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- >You try to keep oriented as you tumble and sprawl down the steep, dark cave slope.
- >Dirt and dust kick up, and your head spirals around as your body continuously hits the ground, rolling deeper and deeper into the cave.
- >You grit your teeth and clench your eyes.
- >Not like you could see anyway.
- >You tumble and roll a few more times, occasionally gaining a little air and hitting the ground back down hard.
- >Finally, after what seems like an eternity, the ground levels off.
- >Your body takes one final hit as you slam into the ground and stop.
- >Dust settles around you.
- >You lay belly down, face pressed against the cold cave floor.
- "Ohhh..."
- >You groan.
- >Your entire body aches.
- >You decide to just lie there for a bit.
- >A moment later, a soft scraping noise follows you down the sloped hill.
- >You can feel it softly tap against the bottom of your shoe.
- >Your pickaxe...
- >It took the trip a bit later than you.
- >...Well, might as well get up.
- >You press your palms into the floor and push, raising your body high enough to catch it with your knees and prop yourself up.
- >Everything hurts...
- >You sit up and open your eyes.
- >Pitch black.
- >Of course.
- >You reach behind you and feel around for the mining equipment.
- >...There it is.
- >With your pickaxe in hand, you press it into the ground for support and stand up.
- >You are Anonymous.
- >And this is not looking good.
- >You take a step, reaching your hand out to try and feel a wall.
- "Rarity?"
- >You call out.
- >Your voice echoes throughout the cave,
- "Rarity! Hello? Can you hear me!?"
- >It reverberates once more.
- >...No answer.
- >Of course this would happen.
- >You try to be nice and help her mine for some gems, and you end up getting lost and falling down some pit in the cave.
- >This shit wouldn't happen helping Twilight organize books.
- >You sigh.
- >...Feeling around with your hand, you finally locate a wall.
- >Alright, some support.
- >You lean against it and keep moving forward, feeling the wall as you go.
- >Your pickaxe practically drags behind you.
- >Alright...
- >What's the plan...?
- >You put some thought into it as you move forward.
- >The air is still and cool, and the only sounds that break the piercing silence is your own footsteps and the occasional dragging of the pickaxe.
- >...Just keep walking, you guess.
- >There has to be a way out of here somewhere.
- >How deep do these caves even go?
- >You almost trip over a rock.
- >Jesus... blind as a bat.
- >Does anything even live out here?
- >...Is this Diamond Dog territory?
- >...No way, can't be.
- >They're further up.
- >...Right...?
- >You continue feeling the wall and moving at a steady pace.
- >It's so dark that you practically forget your eyes are open.
- >So it's quite a shock when a small, concealed, blue light graces your vision from some far corner of the cave.
- >Your eyes lock to it immediately.
- >What is that...?
- >You let your hand fall from the wall as you stray from it, heading toward this mysterious source of light.
- >Your pickaxe occasionally taps the ground, and you keep it low in case of needed support.
- >Quickly enough, and with surprisingly less stumbles than anticipated, you reach the mysterious glowing object.
- >You crouch down to observe it, placing your equipment down temporarily...
- >...It's a mushroom.
- >A pretty, small, luminescent mushroom, no bigger than a bottle of ketchup.
- >The head of it gives off this soft blue light.
- >You grip the base of it and pull, softly ripping the fungus from its roots and holding it up to your face.
- >...How does this even grow down here?
- >...Well, you think you found your light source.
- >You pass it over to your left hand and grab your pickaxe with your right, then stand back to your feet.
- >You hold the mushroom up like a torch, and the illuminated fungus opening up the darkness in front of you.
- >...Perfect.
- >With this visual aid, you see the dark path continue forward.
- >...Alright, not much elsewhere to go.
- >You begin walking, slightly more comfortable now that your eyes are working.
- >Your footsteps echo throughout the cavernous path, and you instinctively look around you.
- >Something almost feels... off.
- >You can't place it.
- >Your eyes trace the walls of the cave, and up to the top where only the very tips of stalactites breach the darkness.
- >What could be up there...?
- >You look back to the path.
- >These thoughts nearly leave you completely when an object on the ground sparkles red in reaction to your mushroom's light source.
- >Your eyebrow rises.
- "Hello..."
- >You start, approaching the crimson glimmer.
- "...What's this?"
- >You crouch down to it, placing your mushroom down so that it lights the area around this object.
- >It appears to be jutting from the ground.
- >You place your thumb on top of it and press.
- >It doesn't budge.
- >You scratch softly around its edges...
- >...Yeah, it's stuck in there.
- >What could it be...?
- >You smile.
- >You think you have an idea.
- >You stand back up to your feet and ready your pickaxe.
- >Alright...
- >One!
- >You heave it over your shoulder and throw it down with all your might.
- >The point pierces into the rock around the red object, cracking it slightly.
- >The strike of the pickaxe travels fiercely down the cave.
- >Two!
- >You do it once more, crashing it into the ground and reducing the area to rubble.
- >Three!
- >One more hit displaces the rubble, causing the object to sink a little bit, signifying its now-loose status.
- >You rest the pickaxe against the wall and crouch back down, grabbing the mushroom.
- >You hold it steady as you dig your fingers in and pry out the red object.
- >It gives a little more resistance than you think, so you give it one more mighty tug.
- >The dust and rubble falls quietly off of it as its finally revealed.
- >A giant, beautiful, red gem.
- >A ruby, perhaps.
- >You can see your eyes in its reflection.
- "Wow..."
- >It's huge...
- >Man... Rarity's going to flip when she sees this.
- >You smile.
- >Perhaps your awkward tumble was a benefit after all.
- >This is exactly the kind of thing she was looking for.
- >She'll be so happy.
- >You take a breath, then exhale happily.
- >You appreciate the silence for a moment, then polish the jewel on your shirt like a cartoon apple, stand back up to your feet, and stick it in your pocket.
- >It hardly fits, but it'll do the job.
- >You pat it once or twice, then grab your mushroom and pickaxe, prepared to continue down the cave.
- >You're just about to take a step, when...
- >"Kekekeke..."
- >You freeze.
- >A cold tingling runs up your spine.
- >You stand in silence for just a moment.
- >...What the hell was that?
- >You move the mushroom up over your head, as if it'll help illuminate higher up, and try to scope something out.
- >...
- >It sounded like a--
- >"Kekekeke!"
- "Hey!"
- >You call, turning around to watch your back.
- "Who's there?"
- >You hear a scurrying kind of sound from above you.
- >"That wasn't yours to take..." a voice says.
- >It sounds feminine.
- >You dart your head around.
- "Where are you?"
- >You hear the distinct laugh once more.
- >"I've never seen anything like you before..." she comments.
- >Your eyes scrape across every visible surface.
- "Yeah? Well I've never seen you in general,"
- >You say, voice shaking slightly.
- "let's change that. Where are you?"
- >"Kekekeke!"
- >It sends shivers up your spine once more.
- >"I'm up above!"
- >Your head darts upward.
- >Pitch black.
- "Yeah? Well, how about you come down?"
- >"Hmm..." the voice says, in a mock-thinking kind of way, "you sure about that? You aren't dangerous?"
- "Me? I'm more concerned about you..."
- >She laughs once more.
- >"Well alright!"
- >You hear a swooping kind of sound from behind you, and you dart around, mushroom in hand, and shine it at your adversary.
- >You hear the landing of hooves just a split second before your visuals can register.
- >She's a... p0ny.
- >Or... she looks just like one.
- >He has a dark grey coat, and a darker mane and tail.
- >She's a pegasus, but...
- >Her wings are different, like that of a bat.
- >Her pupils are but mere slits, and she has small tufts at the top of her ears.
- >Her eyes meet yours, and she smiles.
- >You wince and back up slightly when you notice the fangs hanging from her teeth.
- >You stare at her for a moment.
- "...What are you?"
- >She laughs once more.
- >"I could ask you the same thing! So... you first!"
- >You try to keep calm.
- >That's right...
- >You've been in Equestria for quite a bit of time now.
- >The p0nies of P0nyville and surrounding cities know of your existence, but...
- >Not everything will.
- "I'm a... human. The only one here in Equestria..."
- >She smiles softly, looking at you with eager eyes.
- "I was brought here about half a year ago from my own world... I'm in these caves because I was helping a friend gather some gems... a p0ny."
- >"Is this 'Rarity'?" she asks.
- "Yeah, her and I were--"
- >You cut yourself off.
- "Wait... how do you know her name?"
- >She smiles.
- >"I heard you say it!"
- "But that was--"
- >You stop for a moment.
- "...How long have you been following me?"
- >She tilts her head, then smiles a big, toothy grin at you.
- >The fangs mentally get under your skin.
- >"Not thaaat long~"
- >You smile nervously, and chuckle once or twice.
- >"So! My turn! I guess you know p0nies already. Well, I'm a p0ny! Different than the ones you know, though."
- >Your eyes trail from her eyes, to her wings, to her...
- >...Fangs.
- "Yeah... the ones I know aren't so... bat-like..."
- >She looks to your eyes, then down to her mouth.
- >A switch seems to go off in her head, then she laughs.
- >"Oh, these?" she says, lifting a hoof and pointing to her mouth. "Don't you worry, I only like to eat mangos."
- >You're taken aback a bit at her ability to pinpoint your thought process.
- "S-So... you don't drink blood?"
- >"Oh, no, I do!"
- >Nervousness returning, full power.
- >"Only if I reeeeally like you, though. Like, enough to want to make that bond."
- >Your muscles begin to relax just slightly.
- >"So, maybe if you buy me dinner first! Kekekekeke!"
- "Heh heh heh, yeah..."
- >She smiles.
- >"I'm Echo, by the way! Who are you?"
- >You finally bring your arms down to your side.
- >Maybe she isn't dangerous after all...
- >But this nervousness just won't leave.
- "I'm... Anonymous. My friends call me Anon."
- >"Okay Anon!" she chirps, "I guess you want to get out of here, huh?"
- >You look around the cave once more.
- "Yeah... that'd be great."
- >"Okay! I can help you with that!"
- >You look to her, and your own mouth begins to curl up slightly.
- "Really?"
- >"Yup! But... for a price."
- >It falls back down.
- "Wh-What?"
- >She points to your pants.
- >"For that lovely red jewel you found."
- >Your hand instinctively slaps to your pocket.
- "N-No way! This is for my friend Rarity!"
- >Her cheeks puff up slightly with her growing smile, then she lets loose a loud laugh.
- >You look to each side of you in confusion.
- >"Wow Anon, I'm only kidding! This 'Rarity' girl must be really important to you, huh?"
- "W-Well--"
- >She spreads her bat wings and takes to the air.
- >"I'm teasing! If your jewel is that important, keep it."
- >She flies to you and nudges you with her elbow.
- >"Come on, I'll take you home!"
- >She flies forward a little bit.
- >You hold out your mushroom and follow.
- "Home? Where's that?"
- >"Up from here, where I live! Hollow Shades!"
- >After what seemed like an hour of stumbling through the caves, following this "Echo" p0ny, you finally begin to see the moonlight.
- >You stride up the sloped exit of the cave, Echo flying up and moving the various brush from the opening.
- >"Here we are!" she says with enthusiasm, fluttering up and out of the mouth.
- >You follow her, pushing extra brush out of your way, and look to your location.
- >Your jaw almost drops.
- >You gaze upon an absolutely beautiful, forest-like area.
- >Tall, massive trees make up the giant wooded area, with several fruits of all sizes, presumably mangos, hanging from their branches.
- >Other blue glowing mushrooms pepper the ground and walls, some even bigger than you, bathing the landscape in that enchanted blue light.
- >Makeshift huts and homes rest at the tops of the trees, other bat-like p0nies flying to and from them.
- >The moonlight bleeds through the leaves, giving the entire area a dark, mystical kind of atmosphere.
- >It's absolutely beautiful.
- >Echo catches on to your wonder, and smiles.
- >"Kekekekeke... I take it you like my home?"
- >You snap out of it and look to her.
- >You crack a smile, and nod.
- "It's fantastic..."
- >You say, yourself and Echo beginning walking further into the village.
- "How did you end up settling here?"
- >She shrugs as she flies next to you.
- >"We used to live deeper in the caves, but the Diamond Dogs got pretty territorial."
- >You nod as you listen.
- >You've heard of the Diamond Dogs from Rarity.
- >They don't seem like a friendly bunch.
- >"When they kept bothering us and trying to wage some kind of war, we ended up moving out here."
- >She shrugs again.
- >"It was all for the best."
- >She stretches her wings, and abruptly launches up into the air with speed rivaling Rainbow Dash.
- >You shield your eyes with your arm, then look up to your bat companion.
- >She zips up, skims by the top of a tree, snagging a giant mango, and careens back down toward you.
- >She lands with a thump, then smirks at you, barring her fangs and taking a large bite.
- >You watch her with some kind of fascination.
- >"It's closer to the food anyway!" she comments with a giggle.
- "Heh, yeah. Seems more convenient anyway."
- >Echo nods, and you two begin walking again as she snacks.
- >She holds out half of the mango to you.
- >"Want some?" she says with her mouth half full.
- >Her cheeks puff out, complimenting her cheerful smile.
- >A fang pokes out as well.
- >It's starting to bother you less.
- >You glance down at the mango, then laugh a little.
- "Sure, I'll give it a try."
- >She places the fruit in your hand, and you raise it to your mouth, taking a bite.
- >It's incredibly plump, the juices spraying around your mouth as you bite, some leaking down your chin.
- >The flavor is beyond any fruit you've ever had, on Earth or in Equestria.
- >Echo's eyes light up.
- >"Do you like it!?"
- >You wipe the juice from your chin, then nod at her enthusiastically.
- "This has to be the best fruit I've ever had!"
- >Her slit-like pupils sparkle, and she happily claps her hooves together.
- >"That's great! I've been tending to that batch personally! I'm glad they came out well!"
- >You take another bite.
- "I'll say! You have a real talent here, Echo!"
- >She closes her eyes and gives you a happy, full-toothed smile, not unlike Pinkie Pie.
- >You return it, then look up to the trees.
- >The other bat p0nies go about their daily... er, "nightly" lives.
- >Wonder how they've stayed hidden for--
- >"Echo!" you hear called from above.
- >Your p0ny companion's ears twitch, and she gazes up to the treetops.
- >You do as well.
- >From the top of one of the trees, a figure drops like a rock, then swoops down as it closes in, landing next to you two.
- >You look to her as she lands.
- >It's another bat p0ny, female.
- >Her mane is a lighter, bluer color than Echo's, and she's donned in what looks like royal armor.
- >The p0ny scans you.
- >"Echo, what are you doing bringing this creature into the village?"
- >You cringe at the word "creature."
- >It causes your brow to furl a bit.
- >Echo shakes her head.
- >"Oh, no Midnight, this isn't a creature! He's my friend! A human!"
- >This "Midnight" bat p0ny turns to you, raising her eyebrow.
- >"Human?" she clarifies.
- >You're not a fan of her attitude.
- >But you subconsciously keep on your guard as her fangs glisten in the moonlight.
- >"I take it you must be Anonymous."
- >Your heart almost jumps from your chest.
- "Wh-What? How do you know my name?"
- >She exhales an impatient breath.
- >"The Princesses talk about you quite a bit, you know," she says. "I just didn't know what you'd actually look like."
- "Princesses?"
- >How does she...?
- >"Oh, Midnight here's a Royal Guard over in Canterlot!" Echo beams. "She protects Princess Luna!"
- >Oh, really?
- >That explains the armor...
- >"Yeah, so please forgive me if I come across as cautious and suspicious to a species I've never seen before."
- >You squint your eyes at her.
- >"No matter how much the Princesses seem to like you."
- "I've lived in P0nyville among p0nies for six months just fine."
- >"We aren't normal p0nies."
- >Your fists ball a bit.
- >"Midnight..."
- >She glances to your pocket bulge.
- >Her eyebrows rise once again, and her eyes meet yours.
- >"What's in the pocket?"
- >Your place your hand over the gem.
- "None of your business."
- >"You're in my home town, so it's my business. What is it?"
- >You grit your teeth, then look to Echo.
- >She looks almost sad at this turn of events.
- >You sigh, then reach into your pocket and pull out the gem.
- >It sparkles in Midnight's eyes.
- >"A ruby, huh? Been doing some work for the Diamond Dogs?" she says with a glare.
- "It's for my friend back in P0nyville."
- >"His friend Rarity!"
- >Midnight hasn't taken her eyes off of you.
- >Her glare is making you uncomfortable.
- >Echo isn't dangerous, surely... but...
- >"Rarity, huh? The Element of Harmony?"
- >You don't say anything.
- >"You're more well connected than I though, Human."
- "Thanks,"
- >You say sarcastically,
- "but my friends don't like to be seen as celebrities, and I don't see them as such either."
- >Midnight nods.
- >"Regardless..." she starts, "I'd be far more comfortable if you took your leave, Mr. Anonymous."
- >You exhale an angry breath.
- >"But Midnight!" Echo begins, "You--"
- >"You know nothing of this creature, Echo. You've just met him. I'm not comfortable with him walking about our village."
- >"But the Princesses--"
- >"Have been wrong before."
- >Midnight looks to you once more.
- >"The Changeling invasion of Canterlot wouldn't have happened if the Princesses were a little more cautious."
- >You grip the ruby in your hand like a stress ball.
- >"So forgive me, Mr. Anonymous, but I'd be happy if you just left."
- >She looks up to the treetops.
- >Her fellow bat p0nies fly about.
- >"We're outcasts enough in this land as it is. We don't need any more trouble."
- >You look down to Echo.
- >She's looking toward Midnight in a pleading manner.
- >The, her eyes trail to you.
- >She seems so sad.
- >...
- >You look back to Midnight.
- >Her eyes are stern.
- >...And her fangs are sharp.
- >...
- "...Fine."
- >You jam the ruby back into your pocket.
- "I'll leave."
- >Midnight nods.
- >She turns, and points with her hoof toward a brush.
- >"See the bushes over there? There's a cave entrance there. Take it, and it'll lead you out toward your village."
- "Alright."
- >You turn toward Echo, and pat her on the head.
- "Sorry..."
- >She smiles, and shakes your head.
- >"It's not your fault..." she says softly. "For the record... *I* trust you..."
- >You smile and laugh a little through your nose.
- "Thanks, Echo. And thanks for everything. I had a lot of fun in this short time."
- >"I did too, Anon."
- >She looks to the brush you've been directed to.
- >"I was going to lead you there soon anyway... you want to get home, right?"
- >You stand back up.
- "Yeah... Yeah, I do."
- >"Then maybe it's for the best."
- >You nod, looking toward your exit.
- >"Mr. Anonymous..."
- "Yeah, yeah, I'm going."
- >You give each bat mare one more look, then you begin striding toward the bushes.
- >It takes only a minute to get there, and you turn and give the beautiful, concealed village one more look.
- >...
- >You turn back around and tear a mushroom from the wall, then press through the brush.
- >Sure enough, the mouth to a dark cave appears.
- >You sigh, and hold out your mushroom in front of you, pickaxe still in hand, and descend into the darkness.
- >You spend quite a bit of time walking through the cave.
- >Luckily, it's a fairly straight path, with the cave occasionally opening up a little bit more.
- >But with your glowing mushroom, it's easy to stay in one consistent direction.
- >Damn it... where is P0nyville supposed to be?
- >You should have had this Midnight p0ny be a little more specific.
- >But you've had enough of her.
- >Poor Echo though...
- >She was just being friendly and inviting, and she got scolded for it.
- >Maybe most bat p0nies are like Midnight rather than Echo...
- >...Are they creatures you want to be mingling with often?
- >They do make you pretty uneasy...
- >At least Echo was friendly...
- >Your footsteps press and scrape against the cave floor, offering the only sound in the area.
- >Until...
- >Your ears catch something, and you freeze in place.
- >What was that...?
- >...There it is again!
- >You crouch down and begin hugging the wall...
- >It sounded like the pitter-pattering of feet...
- >...Many feet.
- >Small feet...
- >You listen again...
- >...It's definitely coming.
- >Voices begin accompanying the footsteps.
- >Shit!
- >You throw the mushroom to the ground and stamp it out with your foot.
- >The blue glow ceases nearly instantly.
- >In the darkness, you stay close to the wall and keep still.
- >It grows louder and louder, until it's almost among you.
- >"...This way!" you hear.
- >The voice is high pitched and scratchy.
- >"Are you sure they live over here?" another voice asks.
- >"Yes, there is more than one way to their village."
- >You try to hold your breath as they speak.
- >"Our brothers are using the other entrances, and we'll pin them in."
- >What...?
- >Are these... Diamond Dogs?
- >"We were wrong to leave them be out here, I knew they'd still be meddling in our business."
- >"How many were stolen?"
- >How many of what...?
- >"Just one, but it could have only been them. No other creature meddles so deeply in the caves."
- >Your heart sinks.
- >You feel the gem in your pocket.
- >"But enough chat!"
- >The pitter-patter of pawed feet begins once more, and their voices begin to fade in the direction you came.
- >"We'll be late for the attack!"
- >And their noises fade off into the distance...
- >...
- >You finally exhale.
- >That was too close...
- >Those Diamond Dogs though...
- >They're going to attack Hollow Shades?
- >You stand to your feet and dust off your pants.
- >...
- >Well... it's none of your concern.
- >They've been feuding for a long time, as far as you've heard.
- >This was bound to happen.
- >...
- >You feel the gem in your pocket.
- >But it was practically caused by you...
- >You think to Midnight.
- >Your eyebrows furl.
- >Well, they could have been talking about anything.
- >You feel the wall, and begin to walk the direction you were going.
- >It's none of your business.
- >You take a few more steps.
- >Echo flashes into your mind.
- >You stop.
- >...
- >And sigh.
- >You turn around, facing the direction you originally came, and begin briskly walking.
- >You use the wall for support, and with no glowing blue mushroom, you're going slower than before.
- >But you try your best to keep a quick pace.
- >Who knows how many Diamond Dogs are already there.
- >Shit... this is all your fault.
- >It takes a bit longer without the mushroom, but you've finally made it to the mouth of the cave.
- >You can hear quite a commotion outside.
- >Your heart sinks when your ears pick it up.
- >With the moonlight aiding you now, you quickly dart out from the bushes and gaze upon Hollow Shades.
- >My Lord...
- >You drop your pickaxe to the ground.
- >The bat p0nies that occupied the treetops before now soar and zip around near the ground, tackling Diamond Dogs left and right.
- >The Diamond Dogs in return swipe at the aerial p0nies with their claws.
- >Several of the canines scale the giant trees in an attempt to reach the homes, with the p0nies trying their best to defend.
- >Clashing, grunting, screaming, and all matter of shrill noise pierce the night.
- >It's like a full on battle.
- >It's horrible.
- >...You need to stop this!
- >You begin an all out sprint toward the middle of the battle.
- >Okay!
- >If you can find the leader of this battalion of mutts, you can--
- >"You!!" you hear screamed from above.
- >What the--!?
- >You’re tackled from behind by a strong force.
- >It throws you immediately to the ground, the impact almost knocking the wind out of you.
- >You're grabbed and flipped around on your back, then pinned down by the chest by a pair of hooves.
- >You grit your teeth and open your eyes.
- >Midnight stares daggers into you.
- >"Did you do this!?" she screams. "Did you sick the Diamond Dogs on us!?"
- "No, I--"
- >"Tell the truth, Human!" she barks.
- >Her mouth opens, showing off her sharp fangs that could tear out your throat in an instant.
- "I didn't do it! I came back to help!"
- >"Why should I believe you!?"
- >You try to squirm free.
- "Just give me a chance! I think I can stop this attack if you just let me--"
- >"Let you go? Think again!"
- >She turns her head and spits.
- >"I gave you your chance to go, now you're going to pay for your actions!"
- "Will you listen to me!?"
- >"Not a chance in Tartarus!"
- >"Midnight!!"
- >Both of your heads turn toward the source of the voice.
- >The familiar grey bat p0ny flies in toward you two.
- >"Echo! I told you to evacuate the--"
- >"I'm not leaving Hollow Shades!" she cries, landing down. "And what are you doing to Anon!?"
- >Midnight presses her hooves harder into your chest.
- >You wince.
- >"Don't you see? This human comes to visit Hollow Shades, and right when he leaves, we're attacked! Do you think this is mere coincidence?!"
- >"Yes!!"
- >Echo readies her legs, then barrels into Midnight, stumbling her completely off of you.
- >You scramble to your feet.
- >"Echo! How dare you--"
- >"How dare YOU!!" she interrupts.
- >Midnight is taken aback.
- >"Anon comes all the way back to help and you treat him like some kind of traitor!"
- >Echo turns to you and smiles.
- >"You may not trust him, but I do! And if he wants to help, then we should give him a chance!"
- >Midnight grits her teeth, then looks from Echo to you.
- >It's like she's having some sort of internal conflict.
- >You give her a stern look.
- >She furls her brow and growls.
- >"...What did you have in mind?"
- >You exhale, then turn to the battle taking place.
- >The fight is still fierce.
- "Which one is their leader?"
- >Midnight walks up next to you.
- >"...There," she says, pointing with a hoof. "That's him."
- >She signals to a small dog in a red vest attacking two bat p0nies at the same time.
- "Got it."
- >You begin walking toward him.
- >"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Midnight calls to you.
- "You'll see!"
- >You try to steady your breathing as you approach the leader.
- >Bat p0nies and dogs scrap and battle on every side of you.
- >But you keep your eye on the prize.
- >You're within earshot.
- "Hey!"
- >You call.
- >The red vested Diamond Dog finishes a wound up backfist, then turns to you.
- >His eyebrows rise.
- >You take a few more steps, then stop.
- >He lowers himself to the ground, not taking his eyes off of you, and crawls toward you.
- >"What do you want... Creature...?" he says, approaching dangerously close.
- >You grow increasingly nervous, but you try your best to maintain a calm and serious demeanor on the outside.
- >The other Diamond Dogs slowly stop fighting, looking to their leader.
- >The bat p0nies follow suit soon enough once their adversaries cease.
- "You can stop this fight now."
- >The dog gets back up to his two hind feet.
- >He's not very tall at all, but commands a sort of weight behind his actions.
- >"And why is that, Creature? You know nothing of this fight."
- "I don't think you do either."
- >He exhales an angry breath, then takes a few steps back.
- >"You meddle in affairs that aren't yours. These bat p0nies have been a thorn in our side for too long."
- >"A thorn in YOUR side? You drove us out from our own home!" a male bat p0ny calls from afar.
- >The dog hisses and turns to the speaker.
- >Other dogs and p0nies begin verbally arguing too.
- >You look around yourself at these two bickering races.
- >Oh boy...
- >"Enough!!" a voice booms.
- >Every dog and p0ny around you hushes up instantly.
- >You turn around.
- >Midnight and Echo now stand behind you.
- >Midnight nods.
- >"Continue, Anonymous."
- >You nod back at her, then face the Diamond Dog leader.
- >"You best just leave, Creature. This battle has nothing to do with you. We can't coexist if these p0nies continue to meddle on our land."
- >You furl your brow.
- "I don't think these p0nies meddled anywhere."
- >"They've stolen our jewels!"
- "Did they?"
- >You reach into your pocket.
- >Here we go...
- >You hold your breath, then pull out the large red ruby.
- >The dogs all gasp, and the leader backs up in surprise.
- >"Y-You! It was you!"
- "It was."
- >You stole our jewel!"
- >He balls his paw in a fist.
- >Oh shit...
- >Keep it cool, Anonymous.
- "Was it ever yours to begin with?"
- >The dog cringes.
- "I found it in an open Equestrian cave, stuck in undisturbed rock."
- >"It was on our territory!"
- "Finders keepers."
- >You toss the jewel into the air and catch it.
- "Look... these bat p0nies have no desire for jewels. They won't be taking anything."
- >The dog glares at you.
- >Every p0ny and Diamond Dog around is listening to you intently.
- >The dog doesn't budge.
- "So tell you what... if you promise to leave here now, and never bother them again... I'll give you this here jewel."
- >You look at it from all angles, moving your hand and head around to see it all.
- "Sure is pretty, isn't it?"
- >"No, Anon!" you hear from behind you.
- >You turn to see Echo, eyes contorted in a pleading matter.
- >"That jewel is for your friend! Don't give it to them just for us!"
- >You poke the inside of your cheek with your tongue.
- >"We can take them! We'll fight them and they'll leave us alone forever! You just keep your jewel and leave it to us!"
- >You look to the dark maned bat p0ny.
- >You inhale deeply, then exhale.
- "No, Echo. I'm sorry. No more fighting."
- >Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
- >You turn back to the leader of the Diamond Dogs.
- >You hold out the jewel to him.
- "So... do we have a deal?"
- >He glares at you, eyes full of anger.
- >Then he glances to the jewel you're presenting before him.
- >...
- >He snags it with his paw, then backs up a little bit.
- >Your eyes are still locked.
- >...
- >"Boys! Move out, we're done here!"
- >Immediately, all the dogs drop down on their legs and begin to sprint.
- >It's like a herd, and they all move toward two or three separate cave entrances.
- >The leader places the jewel inside his vest, then follows his men out.
- >The thunder-like rumbling of dozens of feet slamming the ground slowly comes to a stop as the dogs descend deeper and deeper into the caves.
- >...
- >Holy shit...
- >You heave an exhale of relief.
- "Alright... that was terrifying."
- >The bat p0nies roar in applause.
- >Two of them fly down and wrap their hooves around you in a brotherly manner, patting you on the back and rustling your hair.
- >"That was incredible!"
- >"You saved our hides!"
- >"Who are you, kid!?"
- >You smile and pat them back.
- >Other p0nies fly down and speed words of congratulations and thanks past you.
- >You smile and wave, not accustomed to this kind of treatment.
- >"Anon!!" you hear from behind you.
- >You turn around, just in time to see a grey blur slam into you.
- >The impact almost knocks you over.
- >She wraps her hooves around you tightly.
- >"You saved us, Anon! You gave up your prize just for us!"
- >Your body catches up to your mind, and you wrap your arms around Echo, giving her a hug back.
- "For them, and for you."
- >She pauses for a moment, then tightens her hug.
- >You enjoy the embrace for as long as it lasts.
- >Opening your eyes, you see Midnight.
- >She's stern at first...
- >But then she smiles, and nods at you.
- >You smile too.
- >...Good enough for you.
- >"Hey, Anon..." Echo says softly.
- "Yeah?"
- >You reply.
- >Anticipating a response, you instead get a piercing pain in your neck.
- >Your smile is instantly wiped from your face, and your mouth drops, emitting a scattered, rumbling kind of sound.
- >Your arms loosen, your eyes widen, and your pupils shrink to pinpricks.
- >Your vision grows hazy...
- >You can feel suction on your neck, and a warm liquid make its way up and around that area.
- >"Kekekekeke..."
- >You grow weak, and you drop to your knees.
- >The haze over your eyes intensifies, and you can feel yourself falling over.
- >Then, everything goes black.
- >"Is that him?"
- >"Oh Celestia, it is!"
- >You slowly come to consciousness.
- >Oh sweet God in heaven, what happened...?
- >Your eyes flare open, but instantly close when they're greeted with the intense sunlight you're no longer used to.
- >"Anon!"
- >You bring your arm over to shield the sunlight, then open your eyes once again.
- >You sit up from the ground, looking around your surroundings.
- >...Ah.
- >It's the cave you and Rarity originally went to.
- >Must have been... yesterday?
- >...Echo...
- >She brought you home...
- >"Anon!"
- >You turn your head to see Twilight galloping toward you.
- >The rest of the mane six follow her.
- >"There you are! Are you alright? What happened!?"
- >"Anonymous!" Rarity calls as she closes in as well, "I'm so sorry! When you made that dreadful fall, I didn't know what to do! We've been looking for you all night!"
- >A smile comes to your face, and you laugh a little as the other p0nies all gather 'round.
- >You subconsciously begin rubbing your neck.
- >Applejack takes notice.
- >"Anon... what happened to your neck?"
- >Oh.
- >Your eyes widen in slight surprise, and you take your hand off to allow them to see.
- >Two small, red marks pierce your skin.
- >"You've been bitten by something!' Twilight cries. "Were you attacked? Are you alright? What happened already!?"
- >You smile, and a moment later, audibly laugh.
- >The other p0nies look to each other in confusion.
- >You get back up to your feet and dust off your pants.
- "Alright..."
- >You say, beginning to walk.
- >The other p0nies glance to each other, then begin following you.
- "Let me tell you about last night..."
- The End
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