashed. Branches and parts of trees thrashed around in the water carried down river at a rapid pace. Looking down river they only saw more of the same as the white caps glittered in the moon light. Up river curled around a bend not far from them, but it seemed the water was the same that way too.
“Well we ain't fording that...” Applejack began
“FYORD!” Pinkie cried out suddenly giggling.
Every pony and doggie looked at her curiously.
“Narf?” Pinkie questioned before giggling again and largely being ignored.
“... Which is bad cause yah ken kinda see tha rise the castles on over on tha other side of the river.” Applejack continued , pointing out what looked like a swell in the land on the other side of the river further down the path.
“Maybe I can fly everyone over..” Rainbow Dash offered.
“Woof?” Rahs asked.
“MMM yeah, good point, It might take me and Fluttershy both to get you over.” Rainbow Dash considered.” You look kinda heavy.”
“I dunno, I'm not used to carrying much more than some baby bunnies.” Fluttershy countered.
“I have a spell that would help with his weight so that shouldn't..............Do you guys hear that?” Twilight trailed off as her attention turned towards the bend further up along the river. The others glance to her curiously as they go silent listening with all their ears perked. After a moment they all moved towards what sounded like crying, barely heard over the raging river.
Moving through some bushes they found the source of the noise.
A gigantic purple sea serpent thrashed in the center of the river,his massive form throwing out waves from his body , the turbulent mass of the serpent clearly the source of the rampaging river. Atop his head was a well styled if flamboyant orange pompadour and half a curled mustache sprouted from his muzzle.
The serpent wailed and cried as they watched, going on and on about something as the group looked on.
“What a world, what a world!?!?!” The serpent wailed.
“So he's the cause o all this?” Applejack muttered.”That don't seem right that he's messing with tha river that much with his carrying on.”
“He's a sea serpent.... oddly inland, but as part of their natural magic serpents of his size can have control over vast stretches of the ocean where the waters can be as calm or as turbulent as they wish. Princess Celestia has employed several of them over the years to act as storm buffers for shipping lines during typhoon season along the west cost. Given that this is a river and how well he might be bonded with it, he could have control of it all the from the end of it back to it's source.” Twilight explained.
“So what do we do?” Rainbow Dash questioned.
“Ask what's wrong?” Fluttershy offered.
“Right.” Twilight agreed. “ Excuse me sir, is something wrong?”
The sea serpent, who had been too distracted with his caterwauling finally noticed the group of ponies and Moon Dog standing on the bank.
“Well I don't know, I was just sitting here minding my own business when this tacky little cloud of purple smoke just, whisked past me, and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off.” the serpent whined.” And now I look simply horrid!”
Before any of them could respond the serpent fell over into the water wailing, a great wave rising up from the impact and sloshing over the lot of them. The six ponies were less than thrilled at the sudden dunking and Rahs was gripping his nose and cursing from where a particularly large koi fish had washed out and slapped him across the face.
The fish however had made a valiant effort to return to the water, though the cat like reflexes, that were working this time, snagged it before he wiggled away. The Moon Dog was definitely going to eat it.
“Bork!” Rahs swore.
“I'm inclined to agree. This is stupid.” Twilight grumbled as Pinkie nodded. Fluttershy just flew up to try and tend Rahs' nose again.
“Ahh gimmi a break.” Rainbow Dash growled.
“That is what all the fuss is about?” Applejack grumbled.
“Why of course it is, how can you be so insensitive?” Rarity chimed up walking towards the edge of the water the serpent poking his head out to look down at the mare.” Aww just look at him, such lovely luminescent scales................”
“Oh I know....” The serpent pouted.
“And your expertly coiffed mane............” Rarity continued.
Oh I know I know....” The serpent agreed.
“Your fabulous manicure.” Rarity continued to pander as Twilight set a few drying spells on the others, particularly Rahs as no one liked the smell of wet dog.
“It's sooo trueeee.” The serpent continued egging Rarity on.
“All ruined without your beautiful mustache” Rarity concluded.
“It's true I'm hideous!!!”” The serpent screamed falling back into the water flailing.
“I have no idea what is going on right now.” Applejack admitted.
“We went fabulous... I warned you about that.” Rainbow Dash grumbled.
The others nodded, save Fluttershy who was trying to save the poor fishie from being a snack, and Rahs who was trying to make the poor fishie into a snack.
“I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected!” Rarity proclaimed.
“Is that a real word?” Pinkie Pie asked as Twilight shrugged.
The group watched as Rarity suddenly bit the serpent and yanked, tearing free a scale.
“OWCH! What did you do that for!?!?” the serpent wailed.
The white unicorn mare didn't respond though she brandished the scale like a blade lifting it high over her head and bringing it down in a quick slash.
The serpent reared up with a scream flailing in the air before falling over as if he had just been slain.
The others stared on in shock, including Rahs. Fluttershy how ever was not distracted and managed to save the fish from the Moon Dog and return it to the river while Rahs looked on in confusion with the others.
Rarity's tail had been cropped short by the impromptu blade. Tossing the scale aside her magic picked up the remains of her tail and brought it over to weave it in with the remains of the serpents mustache again giving the Sea serpent a matching mustache , albeit one side of it was purple.
The serpent however was clearly overjoyed given his overly loud giggle and flailing about.
“ My Mustache, how wonderful!! The serpent laughed.
“You look smashing.” Rarity commented.
“Rarity... your tail.....” Fluttershy stated finally noticing.
“Oh? It's nothing... short tails are in this season....” Rarity placated.” Besides... it'll grow back...”
“So would the mustache......” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“Well we can cross now ah suppose, should be a place to ford the river a bit back..” Applejack stated slapping a hoof over Pinkie Pie's mouth before she started yelling about 'narfs' again.
“Alright let's.....” Twilight began.
“Tut tut. Allow me.” the serpent stated shifting around to make a bridge with his body over the river. Wasting no time the group scrambled across the bridge to the other side.
Waving goodbye to the serpent and making their way into the woods. They had not made it far from the river when Rahs caught the scent of something and pushed ahead of the group darting over to a tree, sniffing at it.
“Geez buddy if you had to go...” Rainbow Dash snarked.
Rahs ignored her and looked up into the tree before quickly scaling the trunk and vanishing into the foliage.
“Rahs what are you doing?” Twilight demanded” So help me if you get stuck up there I am not calling the fire department I'll just have Applejack kick it until you fall out.”.
“Bork!”
“Hey now! I know where you sleep buster!.” Twilight snapped yelping and jumping back as a orange mass dropped to the ground before her followed quickly by the Moon Dog who landed after it with a heavy thud.
“Is that half a mustache?” Pinkie questioned.
“It is.” Twilight frowned as Rahs sniffed the severed end of it and nodded, the scent was the same.
“Grrrrr.....” Rahs growled rubbing his nose.
Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie paled.
“Seriously? Then why didn't you say something before!?” Twilight grumbled.
“Woof.” Rahs shrugged and pointed at the orange length of hair.
“Right evidence....I would have called you on that.” Twilight muttered.
“So what do we do now” Fluttershy whispered.
“Well you can start by telling us what is going on.” Rarity questioned.
“Rahs thinks somethings been attacking us. The cliff, the manticore, the trees and now the serpent. He says he caught a whiff of something and it wasn't until now he was certain it was the same scent.” Twilight grumbled.
“Nightmare Moon?”Applejack asked.
“He thinks so.” Pinkie sighed. “ Or something similar.”
“That doesn't make and sense. She's an alicorn she could have just blasted us into nothing, why all this? Even a simulacrum spell should have enough power to do that with how strong she should be.” Twilight considered.” Unless.......
“Unless what?” Rainbow Dash demanded.
“Unless the fight with Princess Celestia wore her out. Think about it. A paralyzing fear spell, a earth shake spell, Butane's minor torment spell, a minor illusion spell coupled with the fear spell from before, and plain old brute force. Those are all relatively weak spells. I mean the area she was affecting was pretty big with the fear spells, but everything else was just clever use of terrain and low energy spells.” Twilight explained.” Even the lightning she used could have been brought about by the clouds she formed.”
“Cloud forming isn't exactly a easy thing egg head, you need the right equipment..” Rainbow Dash pointed out.
“Or she could have just grabbed them from the Everfree on the way in.” Twilight explained.” Even after the spell they lingered a bit.”
“Yeah but.” Rainbow Dash started before she was cut off.
“Well that's all fancy tah me. What's it all mean?” Applejack questioned.
“It means that Nightmare Moon is trying to stop us, so we are on the right path.” Twilight smirked.”It means she's weak and we have a chance.”
“Woof.” Rahs cautioned.
“It also means that she will be trying to separate us to make things easier for her to take us out.” Fluttershy translated. “ Rahs isn't sure he can eat enough of her magic if she decides to push it.”
“Yeah he never could stomach more than a few bites of Princess Celestia's magic before he was stuffed.” Twilight pondered.
“Bark” Rahs offered.
“No.” Twilight shook her head.” We can deal with this, we're not going back now.”
The others quickly agreed following after Twilight. Rahs lingered a moment looking after them with a frown. Seemed he wouldn't be able to stop them with words.
Hurrying to catch up with the group, a dark shadow slipped out of the tree the mustache had been in . It whipped through the air looking like a purple little star filled cloud before it rushed off into the night after the group.