Author's notes: Peaches

Chapter 15: Dumb Digging Dogs

I ended up spending most of the night in my new house, the only time I left was to borrow some books from the library. I need to get some books for this place; the nights can be so boring when you don't sleep.

Around, what I guess was around 8 in the morning, I could hear movement from upstairs. A sound like Nyx is up.

Said pony, then came downstairs, with her mane messed up from her sleep.

"Morning Nyx," I said to her.

"Hm… Morning Mister Chrome," she said, still half asleep.

"Nyx, how about you go take a shower to wake up, and I'll take you somewhere to get some breakfast," I offered. This place has no food anyway. "And drop the Mister bit, Chrome is just fine."

"Alright," she said, as she went back upstairs to get in the shower.

Well, at least she listens to what she is told.

While I was waiting for Nyx to finish up, somepony knocked on the door. I got up, and opened the door, to find a smiling Twilight standing there.

"Hello sir, I am Twilight Sparkle, and one of your neighbors," Twilight started, "I have read that it is common courtesy to greet new neighbors."

I remained silent. I want to see how long it takes her to figure out who I am.

"Um, hello sir?" she asked, seeing me just stare at her. Her smile started getting a little strained, probably from nervousness.

"I'm ready to go," Nyx's voice said behind me.

I turn to see Nyx dressed in some purple vest, which hid her wings. Is she trying to hide that she is an alicorn?

I motioned my head for her to follow me, and we walked past Twilight, and closed the door behind us.

After we got out of ear shot of her, "Who was that?" Nyx asked.

"That is a friend of mine, but she has never 'seen' me before. So I just want to see how long it will take her to figure it out," I explained to her.

"So, it's a prank?" she asked. I nodded my head, "Cool."

We continued down toward Sugar Cube Corner, and walked into the bakery. I could see both Mr., and Mrs. Cake working at the counter, but no Pinkie around.

"Get whatever you want Nyx, just make sure it is breakfast food," I told her.

We walked up to the counter, and she ordered a blueberry muffin. I paid it with some of the old gold looking bits, and we went to sit at one of the tables.

While Nyx was eating her muffin, I saw a familiar blur of pink come to our table.

"Hi, I'm Pinkie! You must be new to Ponyville since I have never seen you before!" Pinkie gasps, "That means I can throw both of you a party twice as big, since there are two of you here!"

And then as quickly as she came, she then zoomed off towards the kitchen, doing whatever Pinkie does.

"She seems… odd" Nyx says, finishing up her muffin.

"Nyx, when you have been around Pinkie long enough, you will see that she makes the most sense out of anypony you know," I explained.

Nyx turns to look at the kitchen door, "I don't think that is possible."

I was about to reply to her, when I heard someone yelling outside, "I think something is going on outside."

I got up out of my seat, and went to see what was going on, with Nyx close by my side. When I got outside, I saw Spike come running by, yelling for Twilight.

"This should be interesting," I said to myself, and Nyx.

We end up following Spike's shouts to one of the bridges, and found him, and most of the other main ponies gathered around him.

Spike was breathing quite heavily, from both the yelling and running, "Aaaah! Rarity... woods... jewels... dogs... hole... taken... Save her!"

With that information, the ponies ran down the road Spike just came, with him on Twilight's back.

"Nyx, I think someone might be in trouble," I told her, watching the girls leave.

"I think so too," Nyx agreed.

Knowing that we need to catch up, I put Nyx on my back, despite her pouting, that she could keep up. I ran as fast as I could, to catch up to the group.

I ended up catching up to them when they came to what looked like some badland.

"Spike, can you breathe now?" I heard Twilight ask.

"Yes... I think so," Spike panted in a paper bag.

"Good. Now tell us what you know."

"Yeah.'Cause all you said earlier was... 'Rarity... woods... jewels... dogs... hole... taken... Save her!'" Rainbow recalled.

"Not a whole lot to go on there, sport," Applejack commented.

"Sorry. Rarity and I were in the woods looking for jewels when these creepy guys showed up," Spike explained.

"Creepy guys?" Twilght asks.

"They called themselves the Diamond Dogs. They grabbed Rarity and disappeared down a hole in the ground," Spike continued.

"Well, this sounds mighty easy. Just take us to that there hole and we'll save Rarity," Applejack said.

"Diamond dogs?" Nyx asks me.

"Diamond Dogs, a race of underground dwelling canines, which have an obsessive love of gems," I said, remembering them from a book in the library.

That being the first thing we said, had the others looking at us. Did they really not notice us for this long?

Before they ask who we were, we came to a flat land, covered with numerous holes.

"Holy moly, that's a lotta holeys," Pinkie stated.

"Come on, girls!" Twilight called out, then looked at me, "And you, let's get started."

I took Nyx off my back, "Sorry about bringing you here Nyx, but we might have to save a friend of mine," I explained.

"Why would you care about what happens to another pony?" she asked.

"Being a friend is more than enough of a reason to help," I told her.

I turn, to look down one of the holes, put looked back when I heard some shouts from the others.

It turns out these Diamond Dogs were filling up the holes at an alarming pace.

"Quick! We gotta get down one before they're all filled up," Twilight called out.

Me and Nyx just watched as the others try to get in one of the holes.

"I don't think that is going to work," Nyx said.

"Yep," I agreed.

"We can't muscle through it!" Applejack yelled, after being pushed out by the dird

"We'll see about that," Rainbow called out, trying to dive boom one of the open holes. But she stopped once it filled up before she could reach it.

"Whew. Heavens to Betsy. Now I'm used to pickin' myself up and dustin' myself off, but Rarity won't even touch mud 'less it's imported," Applejack said.

"Oh, Rarity..."Twilight said, sadly

"We gotta save her."

"But they blocked up all the holes," Fluttershy said.

"Don't mean we can't dig 'em out. Come on!" Applejack said, climbing on one of the filled holes, and tries to dig it out.

Fluttershy and Pinkie then join her, while digging their own holes, but before they could even get more than a foot of dirt away, some ugly looking dogs popped out of the ground, and started pushing them off the dirt mounds.

Spike tried to run to help them, but was tripped by another dog, "Whoa! Oof!"

"Get 'em!" Rainbow said, when she noticed two dogs near her.

Rainbow, and Twilight both tried to charge towards the dogs, poking up from the ground, but the dogs went back under, causing the two to hit each other.

Over at Applejack's mound, it looked like she was playing a game of Wack-a-Dog.

Nyx and I just continued to watch as the ponies continued to try to get into the holes, but failed due to the Diamond Dog's agility.

"Ow!" I heard Nyx cry out, and I turn to see one of them holding her up by her tail.

I don't know why, but this made me angrier than what they were doing to the others. I let one of my hands, phase out of my suit, and sent it into the dog's gut. When it phased into him, I grabbed whatever weird organ these things had.

From the look on his face, he could feel my hand inside of him.

"This seems rather important, doesn't it," I said calmly to him, "So how about this, you but her down, and I won't take it deal?" I finished with a smile.

The dog let go of Nyx's tail, so I released my hold on the dog's insides. The dumb dog, than dug into the ground as quickly as it could, do get away from me.

"Don't try that again, mutt." I told him before he disappeared.

I looked over to Nyx, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," she said, rubbing the base of her tail, "Thanks for stopping him, that hurt."

We turn back towards the others, to find them on the ground panting from their failed attempts

"All those scary monsters popping up everywhere. Oh, poor Rarity must be terrified." Fluttershy said, once she caught her breath.

"Ooh," Twilight said, worriedly, "Poor Rarity. What are we gonna do?"

"I got it! I'll save you, my sweet," Spike suddenly shouted, and pulled out a blue gem.

"Huh?" everyone questioned.

Apparently Spike's answer to this was Dog Fishing. We moved over toward where the rest were, seeing that it is, for the time being, safe.

"Spike, it is very noble of you..." Twilight told Spike

"Shhh!" Spike shushed her.

"...to sacrifice the gem Rarity gave you," Twlight said, quieter

"Oh, Lady Rarity. My damsel in distress," Spike said to himself.

After that, Spike became oblivious to the world, and started talking to himself.

"Is that dragon insane?" Nyx asked me.

"No, just an overactive imagination, and a crush on Rarity," I told her.

"Hoho there, lover boy," I heard Applejack say. I turn to see what Spike did this time.

"Whoa! Whoa whoa whoawhoawhoa... I got a bite! I got a bite!" Spike exclaimed as his dog capture, was dragging him toward the hole

"Hold on there, little fella," Applejack exclaimed, grabbing on to him, as he was still being dragged in.

"Applejack!" Twilight exclaimed, as Applejack was being dragged in as well, and grabbed a hold of her.

"Twilight!" Rainbow said, as she did the exact same thing, and still getting dragged in.

"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness..." Fluttershy muttered, as she tried to help Rainbow, but failed.

"Wait for me!" Pinkie shouted, as she followed them down the hole.

"Well than," I said to Nyx, "Do you want to go in the easy way, or hard way?"

"Easy, that way we can get back to Ponyville. I need to figure out about all these ponies," Nyx says, as she climbs on my back.

I couldn't help but chuckle from that.

I went up to the hole that the others had gone down, and began to slowly descend, using my wings to keep Nyx on.

As the tunnel, continued, I ended up having to follow the drag marks on the ground, to find where the others went. This place is a maze down here.

When we finally caught up, the ponies were all laying on the ground.

"Ha ha, it worked! We're in! Now we can finally save Rarity!" Spike said, getting up.

"Um... Which way do we go?" Twilight said, looking around at the numerous tunnels around them.

"Nooooooooooo!" Spike yelled.

After the ponies recovered from their rough ride, they got up, and begain to wander down a random tunnel.

"All these tunnels... How are we ever gonna find Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"Guess we're just gonna have to start going down them one by one," Applejack said.

"That could take forever! There's gotta be way to narrow it down," Rainbow argued.

That would never work, at this rate, we may not be able to find her. I looked around, trying to find some indication where this recent Diamond Dog might of went, when I noticed a drag mark, that looked almost straight.

I think that the dog that got the fishing line is still dragging it.

So with Nyx on my back, I start to follow the path way.

"Wait sir, it is best not to travel at random, you two could get lost," Fluttershy said, stopping me from continuing.

"I know! I bet they've taken Rarity down the tunnel with the most gems," Spike exclaimed.

"But Spike, Rarity is the only one who knows how to find gems," Twilight told Spike.

"No, Twilight. You can! You can copy Rarity's gem-finding spell."

"Oh my gosh! You're right! Rarity showed me how she did it a while back. If I can just remember..." Twilight said, focusing magic towards her horn.

Her horn began to illuminate numerous gems in the nearby tunnels, but the one I was at, had the most.

"That's it. You did it, Twilight! Come on! We're coming, Rarity. We'll save you. Just hold on," Spike said, getting on Twilight's back as the raced past me.

Me, and Nyx followed them down the tunnel.

"Hey, how did you know to go down this tunnel before," Rainbow asked next to me.

"Your worry to find your friend caused you to not see everything before you. If you wish to help, then always remain calm," I told her.

"Why do you keep giving some cryptic answer?" Nyx asked from my back.

"It's fun," I replied.

Rainbow just looked at me odd, and just continued to follow Twilight down the tunnel.

After galloping for a few minutes, Twilight finally speaks up.

"We're getting close. I can feel it."

In the distance, we can hear Rarity crying.

"It's coming from down here. Come on!" Spike calls out.

We then came to an large open cavern, with a metal grate door on the other side.

"She must be in there. Let's go!" Rainbow shouts.

As if to just ruin the moment of hope, Diamond Dogs drop from hiding place above us. I jump back, avoiding getting one of the brutes on me, and Nyx

"More workhorses," One of the dogs said, while putting harness on the others.

"Hoh, doggies. If you can take this bull by the horns, you better be ready for a ride," Applejack says, and begins to buck like a wild bronco, "Come on, ponies! Kick 'em up, kick 'em out. Buck 'em up, buck 'em down."

The other ponies join in, trying to get the dogs off of them, and the dogs were yowling away, trying to keep on.

The girls did eventually manage to buck the dogs off of them, and sent them running away.

"Yeehaw! Get along, little doggies!" Applejack shouted at them.

Wow, I didn't think they could over power those dogs. But then again, this is a world where logic rarely matters.

Suddenly, we could hear some crashing, and clattering behind the grate door.

Spike grabs a stalactite, and holds it up, "I'm coming for you, milady. Hi-ho, Twilight! Away!"

"And just what do you think you're doing?" Twilight asks, a little upset by his behavior.

"Please, Twilight. Just give me this,"

"Eh... fine," Twilight resigns to let Spike continue his fantasy.

The two then go charging through the door. Who makes a grated made of weak wood?

"Lady Rarity, I'm here to save you!" Spike calls out.

The rest of us follow like normal ponies. What we saw in the next room was an odd sight.

There were three Diamond Dogs coming towards us, asking us to save them.

"Excuse me?" Twilight asked.

"So picky," the smallest one said.

"And critical," the large one added.

"She won't stop talking," said the red vest one.

"And crying."

"We, uh, give her back. Yes."

Oh, here comes Rarity, and that is a whole lot of gems she is carting!

"Rarity! You're safe!" Spike exclaimed, hugging her.

"Why, yes. Hello, girls. You arrived just in time to assist me," Rarity said to them.

"Assist you with what?" Applejack asked.

"With those," Rarity motioned to more gem carts.

"You're letting her leave with all these... jewels," Spike asked.

"Yes. Take them. And her with them," Red Vest pleaded.

"Please!" the small one added.

Well then, that was interesting. Rarity gets kidnapped, and she comes out with a load of treasure. I wonder what she could do with Al Qaeda?

All of us, except, for Spike, and Nyx, ended up pulling a cart of gems.

"I can't believe you found all these gems!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Heh. I can't believe you tricked all those dogs," Rainbow agreed.

"Just because I'm a lady doesn't mean I cannot handle myself in a sticky situation. I had them wrapped around my hoof the entire time," Rarity added, she then looked towards me, "I take it that the you are enjoying my clothing?"

"Yes, it is quite nice, and a lot of storage space," I told her.

"Rarity, you know this feller?" Applejack asked.

"Well of course, I was the one who designed Chrome's outfit," Rarity said with pride.

"Chrome?!" the other shouted in surprise.

"What? Did you really think I was not going to help a friend who was in trouble?" I asked.

"But then, who is the filly on your back?" Twilight asked.

"This is Nyx, I found her in the Everfree. I will explain more at the library," I told her, and she accepted my answer.

"I can't wait to write to Princess Celestia to tell her what you taught me today," Twilight told Rarity.

"Me? What did I teach you?" she asked.

"Just because somepony is ladylike doesn't make her weak. In fact, by using her wits a seemingly defenseless pony can be the one who outsmarts and outshines them all," Twilight explained.

"Hm... "Outshines" is right. Now you have enough gems to cover Sapphire Shores's costumes," Spike said, snacking on some of the gems.

"Not if you eat them all, Spike," Rarity joked.

After we unloaded the gems at Rarity's place, the rest of us left to the library, except for Rarity and Spike. Rarity stayed to finish her dresses, Spike stayed because of Rarity, and the large amount of gems still there.

When we got into the library, I let Nyx off my back.

"Go find you some books to read later," I told her, and she went to the shelves to find some books.

I then turn to Twilight, and the others for some Q&A time.

"Chrome, what is with the new duds? The look pretty cool, not as cool as me, but still quite good," Rainbow asked.

"I got these clothing from Rarity, since you lot can't see me, due to the whole spirit thing," I explained.

"How did you get Nyx?" Twilight asked, getting to the meat to the matter.

"I found her in the Everfree Forest, at the old castle. When I approached the group that had been in the same room as her, they attempted to attack me without being provoked to. When they learned of what I am, they had simply abandoned her, leaving me with Nyx," I explained. Well, that was technically the truth.

"Oh, so why is she living with you?" Twilight asked.

"What do you mean Twilight? I thought Chrome lived here?" Applejack asked.

"I have recently bought a house with some money that I had found in the Everfree Forest. It is the house with the blue roof behind the library," I answered them both.

"Oh, oh, you live in Crystal Lake's hold house? I remember that she had to leave after the Ursa attack. Something about Ponyville not being safe, or something like that," Pinkie added. That explains why she left all the furniture.

"Is that all you need to ask?" I asked them. Seeing that none of them had any more questions, I turn to Nyx, "Nyx time to go, we still need to buy some food."

Nyx came to me, carrying around 7 books with her magic, and she placed them on my back, "Alright, I have all that I need right now."

So we left the library, and to get Nyx some food.

We ended back in the house around evening time, and I had to cook Nyx some dinner up, seeing as she as missed lunch from the Diamond Dog incident.

I made her some vegetarian stir fry. It seems that this place just doesn't do much experimentation with their food, based on Nyx reaction to how it tasted.

When Nyx finished dinner, she went up to her room to read her new books. I then remember that I still have some of the books from the old library, and take them out of my suit. I look over the books and found that 3 were history books, and the other two were for magic. I might have to read the history ones, seeing as how most history books here are based on this millennia.

I go upstairs, to Nyx's room to give her the magic books I found, when I open the door, I see Nyx tiredly reading a book.

"Nyx I think it is time to sleep," I told her.

"Just let me finish this book," she pleaded.

"Sorry, but sleep is need to grow up well," I said, moving the books from her bed, to her dresser.

"Fine," she said, giving up.

I move the covers to tuck her in, and turned to leave, "Goodnight Nyx."

"Yawn, alright," she said, barely awake now, "Goodnight Daddy."

Did she just…

My life will never be easy, will it?