Fight or Flight
There was a tense moment as the pack awaited their commands. "We will submit." Twilight said firmly as she lowered her hindquarters and then chest to the ground. Finally, she closed her eyes in a bow towards the slowly advancing enemy line.
If Bark Back was concerned by her answer he didn't show it, not hesitating to follow her lead. He calmly edged closer to his mistress before prostrating as well. The rest of the Wolves and Zecora followed, leaving only one pony standing amongst them as the lunar unit cautiously closed in.
"Mistress! What are you doing! We can't just give up! We can escape!"
Her enthusiastic shouts were met by Bark Back calmly turning his head, not enough to look at her, but enough to show he was addressing her, “We could, but then what would that do? We came to find the moon-bearer. We have found her. We have no path nor reason to flee."
"But she attacked us! And we were just trying to talk to her! She hurt mistress for no reason! We should fight back!"
Bark Back suddenly turned his head to face her fully, his glowing eyes opening before narrowing dangerously. He opened his mouth again, but was interrupted by Twilight who spoke, remaining bowed and prostrate, "Screwy, I'm fine. It's like Bark Back said, this is what we came here for. Luna only attacked because she's worried about the ponies in the city. If we give up, she has no reason to-"
Whatever she would have said next was cut off as a spell impacted her. Screw Loose saw most of the pack leap to their paws, only for the world to suddenly go black for her as well.
There was an oppressive silence as the mares gathered once again around Fluttershy's table. Only a few hours had passed since their last meeting, so although heads had cooled, tensions were still high.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack conspicuously avoided eye contact, both shuffling awkwardly as they stood. Rarity watched on, calmly considering how to calm the tension between the two mares. It turned out she didn't have to, as in an odd act, both mares took the initiative at once.
"Rainbow..."
"AJ..."
"Oh, you go first." Applejack said, flinching back as if she expected Rainbow's self-conscious frown to dissolve into an angry scowl. It didn't of course, and instead her eyes broke down as well.
"I'm sorry for what I said before... I'm the element of loyalty, not you. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
Applejack looked back, now with her own frown "Now I'm right sorry too, but don't go thinking that just because loyalty isn't my element that I don't feel the same way about my hoof in this..."
Awkward silence filled the room until Rarity gave a petite cough that brought everyone's attention to her.
"We're all upset about what we had to do with this, but apologies should come later, and to Twilight's face. Now, I suppose we should find out why we're here. Fluttershy? What did you call us here in such a hurry for? Did you figure out something we can do to help Twilight?"
Fluttershy fidgeted for a second before quietly responding, "Well... No..." she said meekly, "...but I did, maybe, figure out why she was acting the way she was... "
"We know 'Shy, she's gone predator, explaining it isn't the problem! Fixing her is!" Rainbow shouted across the table, a little harshly considering the recipient if the outburst.
Fluttershy carried on undaunted though, the importance of her message overriding Rainbow's tone, "But what if it isn't? What if fixing her isn't really all that pressing?"
"Go on dear..." Rarity prompted, notably confused, but hopeful.
"Well..."
Twilight regained consciousness as if emerging from a tunnel into the bright sun. As her vision adjusted, she began seeing colors, blurs, shapes, and then finally began to see the forms of ponies before her. Or rather the remains of ponies...
Bile rose in her throat at the sight. As she scanned the street she could see many dark figures in various states of dismemberment before her. She began to wretch, but discovered something already cought in her mouth. She released her jaw to the sound of a hard thump.
She looked down. A blue neck spilled red blood at an alarming rate.
"wh- why?" the figure asked pathetically, coughing blood as she spoke the feeble word.
"Luna!?!" Twilight shouted, hurriedly applying her hooves to the profusely bleeding puncture wounds. "NONONONONONONO!!!! WHAT'S GOING ON!!!" she cried into the Canterlot night. She looked around trying to find her pack for aid, but not a branch could be found, nor were Zecora or Screw Loose in sight.
"Luna! Hang on! Please!" she shouted at the still unresponsive and bleeding form.
"Heeeeeelp!" Twilight yelled into the night, not caring who responded, as long as somepony came to help her fallen friend. Tears built in her eyes and began dripping down her muzzle as she tried to stem the bleeding, to virtually no success.
"HEEEEEELP!" she pathetically and desperately wailed into the night.
"Stay with me Luna! Please!" Twilight turned from the bloody wound, and looked to her face.
She turned, and her lavender eyes met teal.
"Twilight!?!" The tattered figure blurted.
"Wha-" Twilight asked as the world once again began to fade into view. "LUNA!" she shouted, leaping to her paws, in the process knocking something aside.
"Yes?" that something said, sounding slightly pained but equally confused.
Twilight turned her head, scanning her surroundings to find herself in the familiar Canterlot throne room, an exorbitant number of bat-winged guards lining the walls, and Luna off to her side massaging her horn.
"Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked slowly and deliberately, scanning her face intensely as she did so.
"Princess Luna! You're alright! Thank goodness! I had this terrible..." Twilight froze, "...wait, you can understand me?"
"Indeed." she replied proudly "It would not become a ruler of the night to be unable to speak to the denizens thereof, now would it, Twilight Sparkle?"
"How'd you-?"
"In dreams we appear as we recognize ourselves, and a moment ago, much to my surprise, you appeared in the form I know you."
"Wha- What was that? That was a dream? I- The last thing I remember before that was telling Screw Loo-" she froze, looking from side to side frantically, "Where is my pack!?!" She hollered, lowering herself dangerously and bringing all of the present guard to brandish their weapons against her.
"HOLD!" Luna shouted to her guards, as they complied and rose their leveled weapons, Luna addressed Twilight once again, "Do not worry for those that arrived with you, they have merely been detained. As for your other question, I must apologize for my trick. When you surrendered, I induced you to sleep, secured your companions, and arranged such a dream wherein I could observe your intentions. You are likely aware how much the proud are willing to reveal when success is apparent. I meant to trick you into revealing your plan to my dying form, for, as you are now aware, I understood your commands relating to me being your 'target' and desired to know if your intention was to kill me, and if so, why. To my great surprise though, not the great wolf but rather may friend Twilight was whom I encountered within the dream."
"Oh..." Twilight said uncertainly, "So it was a ploy in case I was..."
Seeing the confusion and uncertainty on Twilight's face, Luna spoke once again: "I knew not your intentions nor your identity, and although you appeared to submit, I am far from trusting those who come unannounced and with what I thought were hostages. I needed to test you, that is why my manipulation of your dream was vital, but for both that and your companion’s imprisonment I apologize."
"I guess it's alright... I was just terrified, I thought I had hurt you! I thought I had-!"
"Calm Twilight, your dreams prove your nature. I knew not your identity nor intentions when you snuck past the city gate, but now at least your identity and allegiance are clear to me. I had to be sure. Now, on to more pressing matters. I assume if not for my head, then you came for my aid?
"Yes!" Twilight said excitedly.
"Then go right ahead." Luna said, "I shall hear your request. I presume it has something to do with changing your current form?"
Twilight hesitated
"Is that not right?"
"Well that is a priority, and something I'd like to ask your help with, but there is another matter that is even more pressing..."
"Oh?" Luna asked, appearing rather surprised, "and what would that be?"
"Well, I can explain as I go, but I guess the first question I have to ask would be: Did Nightmare Moon create the Timberwolves?"
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LUNA IS BEST PRINCESS!
Let's get some answers now.
Huzzah! An update. Good job.
Updates!! ~~Squeee!
Haha a new update!!
Already over?
MOAR! ... if that is alright, that is.
hmmmmmmm interesting
More
more 
and more
please
Interesting subversion; usually it's Celestia who's portrayed as the more thoughtful of the two and Luna as the more hotheaded and "shoot first, ask the smoldering ashes questions later" type.
Hmmm....
the next chapters could go, very, interestingly.
AND I CAN NOT WAIT!
Update please
Funny, how in 30k words you tell more of a story then in some stories are are 300k. I really like that.
Phew, we're finally getting somewhere. Good to have you back!
OMG I LUV IT!!!
UPLOAD MORE!
NOW!
4373167
Y'know, getting Celestia to stand down would probably be viewed by the timber wolves as her being defeated. Given the story tags I think it's more likely that Celestia will be convinced to stop hunting timber wolves and the remaining wolves will get a chance to prove themselves worthy of hanging around ponies. They'd certainly be feasting if they got to share in Equestria's bounty with the ponies.
More!!!!!
That was awesome! I love how you portrayed Luna, too.
Ooooo, very interesting story, and what a cliffhanger :O
4373631 You posted that comment a day after they uploaded a chapter? Lmao. Really, the gall of some people amazes me.
4380045 i read ALOT
4380220 You're also rather rude to the authors of said reading material.
4373631 ...
Really. Really?
Really...
*Sigh* He literally just updated. Don't be ungrateful. People don't type stories up every second of every minute of every hour of every day. It doesn't work like that. Have some damned patience, and be happy that the author is actually updating the story.
Give the guy a break. You wouldn't want me going to your story asking you to update right as you just put a new chapter out. Doesn't matter if you read a lot or not, give the guy a break. Quality over quantity.
4380512 Your statement is very, very true. But still more more more more MORE!!!!!!!!
Nice chapters.
This was really good friend,
~ Fancy
as always.
Nice job!
MORE
MORE
MORE
....if you could please...
(Crossposted here: [REVIEW] Of dogs, and the kind that doesn't yipyipyipyipyipyipyipyipyipyipyipyip...)
So, when one sleeps through their alarm for an hour straight, thereby missing the start time for their be-on-time-or-don't-show-up job, what does one do with their sudden new free time?
Chores (if their smart and don't want to sleep on the couch), that's what!
And what does one do while doing those chores?
Reading Pony, of course!
So I racked up a selection of fics and picked the one that looked most interesting to read.
Canine Complications does many, many things right.
To begin with, it tells a story. I know this seems obvious, but there's so many "stories," even ones that end up in the Feature Box, that don't actually tell a real story. You can even tell events without telling an actual story. How to tell the difference? I think it's best explained in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which I will quote now:
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, via Harry Potter Wiki
To explain a bit further, stories are not just information, they entertain and bring the characters in them alive. Intellectually, I know that I'm reading a nonsense bit of fluff about a bunch of animated talking equines doing things that are not only impossible but to lend them any credence lands me squarely in the realm of Sparta. (It's too awesome for Madness) A well told story, however, makes my heart hurt to see Twilight Sparkle dealing with the crisis of suddenly craving meat, when all her life she's been happily herbivorous. (See? I can stay on topic!)
Second, it takes what has become a very boring trope of the fandom (Twilight screws up a spell, wacky hijinks ensue) and makes it interesting! Sure, we've seen teleportation errors, universe-transcription errors, mind-swap errors, and a few, more limited transformation errors, but even with the last one, it's always been "Twilight & Co. are the same, just different." The only other fic I've ever read that does something similar to this was Dragoning her Hooves, which was unfortunately fairly trope-heavy without keeping things engaging. (For the record, I do acknowledge that nearly everything we as a culture produce in fiction has many tropes attached to it. I counter that by pointing out that Star Trek and Lost In Space were made at the same time from the same tropes...and yet Star Trek is an international obsession while Lost In Space is the embarrassing aunt nobody wants to be stuck talking to at Christmas dinner.)
Third, and this is substantially more minor than the first two points, Celestia is portrayed as a pony, with preconceived notions and prejudices, rather than a nigh-omnipotent empress-goddess. Any story where she features heavily is always made more interesting when she's shown to be vulnerable in some fashion, making her less of a fixture of the world and more of a character with relatablility.
Also, I never expected to get away from stupid dogs for the day just to read a story about a smart dog. :p
All I'm saying is that if Celestia harms one of those timberwolves..... SHE WILL BURN IN TARTARUS!!!
This got really weird and serious very fast. Two things are important here, though.
1) I like this kind of weird
2) This is the epic kind of serious
That said, I can't rightly wait for an update!
I have read many a fanfic in the past year or so, but not one has had me excited like this! Absolutely loving how you portray everypony's personality, and use Luna's powers to get over the communication barrier! (To be honest, i thought that twilight blacked out at first, and had killed luna, it seems i was so into the story, that if fooled even me
MOAR!
Seriously though, Twilight and Screwball's battle over... dominance, threw me off a bit... but after I got over the shock, it was hilariously funny
Twilight better stay a canine. New head-cannon accepted.
I see that I found another diamond among the sand here in FimFiction.
I was worried how this situation would be handled, possibly due to the amount of ways that it could be taken, but I see that you managed to keep the personality of the main six quite authentic. The ONE THING that I really LOVED to see was the inclusion of Twilight's slowly developing morals throughout the story where she considers things and acts upon her ideology in a form that would bring across different thoughts and options than that of a pony.
I'm not sure if any of you have heard of it, but I started to think back to the Dragonlance books while I was observing Twilight's progression throughout the story along with the reactions of the ones around her. As Twilight slowly began to adopt the ideologies of the Timber Wolves, she wasn't being any less of the person she is. This isn't a story about "Twilight becomes a wolf and does different stuff because she's different", but it's a story where she is consistently challenged by a game of morals that she isn't used to. She's good at resisting the urge to flee, but she never worked on resisting the urge to fight. She's always been a herbivore, but never knew anything about what carnivores have to deal with.
What I'm trying to get at is that Twilight is no different then who she is, and the story is good because it doesn't force it on her to the point in which it just makes her character go wrong and against who she is. Is she justified in trying to keep the pack of wolves alive from Celestia? She ended the sick deer's life, but was it a justified cause? Twilight makes many of these choices, not because "I'm a wolf, and I'm different, so I must do evil things contrary to everything I know! Mwhahahaha!", but because she is making these decisions based on her beliefs.
It was Twilight Sparkle that chose to kill the deer because she saw that it was suffering. It was Twilight Sparkle who decided to stand up against the one mentor she's learned to love and fear her entire life so that the pack of Timber Wolves may live.
Celestia seeks to eradicate the Timber Wolves so that her ponies may live without fear of encountering a Timber Wolf. Catcher tried to catch Twilight because he has a strong sense of obligation in doing so. Screwwy stays with Twilight because she trusts the mare-turned-wolf with a Loyalty that challenges even Rainbow Dash's. Speaking of which, RD confronts Twilight because she fears for the little filly's life. Applejack bucked Twilight hard because she feared for her own life! I have yet to even talk about the Timber Wolves!
Each character has their motives behind their actions, but that does not exclude any types of fault in their motives. Rainbow Dash let her rash actions get the best of her to the point where she called Twilight a monster and subsequently scared her off! Celestia wants to destroy the entire pack with an very large case of prejudice towards them. Applejack shows violence because she fears them.
The thing to take from these chapters is to see that there is no clear-cut line here that is showing good/evil, and that we can't just mark people "EVIL" and damn them forever under that title. I'd say that many would just see the Timber Wolves (EVIL) vs Ponies (GOOD) ordeal in the beginning and view it as such, but then began to question themselves later in the chapter once you actually began to see the motives and who they really are as characters. Then it becomes Timber Wolves (Good?) vs Ponies (Bad?).
TL:DR
There is no clear-cut, Good vs. Evil in this story, and that is making this story very strong and interesting.
Twilight isn't evil
Celestia isn't evil
No one is evil
There are only morals
Alright, I have finally caught up with this story, and I will just say, it's amazing! While you could have gone more into how she changed possible over the course of the week she was gone, small details, etc., I would say that this story is perfect. It's a story about growth, changing, misunderstanding, and viewpoints. I love this story!
4391589
I hadn't really thought about the character development side of this story yet to such a great extent, but I see what you mean!
(And I believe we may be the only two people on this entire site who knows about Dragonlance... Oh well.)
Perhaps I'm missing something here, but how did Twilight know about Nightmare Moon creating the timberwolves? Hadn't she fled Fluttershy's cottage before Celestia launched into this history that she had covered up?
BTW I love this story, keep up the good work!
4398022 I'm glad that you were able to see what I mean.
I can get a little out-of-hand at times and post up a giant ramble on my thoughts.
Speaking of which, it's also good to see another who knows Dragonlance. The character development in those books were really well done.
4400794 Celestia said as much in their duel when she made some comments about wishing Nightmare Moon's Golems would just shrivel to dust.
YeA no....
Luna held the element of HONESTY
She doesn't lie or manipulate. Rhats celestia.
8574341
Also remember that Luna and Celestia could wield the Elements, but not exactly to their full potential.
And even AJ has lied. While not under the influence of Discord.
Representing an Element does not necessarily make you a paragon of it.