//------------------------------//
// Rainbows End Pt. 2 
// Story: Luna Nos Custodit 
// by Tsuguri 
//------------------------------//

Pre A/N: Word of warning, this chapter get's pretty heavy at the end.

Also, I don't really like the whole no spaces sentence to show speed talking idea, makes you have to work out whats going on, but I found myself in a position where it was almost necessary to convey the feeling. So to help make it easy to read I switched between normal and italics font between words. Example: Ihopethishelpsyouall!

*********

"Are ya sure it was Rainbow Dash ya saw?" Apple Bloom asked as they all looked towards the orchards main house.

"Positive." Scootalo replied. "I'm the head of her fan club remember? I know what she looks like when she's streaking by and let me tell you she looked scared."

"How could you tell?" Sweetie Belle chimed in.

"Well, I've never seen any pony flying so low or so fast through the forest before. And think about doing all that night! Something must have spooked her."

Just thinking about it caused Sweetie Belle to shudder then reply, "So why are we thinking about going out there? I don't want to meet anything that could spook Rainbow Dash."

Scootalo just glanced at her before becoming excited, "What if this is our big chance. What do you say to being Cutie Mark Crusader Monster Hunters?"

Apple Bloom joined in with, "Maybe. Can't say I like the idea much but we could give it a go right?"

"I guess so." Sweetie Belle put in.

"Great! So let's get moving." Scootalo called as she left the club house, the other two crusaders not far behind. Keeping an eye out for any monsters in the sky they started their way back towards the house, unknowingly on a course that paralleled Big Mac's on his way to check on them.

**********

"Whoa there partner. Try sayin' that again, and this time go slow enough that I can understands ya."

Rainbow Dash was frantic. She coming down from a huge adrenaline high after making it this far and was busy closing all the blinds and shutters in the room, after glancing through them to make sure she wasn't followed. "HowmanytimesdoIhavetosayit! Lunahasgonenuts! She'splottingtokillPrincessCelestiaandhasgottenZecoratohelpherdothedeed! Idon'tknowhowmanyothersshe'sgottentohelpher, soyouneedtosendamessagethroughtothepalacewarningherincaseIgetcapturedbeforeIcanwarnhermyself!" All of that came out in one continuous breath and only now did Dash stop and start to breathe again. 

Applejack slowly started to walk back towards the kitchen, being careful to keep her face away from Rainbow Dash. "Now why would Princess Luna want to go and do all that? It makes no sense?"

"Like I said, she's gone NUTS! I don't know why! Maybe she's gone back to being Nightmare Moon but is being smarter about it this time. All I know is I need your help in case I fail to reach the Princess." Dash railed, not understanding how Applejack could be so calm about this.

Upon reaching the kitchen Applejack eyed the bottle of hard cider on the counter, but simply sat on her chair and faced Rainbow Dash. "OK, now just take some deep breathes and tell what it is that you heard and maybe we can figure a way out of this here mess."

That was the last straw for Rainbow Dash. She landed right across the table and slammed her hooves down causing a clatter from underneath the cloth. "There's nothing to figure out. I need to warn the Princess and you need to send a message in case I get stopped. There's," slam, "no" slam, "time" slam, "left!" One last slam and then Dash heard a clang hit the floor. Looking down she found herself staring at a full length sword. Faintly she asked "Applejack? What's this doing here?"

Once Rainbow Dash had looked down, Applejack had started moving. She slowly had come around to Dash's side and reaching under the cloth grabbed hold of the first thing she felt and started to raise it high. "It's the future Dash. The future." 

Looking up Rainbow Dash had just a moment to realize what was going on before Applejack struck. CLANG! And Rainbow Dash slumped to the floor. Looking at the dented breast plate in her hoof Applejack just remarked, "A family piece huh? No way a masters piece would be so weak. We're gettin' better but still have a long way to go." Tossing the plate back onto the table she glanced down at her friend before walking out of the kitchen. "Celestia help me but that bottle is lookin' better all the time."

**********

Her head was ringing and she had a headache that could split Cloudsdale apart, and it didn't even have ground to split! Groaning she tried to clutch her head but found she could not move her legs. Any of her legs! Her wings also felt trapped and unmovable. Starting to panic Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and found herself bound with ropes and settled on the couch in Applejack's living room. From the kitchen she could hear voices and they froze her cold.

"As you say. The pieces from your family are still substandard but only just so. Soon we shall be able to start producing useable weapons in mass." It was the traitor princess alright, but the other voice chilled her even more. 

"Yeah. We learn fast, I just hope we have learned fast enough. Now as toward our other problem of the night." It was the traitor friend. Applejack was in on this rebellion! There was no other explanation and the thought filled her with rage. 

"Ah, I see she is awake." 

Dash looked up to glare at the Night Princess and made no attempt to hide her fury. "What do you want, you traitor?"

"First off I wish to congratulate you. There are very few ponies capable of sneaking past my guards. Truly a commendable accomplishment. Secondly I wish to have you join me in my endeavors to help save this land."

"Save it? Don't you mean destroy it! I heard you at Zecora's! You plan on killing the TRUE Princess here and taking over her throne!" Shifting her gaze Dash glared at the other pony in the room, her one-time friend. "And you Applejack? You're helping her do it? I trusted you! I came here because I needed your help to STOP HER!"

"I know that Dash. I know but I couldn't let you do that. Not when we've come so far and given up so much." Adding Rainbow Dash's words to her own memories brought tears to Applejacks eyes, but they were tears she refused to shed. Looking over at Princess Luna she could only comment, "It'll be useless to talk to her about it. Just fire up the spell and get it over with."

"Agreed." Was Luna's reply as she started to gather her magic. Rainbow Dash just glared at Applejack for a second longer and then shut her eyes. Normally she would face something like this head on, but if they didn't mean to kill her, and it sure didn't sound like it, then they wanted to alter her. And after learning a little bit about magic hanging out with Twilight Sparkle she knew if they were going to alter her mind she would need to see the magic. "She is going to make this a difficult endeavor I see. Applejack, you must hold her eyes open for me." 

"Yeah yeah, I got it." Applejack replied as she went over to Rainbow Dash. "Now look here Dash. This is goin' to happen so just let it. Don't fight me on this."

"I'll fight you as long as I stay myself traitor." Was the only reply as Dash forced her head deep into the couches cushions.

"OK, have it your way." Applejack said as she pulled Rainbow Dash off of the couch and onto the floor. Even though it was a foregone conclusion Dash refused to give in. Even with all of her limbs and wings bound, even though the only thing she could do was to twist her head out of her former friends grasp and try to headbutt her away, still she fought. Eventually Applejack settled for pinning Dash's head to the floor and slowly pried one eye open. "Ya'll ready over there."

"Quite ready." Was Luna's reply. "I have even had enough time to prepare a larger then average dose to overcome her resistance."

"Then do it before see slips out again!" Applejack called out as the bright light began to envelop the room. Then she heard the one thing she most feared...

"Cutie Mark Crusaders to the rescue!" 

"APPLE BLOOM! NO!"

**************

'OK, I thought my head hurt before. Now I really know what that means.' She thought as she rose towards conciseness once more. As she moved to clutch at her head once more, she was reminded of her predicament and slumped in defeat. If she was still alive then that must have meant the traitors succeeded and she was now one of them. What a second! If she still thought of them as traitors did that mean they had failed. That she was still herself! Gingerly, she opened her eyes and found a scene even she wouldn't have wished on any pony.

"Apple Bloom. Come on Apple Bloom, speak to me. Snap out of it, Please!" Applejack was kneeling next to the limp form of her sister, tears falling freely down her muzzle. Big Mac was next to her as well, with tears and a look of utter failure on his face. Even from here Rainbow Dash could see that the little fillies eyes were open but no longer seeing, a grey film covered and clouded her vision. She could see the filly was still breathing but otherwise nonresponsive. And to one side lay the other members of the group, Scootalo and Sweetie Belle both in the same situation. Luna stood over the whole assembly, her horn glowing faintly as see seemingly inspected the trio.

"What did you do to them?" Dash asked softly, shaken by the sight. 

"The same thing we did to you." Was Luna's reply, Applejack didn't even react and continued to plead at and nudge her sister. "The difference is their minds were not developed enough the process the magic. It has since overwhelmed and consumed them." After a pleading look for Applejack Luna continued. "It is possible they might yet recover and return to us."

"Yeah I'm sorry they got caught in this, but just so you know you failed. I'm still myself and still loyal to Celestia. I'm not some mindless slave to your goals yet."

"My dear Rainbow Dash you are mistaken." Luna spoke while still examining the crusaders. "I never intended to turn you into a mindless thrall. Such creatures are of limited use and value. You on the other hand are needed for grander purposes. As for my failure, I suggest you look inward into your own mind." 

Doubtful about what she would find Dash did what see was told and closed her eyes to do so. A second later she started to squirm and struggle against her bonds. A fine coating of sweat appeared and her eyes flew back open. "No! Stop it!" She cried out before she slumped on the floor once more and gasped for air. Her antics had even caused Applejack to notice and now she just stared at her. "Is that true?" She gasped. "Was that real?"

Applejack just nodded before returning to her sister. "I can assure you it was very real Rainbow Dash. And now you can understand why Applejack and her family has sacrificed so much to help me. And I believe you shall now do the same." Luna now stood over Rainbow Dash, her examination of the trio seemingly finished. "Now I shall ask you once more. Will you help me to save our land?"

Rainbow Dash just glared at her for a moment longer before she slumped in defeat. "Ah Feathers. What else can I do now huh?" Glaring at the Princess once more she asked, "So I guess the magic words to get these ropes untied is Luna Nos Cusodit?"

"Quite right." Luna replied with a sad smile as her magic quickly undid the knots and pooled the rope off to the side. "Now if you will assist me in carrying these fillies off to bed I would appreciate it. The living room is no place for us to keep them."

"Right. I hear that." Dash said as she stretched her wings and glided on over towards the trio. "Rarity's place might even be better than here. In town, closer to the doctors, and more friends to help. Feathers! Rarity is going to kill us when she finds out about this."

Luna looked almost amused at the notion. "I am sure from my understanding of her that she may well try. However I see no reason for her to know the full details of this night just yet." She said this as she gently started to levitate Sweetie Belle off of the floor.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Rainbow Dash said as she bent down to gently grab hold of Scootalo. Towards Applejack she just commented, "Don't you worry Applejack. All these fillies here are fighters. They won't give up that easily. Right squirt?" She directed at the filly in her care.

Applejack just said nothing and just continued to lay next to her sister. She didn't even move as Big Mac gently scooped their sister up and started to carry her away. She could hear Dash commenting as they moved off, "I think I'll crash here tonight. After getting my head hammered in and then my brains scrambled I don't think I'm in any condition to be flying home." With a quick glance over her shoulder she added, "Besides I think Applejack is going to need the company tonight." She heard them talking but didn't understand the words. All she could think about, all she could see was the image of her sister laying there on the floor covered in an ever expanding pool of her own blood.

Wait. That wasn't right. It was Crab Apple she was seeing, but why did he look so much like her sister. She lay there, peering through her tears trying to make sense of it all. That's right. Crab Apple was dead but her sister was still alive, just dead to the world. Celestia damn it! The one pony who she had sworn to protect during all of this, the one pony who had really mattered now lay upstairs in her own bed but would never again wake up from it again! It was just too much!

Slowly she gathered herself up and made her way into the kitchen. She spared a quick look at the various blades sitting on the table but made a bee line right for her cider bottle. Not even bothering with a glass, she roughly uncorked to bottle with her teeth and proceeded to guzzle the contents of the bottle. She only stopped after the bottle had run dry and looked at it angrily, and with a roar threw the bottle into a wall. "WHY! LUNA NOS CUSTODIT! DAMN IT! LUNA NOS CUSTODIT!" She spun around and stomped over towards the table. Her eyes locked on a marvelously crafted dagger. Obviously one the masters works, a family piece would have been better but she wanted to make sure the blade held. Before she could grasp it however, she found herself slammed to the side and pinned on the ground.

"Oh no you don't." Rainbow Dash said as she sat on Applejack. "We are definitely keeping you away from any sharp objects tonight."

Applejack tried to get up but found herself fully pinned to the floor. "Let me go Dash! I have to... I have to..."

"You have to what?! What is it you have to do?!"

"Apple Bloom she's gone. I have to..." Applejack just broke down and cried at this point. All the energy seemingly leaving her body and just leaving her sobbing into Rainbow Dash's mane.

"There there, don't you worry I'm not going anywhere tonight. So let's say we get you up and into bed. I think we could both use a good night's sleep." Applejack just nodded and allowed herself to be picked up and guided out of the kitchen. 'Celestia help me but this is one long night.'

'Feathers. I'm such a hypocrite.'

********

Post A/N: I warned you all that it was going to get heavy. And in all honesty I really did not see this ending coming. I also have no idea what Applejack was going to do with the dagger, I just wrote with the flow and went where my muse toke me. And now I must say that it was a brutal path.

Now that we have half of the main six down any ideas on who is next? 

Also, what did you all think? PLEASE COMMENT! I really want to hear what you all think. Love it? Hate it? But most of all WHY? The more reviews or comments I get, the more I want to write. My muse is such a fickle and vain creature.