Author's Notes:

A long awaited release of this, ugh, im so sorry for such the long wait, real life came a knocking and i barely had any time to make a update whatsoever!

and the fact this one was getting on my nerves because of this bloody computer of mine crashing and losing everything! this chapter was vastly larger, but because it crashed i lost everything.

at the chapter says, this is also unedited, because im not sure if my editor is still able to work, because it's been so long (If you are reading this leave me a PM) but if anyone is willing to edit this, then go ahead and leave me a comment and tell me if you want! anyway enjoy!

I glared toward the mutt who was talking to me, as I was trapped, hands behind my back, bounded, as well as getting a bit of a rope burn as I rubbed it up and down trying to wiggle out; no effect what so ever. Looking around, the glow of the crystal (now being brighter than I first thought) let me see the whole room. The room, being bathed in the soft blue glow, let me see all around me. There was only one way in and out, and that was where the Diamond Dog was standing, this one, stood a bit taller than me, I could easily tell just from where I was sitting. A tall, bulky body, with his muscle creating defined lines along his body. His fur was that of a light golden hue, but his eyes were all yellow, with black silts…think of Malefor’s eyes from The Legend of Spyro games. A large collar sat along his neck, crystals doting the sides along it, a jet black vest, and finally two pockets filled with gems. There were more cages around the room, I counted twelve in all, half of them held one pony in it, I was part of that half. Five ponies and a human on my side the other half held two ponies each. I couldn’t see well enough to know what type of pony they were. “Human been asleep for hours,” I looked over; it was no secret that these dogs were not the…smartest in the world. They could barely speak English, or whatever ponies here call this type of tongue, sure, there were some who could speak it, but those were the ones that took the time to study it; and they were mostly taught by birth. Most of the other race’s, they just spoke slowly or in a way, as someone who couldn’t speak well enough. “Human up now, can work!”

“The hell are you talking about?” I asked, still a bit groggy from whatever was shot into my neck, possible a spelling drug.

“Human, more hard working then ponies,” he went over to one of the cages that held two ponies in, and kicked it hard, causing what sounded like a small child to call out in fright as the other pony tried to shush him. “Ponies worthless, but need,” he kicked the cage again before I yelled out.

“Hey stop it you fucking asshole!” I tried to get up, it was a bit hard, to say the least, but I did at last, get on my knee and then my feet.

“Watch tongue human!” he took a breath and spat on the ground before chuckling. “You wouldn’t want to anger your new masters!”

I just glared at him, before noticing that my shirt, and cape were gone, allowing only my pants and shoes to be left on and I couldn’t see them around the room, so that was out of the question of me getting it back to shield me from this small cold. Looking about, the room was also…rocky, it was like this place was hand dug of sort; possible was. Looking around myself once more, I started to think to myself…could these, could these be the missing ponies spoken about by the newspapers and also what Rarity told me of? Slavers then, so it would seem. If I remember right, from what I knew of these dogs, is that they mine gems, but from what I also heard, they are rather lazy, Rarity also told me at one point, she was kidnapped by such beings, to find where gems were, and hull them about. That would give reasons as to why they were gather unicorns, but why cut off their horns? I looked about, seeing the ponies that I could see, their mane a mess, their coat even worst and the smell was horrid, but I couldn’t really blame them. “The hell, you won’t be my masters you damn assholes!” I glared as the dog came up to my cage and kicked it, causing me to jerk a bit as I then spat a large amount of spit on him, I wouldn’t steep as to spitting on someone, but seeing how my hands were tied…

“Why you…”

“Enough!” looking over, I saw another Diamond Dog, but this one seemed…different somehow, he looked taller, and wider in muscle mass then the one I was dealing with now, the way he sounded, well, even just saying one word, he sounded like he could speak well enough that he had an education. He bore no collar, like the others I’m assuming did, nor did he wear a vest, but a long black trench coat. These too however were filled with gems. His eyes were still the same as the other though, as the one who I just spat on, glared once more and backed away. This one, seeming to be the leader, walking up, he slightly bent down a bit to get a better look at me, before saying. “He is not, a pony,”

“Others made mistake,” the first one spoke out. “They brought human,”

“After I gave you orders to tell them only ponies…more so unicorns?” he asked looking back.

“I uh…forgot…ugh!” he was slapped across the face hard by the Boss or at least I’m guessing he was.

“You forgot?!” he roared out. “I give you one simply object, ONE! Make sure the captures are just ponies! And what do I get?!” he screamed pointing at me. “A human?! What if our buyers find out of this, no I HAVE to tell them, or else it will be my head on the line!” he then picked up the slapped dog by the collar and threw him to the wall. “Bring our buyers here, I rather this done now, then later!”

“Y…yes Alpha!” the mutt ran off quickly, making soft barking noises as I only chuckled.

“Help is so hard to find now a days?” Alpha, from what I guess is his name, looked to me, his eyes narrowing a bit before a smile spread along his muzzle.

“So it seems,” he mused crossing his arms. “If it means anything to you human, I am sorry, but you do know I can’t let you leave?”

“Least you’re straight up about it…least I know I can still kick your ass when I get out of here!” He chuckled once more and looked away before then looking back at me.

“A lot of fire in you, young one, it is a shame you are on the wrong side; I could use one such as you.” Fire…doubt it, I’m just really…unnerved at what I am seeing here. “If my pack were not as smart as a box of rocks, you would not be here…ether way, an extra body for work is always welcome, thank you for giving us your time.” Cheeky bastard…

“Alpha!” a soft bark was heard before another dog rushed in. “They would like to see the human we capture, they wish to see if one of them, or one of us!” One of us…what did that me?”

“Bring them in then,” he waved his paw without looking back. “I too, wish to see what they think of this one.” I saw the dog nod and rush off again, a few harsh whispers later…two humans walked in.

These humans, I couldn’t see what they looked like, because they were wearing white face masks, you know the one people use when they want to be Slender Man? That’s the type I’m talking about. One was male, that much was seen, the other, was female, showing that of her pushed out chest. I watched carefully as the female human, jerked a bit, as to why, I couldn’t say. They wore suits, working type, or the type you would see mobsters wear, the women, she wore a black skinny jeans and black top, and looking very…I don’t even know how to think of them really. While the man, he wore all white, some black outline, but all black. Their hair was covered, unable to be seen and their eyes or skin were also covered. Nothing of them that I could later tell anyone who they were; were seen. I watched as the man brought up a small tube, black, with a speaker along the top, before speaking, his voice, sounding like well, robotic, a voice masker if I ever saw one. “This is the one, your pack took?”

“See any other humans here ass hole?” I called out as they all turned to me before I smiled.

“Yes, he is the one, Boss,” so…this was their boss huh…why do I feel like I’ve stumble along into a very cheesy villain capture ‘hero’ type thing? “We have yet to use him, in case he is one of yours,”

“He is not,” the human spoke. “He was in the paper, saving one of those lowly ponies,” I even heard the hate in his voice, even when it was mask. “He is a traitor to our race.”

“Rather be a traitor then deal with what you are doing here!” I yelled out trying to push out of my bounds some more. “Why do you want ponies and humans captured huh?!”

“Humans…no, we wouldn’t dare hurt our own,”

“So you have a heart…fucking dick…”

“Those who sides with…beasts, will not be part of…”

“If you say ‘a greater and better world’ I swear to God when I get out I will knock you black and blue!” I was not in the mood, I mean really…would you? The female human leaned over, and whispered something, I couldn’t pick up anything, and it was so soft that I couldn’t.

“Perhaps so,” the male muttered out loud with the voice mask on still. “He is still considered young, perhaps the ponies did use their magic on him.” Another small whisper. “You know I give all the chance to be brought back into the arms of their kind, and I am willing to give him the same chance,” one more whisper. “Perhaps…we shall not speak of that to him if he so agrees.” My eye twitched, wondering what they were speaking of, before the man, this Boss, walked over and knelt down to look at me, as I sat on the far side of the cage. “We can release you, under a few rules,” I stayed still; I didn’t say anything but a part of me, some strange reason, wanted me to listen. “One being rather simply… come and join with us,” really…? He had to say one of the oldest bad guy lines ever in the history of any world huh? ‘Join us or die’ type bull shit…just great. “You do not belong, alongside these…animals, and beside…I don’t think you would want your family harmed would you?” I looked right at him when he said that, I’m not sure if his eyes were one me or not, but I was dead set on looking him down…before I then smiled.

“Go ahead,” I answered seeing both of them flinch slightly at this. “Waste all of your time trying to find my family, because I know my family; they all would never forgive me if I didn’t fight for what I believe…and what I believe is that you sir,” I said before making a sucking sound and spitting right on his mask. Low yes, but did I care, not one bit. “I believe you can go to the nearest drug store, ask them where the lube is, to help you GO FUCK YOURSELF!”

The room was silent, even the small whimpers of cries from whoever was making it, inside their cages; they too, were still with noise. The man slowly stood up, and brought out a cloth, snapping it in the air before softly dabbing the spit from his face, again, dick move on my part, I will admit on that, but I was pissed! He stood fully, looking to me, or I think he was, his face was pointing to where I was, but as I spoke before, I couldn’t see his eyes. “Alpha?” he spoke again, using the voice changer to mask his voice. The large trench coat mutt walked over, before nodding his head. “Keep this one; use him as you see fit, to us, he is no longer a human, just someone who had turned his back to the better race.” I said nothing as I watched him go, Alpha, bowing his head slightly once more, looking back to me with that same grin, before he too left.

I could see a part of an arm outside the only known exit, just standing there, going nothing, the air, still save for the soft whimpers of fear, pain, I was not sure. Looking back over at the unicorn beside me, seeing that indeed, her horn was gone, she was still crying. Why…why did they want their horns, did they just cut them off so they could not wield magic? But wouldn’t they need unicorns to find gems and such? I played with the rope a bit more, trying to wiggle free, but the ropes were on far too tight to get loose. Luckily, they were not tight enough to stop the blood flow to my hands, but, it was still a pain ether way. Moving my arms and legs, I tucked my legs a bit, and brought my arms under and over, allowing me to look at my wrist, bound by these ropes. I could see a hint of a glimmer to the rope, possibly magic, as to what it does, I wouldn’t know. Trying to bite at the rope, seeing if I couldn’t just chew it off, I was greeted to a mild shock, yelling slightly, covering my scream by a tight lip and a loud moan of great pain. It stopped; just as soon as it had started.

Note to self…don’t try and take off the rope.

I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I was jolted awake by the sound of something hitting metal, perhaps something on the cages or something. “Wake up!” a voice snarled, as more bangs were heard. “You work now, get gems!” opening my eyes, and watched as from the door way, a ‘new’ set of ponies came in. Nine in totally, three being unicorns, it seem they still held their horns, not sure about the one that was next to me. Why was her one taken off, or was it always, or before she was taken? The empty cages door’s were opened, as the ponies, dirty, wounds seen along their body, not sure where they came from, but they were herded in, without a word. Just how long…how long have these ponies been here for. I saw a few look up, they saw me, and I was the new face of course. There were no life in those eyes, but with that one blank look, it was like…like they were giving me pity. Here it didn’t matter; I bet if one of every race was here, beaten down to the point where they were like this…it wouldn’t matter.

We would’ve all been the same. More dogs came in, two for each cage, they were large, built; or breed in this case…maybe. To be guard dogs. They reminded me much of the guards at Canterlot, you know, all the same color, seeming to be the same breed, flyers I mean. These guards, well they were brown in fur, the helm, looking like a silver plate, bolts seen going down the middle, holding it together. The same for the chest piece, but with more wielding bolts. Horns jetted from the top of the helm, and the shoulder blades of the armor. As they walked over, their eyes were covered, how they could see was the life of me. Each one held a spear. I swear their paws were so large; it looked like they could easily snap it in two like a twig.

The ponies that just came in, were pushed in the cages, as the door slammed with a heavy thud, I watched as food, a muck of brown like…something. They just ate it, whatever it was, my guess it was all we were getting. The other cell doors opened, as the ponies and colt slowly made their way out, myself, I was still sitting there, watching them. “Get up!” the dog that spoke before sated looking to me. He stood in front of my cage; he too held a spear, well not really a spear, more like a rounded stick. Purpose possibly to poke me if I didn’t listen. Now, I’ve read and seen many shows that knew it would be bad to fight back, with all these odds stacked against me…as much as I wanted to try and fight my way out…I knew I couldn’t win, I was no fighter.

Standing up awkwardly, the rope still around my wrist I made my way out. The dogs watched me, or from what I thought, the guard’s head turned a bit, but that was it. The butt of their spears grinding in the stone; a warning. I just gazed at them from the side of my eye, as the dog looked to me before grinning. “High mighty human…not so high now? Own kind left you here! Ha!”

“You know…if I wasn’t tied, I would’ve bitched smacked you right now,”

“I am not female,”

“Still would’ve bitch smacked you,”

“I am not a female! How can you claim to smack a female, if I am not a female?” give me a knife and I’ll make sure you are not a male… I don’t know why all of these dark thoughts were covering my mind…I guess when you are being held against your will, something short of darkness will come out sooner or later.

I followed after the group, watching as the ponies held their heads down, moving quickly to match the dogs, movement. Exiting out of the room, and down a set of a long hallway, I nearly gasped at what I saw. The main chamber, or what I think was the main chamber, was large. Holes or tunnels were seen going all over the place, crude looking stairs going ether up or down, making floors made out of the stones. I noticed red X’s around the walls all around, pickaxes, shovels, anything that could break stone, beside a jackhammer, or anything that needed power was seen. “Ponies know rule with horn,” I looked at the small runt of a mutt, he seemed to be the boss of this area, possible the smartest…as smart as they can be, beside Alpha. “Use horn other then lift tools, horns break off!” I watched as the mare that shared the cell next to me, seemed to release a soft sob, and that’s when I noticed, another pony, a unicorn stallion, his horn was also gone, but it had a small bump, could it be growing? Didn’t know if that was true or not. Sure I heard about horns being filed, and from what I also heard, if a horn was broken off, it would take years for it to grow back fully, (unless magic was used to quicken the speed) and even longer to tune the magic the way it used to be. “Human,” I just looked at him with my eye. “No funny thing or you get hurt!”

I still was bound, and was given a pickaxe, I was told to just do one thing…well two if you count the second as its own thing, hit the wall with the X and put all gems that’s found in the cart. I wanted to fight, hell, I’m sure anyone that ever thought that when they were a kid, that if something like this would happen to them, that they would fight; right? But I knew…I knew I could only get so far before they caught me and did something to me. The sound of the tools hitting the wall echoed loudly throughout the area, dogs barking orders to the ponies, and when I would steal a glance, I would see that each group, mostly made of three members, had three guards. I looked back to my task, my arms felt heavy; I lost count of how long I worked, moments? Hours? I couldn’t tell. Sweat caked my body, and the dust did as well. I heard the soft sound of crying next to me as I closed my eyes, the foal was next to me, and with who I guess was his mother…but when I looked, I was shocked and who the kid was…the same foal who gave me that letter from the princess! His white coat was a mess, dirt clung to it making almost a dirty grey in a sense, and what really got me to grind my jaws, was that I saw dry blood, his, or someone else, I couldn’t know. He was not wearing the vest or the hat of course, his blue mane, a mess and it seemed to cover mostly the front of his head, but that’s when I saw it, when he moved a bit, I watched as a tip of a horn was seen, before the mare beside him, moved his mane to cover it…she was trying to save him from that fate. His blue eyes looked up to her, as the mare, held for the quickest moment a small smile, I stopped for a moment to watch…something about a mother caring for their child… “Get back to work!” I yelled as I felt the spear hit me in the back of my legs, causing me to fall on my knees, my tool clenching in my hands as I grunted. I’ll be the first to admit, I can’t fight for shit…that guy I hit when after Nova, that was pure luck of surprised on my count…if I were to fight someone…I would not last long.

“Leave him alone!” I heard the child say as the mare held him back once more, looking over as I slowly got up, I noticed that she too was fully white, though her mane were that of black, with a bit of blue in it for lines. Her eyes were a soft brown like color. I could see a horn jerking out of her mane, as the shovel she was using, simply lifted the gems into the cart. The kid must’ve been pushing it. Her Cutie Mark being that of a red heart with wings on either side.

“You will watch your pup pony,” the dog growled threaten. “Or we may find uses for him, for others on their free time,”

“You…sick bastard,” I muttered as the dog only grin and went to hit me again. I grabbed the spear and with my anger I had bottled up, I slammed him to the wall, don’t ask me how I did it, but I did! He was taller than me, as I spoke of before, my head at his chest as I held the spear to his neck, trying to choke him off. I didn’t care what would happen to me at this point, I was just filled with so much rage! Hell I was even growling at this point!

I felt a set of paws grab my arms and drag me back, before yelling loudly as I was punched hard in the gut, causing me to fall on my knees, wheezing softly as my face burned. I felt myself being lifted up once more; I saw the hand wind up for another punch before a voice I hated to hear called out from behind. “That is quite enough,” Alpha. The guard dog lowered his arm, and that’s when I noticed it was the one I was choking good, let him know that even if I’m smaller, I can still beat him…if I’m lucky. “Turn him,” the order down, I was spun around, my arms behind my back as I was forced to stand up, looking at the trench coat wearing dog. “You know human,” he spoke, slipping his paws in his pockets before saying. “Even though my kind isn’t the most…smartest of the races, with the right leader we can have order…and I want order here, such outbursts can really damper such order, don’t you think?”

“Go to hell…” I muttered to him as he only chuckled softly.

“That’s what I like about you humans, that drive, gryphons have it, dragons as well, but they can back it up with their raw power, humans on the other paw. You need your tech…your weapons to make you look any sort of a threat. And yet here you are, attacking my dogs, a raw rage that’s I love to see!”

“Would you believe me that I had a major anger issues growing up?” I asked smiling. “Broke a kid noise with a hockey stick because he stole my chips.”

“Use being the word used here human,”

“Get me mad enough mutt,” I spat out before glaring. “And I’ll show you how much rage I can give!” he only softly laughed again before I then said “I don’t care what you think you can do to me…I will not easily be bent to do what you want!”

“So are you saying…we can’t do anything, we could beat you, and you would not submit?”

“Damn right,” I muttered looking to him as he shook his head before turning, seeming to think before he snapped his paws, and pointed to a guard before him and waved him over. The guard came over at once, as harsh whispers were heard before the guard nodded before moving to the colt, and grabbing him by his neck and lifting him up.

“Silver Arrow!” the mare called out as another guard went and grabbed her, pushing her along the wall as I jerked as Alpha produced a long, thin knife, walking over to the coat who was screaming and crying in fear. He moved even closer before holding his chest to hold him still, before the knife press along his throat.

“And what if…the life of a child was in your hands human?”

I jerked when I saw this, how could it be that nearly two weeks ago I came to this land, for a vacation and the GGG, it was all peaceful…in a way, but now here I was, underground, watching as this damn dog was threaten to harm this child?! How may I ask you?! “This is what is going to happen human,” the dog spoke once more, as the colt only cried softly more, I could see it in his eyes, fear. “We are not going to harm you…oh no, every time you break a rule, all we are going to do is not give you food for that day, but however, this one, of he will get the beatings or whatever we feel is needed. Do you want that on your soul…to know it is because of you, that this child would be in pain?!”

“You…sick bastard,”

“Perhaps,” he admitted shrugging. “But know this human, every pony that is here, every dog, and even you…you are mine. Nothing but slaves, and if I don’t like you…I will get rid of you, now then…do we have an understanding?” I just looked down, waiting just long enough to say.

“Let the kid go…I’ll…you won’t have any more issues with me,”

“Very good human,” I heard a soft thud followed by more crying before he then said. “Take the human to his cell, bound his hands along one of the bars, and give him no food,”

And this was how I spent the first day as a prisoner.

Sitting there, trying to sleep was hard, I’ll tell you that much, but it did give me time to truly think about things; I mean, what else was I to do? The first thing that always came to my mind was my mother, why, I don’t know, I kept replaying over and over again what was said when she found out my girlfriend was a pony. And that’s when I realized something…that’s when I started to noticed more of the hate groups between the ponies and humans. In a sense, I guess I just considered that the world was a good place because my mother so understood, but when I saw her for what she truly was…

I understand now, that the human race has it flaws, any race does. This shouldn’t have been news, that there would be racism when all of this happened, but I was so in my way, of just thinking the major human race were just dicks…did I become one myself? I really don’t know the answer to this, but when I see my other family members, that’s when I remembered that some of them, though they were happy that I was happy, they didn’t want to see me with my pony girlfriend, thinking on this, how could this be any different then what my mother did? Did I let this be okay because they were not in my face telling me I was wrong? Ugh…if I could I would’ve punched the cage around me in my anger. I know that in my mind I planted my race as a bunch of assholes, but well…I know that is not a fact.

We are trying, everyone is ponies, humans, gryphons, dragons, every race is trying to form peace with one another, it will be hard, it will be long, but it seems the humans are trying even harder. We are an alien in this world, just as much they are in our world. Ponies like Nova Star, and humans like me, we can prove that two very different races can get along. The dragons, who didn’t like the ponies at all for some reason, they are trying hard now to form peace with the princesses, and they had been in this world far longer! Everyone is trying…and I believe that this is good enough; this is good enough to keep on fighting no matter what. Maybe I wouldn’t live to be able to see the worlds when everyone is treated as equal, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t try and help.

I’ll tell you, that night, I felt something strong, I did dream, but I couldn’t for the life of me, remember what the dream was, I couldn’t remember if it was good or bad, but I knew it felt different, stranger than normal. But when I woke up, it was because, much like the day before, we were awoken by the sound of one of that dog’s slamming whatever they had toward the cages. I had to wait until they undid the extra rope that held me along the cage, and soon followed afterward; I did have no choice of the matter.

These dogs though, they really couldn’t be considered guards, many of the ponies were talking to one another, I guess trying to do something to keep their spirits up. I over heard one saying that Celestia would come and save us all. In a way, I really hope they were right. I know Nova must be worried greatly about me; I hope she would’ve gone to the guards and explain something. “Excuse me,” after raising my pick one more and slamming it into the wall, a few more gems falling out. I looked over with half closed eyes, to see the colt from yesterday, his mother also watching. “T…thank you,”

“For what?” I asked going back to work.

“You…did save me,”

“All I did was agree to not do anything stupid,” I pointed out. “I’m not about to let my idiotic ideas, getting a child hurt.”

“Either way,” a female voice spoke as I looked back over, seeing his mother’s eyes look to me. “Thank you…”

“You shouldn’t thank me for anything, until we are all safe and out of here…how long have you two been here?”

“Little over two weeks,” she answered. “Some have been captured years ago, others months, we are, as they would say, new meat.” I only hummed my respond to this as I went back to work. I looked about slowly, trying to find something, before I noticed there were three tunnels, all three held a red mark over each one.

“You know what those tunnels are?” I asked as the mother looked over and seemed to nod, that’s when I noticed that her cutie mark seemed to be that of three flowers, not sure what they were so I couldn’t say.

“Exits,” she answered. “One goes straight up, the ladder from what I heard is tall, the other goes out on the side, and I’m not sure about the last one.”

“Could be underground, or inside a mountain, the this place is craved out.” I pointed out, looking about quickly seeing the exits before then offering. “It is rather chilly, so that could be the fact, and if we can at least feel the wind, then at least that is something…”

“What do you mean I can’t see my sister?”

This caused me to stop as I looked over, seeing a new diamond dog I had yet to meet yet yelling up at the Alpha. She was a great deal smaller, maybe half my size from what I could see, her coat, pure white, she wore a black vest and black collar with some spikes along the edges. “Are you questioning my reasons pup?” Alpha asked looking down at the female dog, his arms crossed. “I told you my reason,”

“No, you just said no I couldn’t!” I noticed that her speech was rather good, almost like Alpha’s in a way.

“And that is a good enough reason,” he answered calmly.

“You promised me that if I helped with the last run, the one where that human came in, that I would be able to speak to my baby sister!” she yelled out, her paws shaking with rage. “It’s been nearly half a year since I saw her! She is the only family I have left!”

“And why should I care?” she jerked back as her so called leader said that to her as if she was smacked. “You and your sister were raised by those…ugh, ponies, we saved you, and we are trying to teach you right, she is at Los Pegasus for a reason, they can teach her better then I. she is young…pretty soon she’ll forget about ether you, or her so called pony family.”

“You didn’t save us, you took us! You murdered our family!”

“Enough!” he roared out calling her to shrink back a bit as he glared down at her. “You want to see your sister? Prove to me that you are a dog, not a pony!” and just like that, he turned and left, leaving the female dog standing there, alone. She just looked down, looking on the brink of tears, but she held it back, there was not else she could do. Walking over toward my group a guard then said,

“You pup!” she looked up, jerking a bit. “I’m tired; watch this group as we go to sleep,”

“Both of you are going?” she asked as the other guard yawned.

“Yes, boring work, you do boring work, or we make you do it,” he shoved the spear to her, I swear it was almost bigger than her! “We be back whenever,”

Leaving us with just one small dog, with a spear. She just sighed and then flinched when she saw me, unknown to her I heard the whole thing; maybe everyone else did as well, I didn’t know. The sound of my pick hitting the rocks echoed for a bit before she whispered. “I’m sorry…”

“For what?” was all I said.

“For getting you in this mess,”

“But not the others?”

“I didn’t help to get them here…but I’m sorry for them as well…”

“If you are really sorry…you could get out and tell the princesses about where we are,”

“I…I can’t, I tried that one time but Alpha found out and threaten to harm my sister if I did so again!” I said nothing again, but…I can see why, she was just looking out for her sister.

“You have a name?” I asked her before she nodded and said.

“Zoe…my name is Zoe,”

“I’m…I’m Silver Arrow,” we both looked over seeing the colt say his name as he gave a small smile up at us.

“And I am, Angel Heart,” now that I think of it...why is it that names for ponies are almost always about their Cutie Marks? Oh well, I shouldn’t say anything about it. “I’m sorry about your sister Zoe…”

“W…why are you being nice to me?”

“You really haven’t done anything to us,” Angel spoke as I looked over. “I’ve noticed the way you are around the others, and how you tried to smuggle in food for us all when you can…you’re a kind being Zoe, and you shouldn’t be here.”

“I…I know that,” she whispered but we shut up as she went to attention as a guard walked past. When he was gone she went on. “But…I have to do this for my sister!”

“Some may not understand you’re motives,” Angel whispered as I blended to the background by working, making it look like our group was not talking. “But I understand…I would do anything to keep my Arrow here safe.” Zoe just looked over at her before looking down, sighing softly before I then asked.

“There has to be a way…what about the lock on the cages?” she looked up to me before I whispered. “Can you get me a key?” I asked looking to her as she thought about it and nodded. “Okay, but now there the thing of these ropes, I can get them off without it shocking me…”

“The gems here are magic blockers,” she answered as she looked around quickly before saying. “I have an idea, but it may cause you from getting hurt, can you deal with that?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “But before you do, there are a few things we have to iron out…for one, if we do escape, I want to get everyone out, if we escape, they will just pack up and go right?”

“That’s right, the ponies that are working here is one group…there another small group but I wouldn’t try and save them.”

“Why?”

She released a sigh before saying. “Those ponies…had become pets in a way; they would sooner sell you out so they could be rewarded with food or whatever, then to let you escape.”

“But…we have to help them…” Arrow whispered as I looked back at him and sighed softly but his mother beat me to the punch.

“Sweetie…these ponies, think of them that have been brain washed. They wouldn’t help us, they would help the ones that took us…we can’t trust them,”

“Beside…” I answered “I’m sure if we are quick enough the princesses can come and help them, but right now we have to get out of here.”

“Agreed…” Zoe answered before looking to me. “I’ll help you, under one condition,” looking to her once more as I slowly worked, she then answered. “Help me get my sister back…you’re a human, you must know someone who can help!” oh…I know somepony who can help. I agreed to her terms as she smiled back, thanking me for agreeing. But at that moment, that’s when I was hit hard in the face by the butt of her spear. I didn’t even see it coming as I fell backwards, and felt more punches land on me, I heard Arrow yell out, as some dogs rushed over. My vision was flashing, and I couldn’t feel a lot because of the pain, but I felt enough that something was shoved down my pockets.

“This one tried to attack me,” Zoe growled low as I was lifted up. “Take him back to the cage!”

“The Alpha will want the pony cub to be punished for this,”

“I’ll take him,” Zoe said. “Alpha wants me to prove I can be a dog, I’ll take the pony as mine for the night!” I heard the sound of soft laughing as I was dragged away, soon blacking out.

I didn’t understand why this was happening, why I couldn’t do anything as I was pressed down on the ground, as arms of those white human purest bastards held me down. My face pressed along the side of the ground, as I also heard crying, slowly moving my head up, I gasped loudly as I saw Lyra there, being held by one of those True Humans, as another held a gun to her head. I screamed, but no words escaped, I fought, but I was weak, I somehow saw a smile grow along the face of the one holding the gun, watched as his finger clenched at the trigger before…

“THAT IS ENOUGH!”

I blinked, watching as the area around me flashed a white light, as everyone around me seemed to just fade away, looking up, feeling the grip come off of me, I noticed that the sky was a dark red, but was slowly turning into the blue color of a calm day. What the heck…what just happened? Looking around I heard the clopping of hooves, and turned around and blinked as I saw Princess Luna walk toward me, her eyes were closed, calm, before opening them. Before I could even say anything she grabbed me in a hug as I gasped loudly. “Oh my dear friend! I have found you at last!”

“L…Luna?” I asked in shock before she released me. “What do you mean you found me…and how did I get back on Earth, I thought I was in Canterlot?” indeed, as I looked about, I could see that was I was in a park I grew up around back home, swings, a playground, the grass a lush green. But…looking around I could’ve sworn something was off.

“Peace my human friend,” she spoke looking to me. “You must understand…this is a dream,”

“A…dream?”

“Yes, none of this is real; this is your dream, your mind. Just moments ago it was a nightmare, but, it has been destroyed. Such is the duty of myself…but that is not important right now, where are you?!” where am I…what did that mean, as in, where was I at, as in this moment in this dream or…wait

“I was kidnapped…” I said slowly, not really a question, but at the same time, was. “Diamond Dogs yeah! They are the one that had been doing the kidnapping! I was taking after I left the Gala trying to find Nova!”

“It is as we feared then…” she spoke softly looking away. “Brandon, I need you to stay asleep, luckily, I was able to enter your dreams, humans are much more…different than that of ponies or the other races here. I prayed that you were not beaten, but in a bitter sort of sweet moment…it can help us!”

“How?”

“At this moment,” she spoke walking away as I followed after her. “My sister and I are taking many air ships toward the area. We were wrong about the humans not wanting to help, truly they did…but there were…issues,”

“The True Humans I’m guessing?”

“Yes, how did you know?” she asked stopping to look at me.

“I met two,” I answered, looking down before away. “They are the ones behind this, just as much as those dogs…but there is one helping. I planned on escaping out of my cell and getting the ones I can out as well. It is better if we left soon, that way, there wouldn’t be a hostage like issues going on. If you were to come now, or if they were to catch wind of you knowing where their location are; they could pack up and leave before it is too late!”

“My sister thought as much,” Luna confirmed before going on. “Just please be careful, I wouldn’t want you or anypony for that matter harmed.”

I smiled as I looked up to her before her eyes grew white for a brief moment before saying. “I have your location, we will be there soon, within the hour or so…it was rather close.”

“Wait, before you go, what did you mean about the humans helping?”

“I’ll explain when we meet up in the flesh my young human friend,” was all she said, as the world around me, started to…melt away.

I jerked awake a bit, groaning as I felt some pain where Zoe had hit me, it was only to be for show I know…but damn, for someone as small as her, she can sure pack a punch! My hands this time, quit luckily were not bound to the bars like last night, and now thinking of it, could that strange feeling of a weird sleep last night, could that have been Luna? Either way, I felt something inside my pant pocket, moving my hand slowly, as to not wake the guard, who was snoozing away by the only exit, I felt a gem and a key. Taking the gem, I hiss a bit as I felt it was sharp. Pulling it out slowly, I brought it to the ropes and started to move it back and forth, cutting the rope. Remembering that this gem was supposedly a magic blocker, the last time I messed with the rope, I got a mild shock. Working the gem all the more, I heard the small snap of the rope breaking as I grinned widely. Rubbing my wrists as I pocketed the gem. Going back inside, I pulled out a key that looked like it should’ve been in the 1700’s. Moving to my cell door, I placed it in the lock, and slowly turned it. It clicked, showing it unlocked, the guard jerking, snoring loudly.

Pushing the door slowly open, I looked along the wall, not noticing until now, but there were digging tools here as well. I knew at times that we would no doubt have to fight, the earth ponies could use their body, and unicorns, if strong enough could use their magic; me, I had nothing. Going over to the wall ever so slowly, not wanting to kill someone, even if the fuckers kidnapped me, so I moved away from anything that held a too much sharp edge, such as the pick axe. My hand went over to a rather overly large shovel, the spade looking almost the size of my head, and curved about inside enough that one could hold a lot of dirt inside of it. The handle was metal, as well as the spade, making it feel a bit heavier then what it should have been. Testing the weight and the height, the handle being a bit longer then my arm. Looking over at the guard, I heard him snort, but gasping as he started to wake up, looking about, I knew I had no choice, and slammed the shovel across his face quickly. A loud clang being heard as the dog released a short yelp, before falling over on his side, knocked out cold! Checking the shovel to see if any damage was done to it, I was surprised when there was none at all. Damn, this thing must be built with something that only this world has…that, or these guys just go down rather easily.

Going to the wall once more, I took the keys that were left dangling there, watching as the ponies all got up. I went over to Angel Heart’s cell first, seeing that her son wasn’t there. “Where’s Arrow?” I asked unlocking her cell with one of the many keys on the ring before she answered.

“Zoe took him to her room,” she answered as I went and started to unlock all of the cells with ponies in them. “She showed me where her room was, when we are ready, we can go and get him and leave.”

“I’m not leaving anywhere with that damn human!” looking over, I saw a plain looking unicorn, really, he was just plain, brown coat, brown eyes, his mane and tail black, and his cutie mark was just an open book…latterly, it was an open book. “It’s because of his kind that we are here in the first place!” he hissed softly looking to me, at least this asshole had enough brains to not yell. “If the princesses didn’t feel pity for these low life scums, then we wouldn’t be in this spot! These mutts couldn’t even spell their own names, and then these humans come and then they start to become smart enough to pony nap!”

“Hey there!” another pony called out, an earth pony, this one was all blue, and his fur covered his hoof a bit, his mane a curly black. His cutie mark being that of a hammer and saw. He was buffed, not as large as Big Mac when I met him, but chooses enough. “This human could have easily left us in those cages, but he didn’t, he is not like all humans!”

“Bah, must feel good when your own kind leaves you behind like the dirt you are,” he even spat toward me as I backed away.

“Look,” I answered holding my free hand, which was left, up in a show of me trying to be nice. “I can understand that you are upset and stuff with all that happened…but if we all work together on this…” I was thrown hard to the wall by his magic, a brown mud like aura held me to the wall as I gasped in pain. Being thrown and kept on something would hurt you know.

“That’s enough!” the blue pony called out softly, but with enough voice that he could do without alerting everyone else.

“You think I would help you human?” the unicorn spat as he let me drop, Angel coming to my side to help me up. “Listen up ponies, I know a way out, and if we rush them now, we can save the others and leave! It is the human’s fault we are here, so why should we help the kind of a being who is lesser then us!?” the other looked to the pony speaking, as the blue one that was on my side, also came over and helped me to my feet. I groaned rubbing my chest a bit but nodded to the two, saying that I was fine. It happened so quickly that I didn’t even see the unicorn, and the others that believed him, leave us alone in the holding area.

“That damn unicorn,” the male earth pony muttered softly before saying. “He is going to get us all killed or captured again!” I made my way over, picking up the shovel again that I dropped; likely it didn’t break when I was thrown. “Doesn’t he realize that you are a victim as much as we are?”

“He is no doubt stuck in his way of thinking,” I answered. “He believes all humans are the same…and I don’t blame him really. I don’t understand how long you all had been here, he is just eager to get out of here as anyone,”

“But to attack…”

“Its fine,” I spoke standing up fully. “Let’s just meet up with Zoe, find Silver and get the hell out of…” I was stopped when I heard the sound of yelling, blinking as we looked over toward the exit of the holding area before I then said. “I have a very bad feeling about this now…”

The three of us ran out of the area quickly, shovel still in my hand, as we rushed toward the mining area, to see something that I was at one point, not really surprised at. The ponies, who I just released out, were fighting the dogs that came out at some point. Yes the dogs were vastly bigger, but the thing was, the ponies outnumbered them, and they were pissed! Looking around in shock, trying to at least see if I could find Zoe in all this mess but couldn’t at all, this causing me to worry, as well as Silver’s mother who also seemed to be looking for the one keeping her child safe. “What is he doing?!” turning my head to look at the stallion beside me, we all watched as the unicorn that attacked me, were waving the ponies down a tunnel, possible the way out, when he turned and saw us, I saw this grin plastered along his face, before his magic started to form, and he hit the wall beside him. The area around us started to shake and rumble, not enough to knock anyone off their feet…but enough that the exit to where he was, was now blocked by rocks that had fallen to cover it!

“That fucking…!” I grunted in anger, he was willing to only save who followed him but not anyone else?!

Seemed this escape…was going to be much harder than I thought…