“Just close your eyes, Spike. No, no, stop fidgeting. Now, concentrate.”
Spike sighed as Twilight Sparkle’s horn began to glow. He loved her dearly, but she was rather too fond of using him as a guinea pig for his liking. He closed his eyes tightly, waiting for something to happen.
He began to hear an odd, strained whisper in his head, and felt an uncomfortably itchy sensation at the base of his skull. “Ugh, Twilight! What are you doing!?”
The sensation ceased as Twilight groaned in frustration. “Spike! You broke my concentration! I think I almost had it!”
“Had what?”
“I’ve told you twenty times, already! It’s the new telepathy spell I’ve been working on for the past month! How am I supposed to improve my magical abilities if I can’t even practice them properly?”
“What is it even supposed to do? You could at least fill me in on that much before practicing weird stuff on me!”
“Communication without words, Spike. Think of the possibilities! I could just imagine words in my head, and anyone I wanted to could hear them! Why, if I worked hard enough at it, I’ll bet that I could establish two-way communication. And why stop there!? I could set up whole telepathic networks with enough effort! Why, I’ll bet that you could have a whole room full of ponies, all talking to each other in their minds, as long as this spell is in effect!”
Spike put a comforting claw on his friend’s shoulder. “You need to learn to relax, Twilight. Besides, why would you need a telepathy spell? I mean, it sounds really great and all, but why couldn’t you just talk to the other ponies? Why would you need to talk in your minds? Sounds kinda pointless to me.”
Twilight glared at the baby dragon. “It doesn’t really matter if the spell has any practical applications or not. The point is, I need to be able to do it.”
“You’re getting yourself all worked up over nothing again. You know what you need, Twilight? A bit of fresh air. Let’s go see what our friends are up to!”
Twilight took a deep breath. For the first time in two days, she cracked a smile. As much as she loved her studies, it pained her to go more than a day without seeing her friends. “You’re right, Spike.”

“What I need, huh?” Twilight scoffed. “Are you absolutely sure that there’s no self-interest here at all?”
Spike chuckled. “Well, alright, maybe I just wanted a little fresh air myself. And there’s no air fresher than the air at Carousel Boutique!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. When would Spike realize that Rarity had absolutely no interest in him? She raised a hoof to Rarity’s door. Even if she was only here because Spike dragged her, it would be nice to catch up with some of her friends. She had sequestered herself in the library for two days, trying desperately to perfect that spell. There will be time enough for that tomorrow. Today, I’ll just relax and call on my friends.
Before Twilight could actually knock, however, the door swung open, almost bashing her in the face. An elegant gasp sounded from the doorway.
“My goodness, Darling, I’m so sorry! You really should watch where you’re going. One could get hurt walking into doors whilst they are opening!”
“Are you alright, Twilight?” asked a quieter, softer voice.
Twilight looked up and saw Rarity and Fluttershy, both ready for a journey, their saddlebags strapped tight to their backs.
“Hey, girls,” said Twilight. “Where are you going?”
“We were heading out to harvest some gems. I am, unfortunately, running a bit low, and Fluttershy has volunteered to accompany me.”
Fluttershy crossed her front hooves nervously, a deeply troubled look in her eye. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go alone, after what happened last time.”
“Nonsense, Darling,” answered the elegant white unicorn. “And even if those brutes do reappear, I have them wrapped around my little hoof.” She made a dismissive gesture in the air, grinning confidently at her easily-frightened friend. “Twilight, I believe you can perform the gem-finding spell almost as well as I can. And Spike, you were such a big help last time. The both of you are more than welcome to accompany me as well, if you wish.”
Spike blushed and nodded all too eagerly, “Oh, yes, Rarity! We would love to come with you, wouldn’t we, Twilight!?”
Twilight sighed. She had wanted to visit Applejack today, but obviously that wasn’t going to happen. The little dragon had made up his mind, and besides, she didn’t want to hurt Rarity’s feelings. “Fine, I’ll go.”
“Don’t worry, Twilight, I’m sure we won’t be gone long. With all of us working together, we are sure to be home before sundown,” said Rarity, her tone chipper and her eyes sparkling with optimism.

“Hey, everypony! What are you doing!? Are you going somewhere!? Is it somewhere fun!?” Pinkie Pie bounced up to her four friends eagerly. Rainbow Dash followed after, at a slower pace.
“Oh, hello, Pinkie,” said Rarity. “We’re just off to search for some gems. You may come too, if you like.”
Pinkie Pie cocked her head to one side with curiosity. She had just seen her friends walk past Sugarcube Corner, and she and Rainbow Dash had gone to investigate. “Gems? Don’t you have so many of those, Rarity? From that time with the Diamond Dogs? I mean, that was more gems than I’d ever seen in my life! Big gems and little gems and red gems and blue gems and…”
Rarity shrugged, interrupting her hyper friend’s stream of adjectives. “One can never have too many gems, Darling. Besides, I find that I’m running disgracefully low as of late.”
Pinkie Pie grinned broadly. “Okie dokie lokie! Have fun! Dashie and I were just about to visit the joke shop, right Dashie?”
Rainbow Dash returned the pink ponies grin, “Aww, yeah. Applesnack isn’t even gonna know what hit her!” The two mares slapped their front hooves together, and laughed wildly.
Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Spike exchanged glances, staring at their friends in their nigh-incomprehensible joy. The two were nearly inseparable, and had inside jokes that none of them could ever hope to understand. “OK, well, I guess we’ll see you two later then. Just take it easy on Applejack, won’t you?” said Twilight, hoping to be gone and back as soon as possible.
Pinkie Pie giggled, “Okie dokie lokie! Don’t worry, it’ll be a fun prank, we promise!” Dash just smirked, excited to see the look on Applejack’s oh-so-infuriatingly-confident face.
As the three ponies and the baby dragon set off down the road, however, and odd sensation seized Pinkie Pie’s body. This wasn’t a sign that she was familiar with, but it was extremely unpleasant. Her muzzle twitched uncontrollably; her tail lashing wildly from side to side. She tried to move, but while the seizure had control, it was as if she were tethered in place by immovable weights.
“Are you OK, Pinkie? You don’t look so good. You’re kinda freaking me out,” said Rainbow Dash uncomfortably. She was familiar with the “Pinkie Sense,” but the look in Pinkie Pie’s eyes said that this was a premonition that couldn’t be good.
As the blue pegasus went to place a comforting hoof on her dearest friend’s shoulder, Pinkie Pie stiffened and turned to her, a deeply concerned look plastered across her normally happy face. “You’re right, Dashie. Something’s really wrong.”
“With what?”
“I think it has something to do with Rarity and the others. I could be wrong, though.”
“I wouldn’t doubt the Pinkie Sense, if I were you. Maybe I should go with them, make sure they’re safe?”
Pinkie Pie froze in horror, then suddenly leapt Dash, almost knocking her to the ground. “Dashie, maybe you shouldn’t go. What if it’s dangerous?”
Rainbow Dash stood up as tall as her four legs would allow, puffing out her chest and opening their wings to their fullest extension. She resented this sudden concern for her well-being. Didn’t Pinkie remember who she was talking to? “Pinkie Pie, danger is my life! Whatever happens, I can handle it. Don’t worry your pretty little head, I’ll take care of our friends, even if an Ursa Major attacks!”
Pinkie Pie raised her eyebrows, looking mildly hurt. “Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t doubt me? Dashie, trust me…”
“This is different, Pinkie Pie! This is me! Who’s the awesomest, coolest, most athletic pony in all of Equestria?”
“You are, but…”
“No buts. I’ll be back before you know it. Don’t sweat.” Before she could hear one more protest, Rainbow was off, trailing her other friends, mumbling lame excuses for changing her mind about going with them.
“Be careful, Dashie,” said Pinkie softly, even though she knew that it was too late for Rainbow Dash to hear her.

The beige plain stretched out in front of their eyes, a clearing with some random trees and rocks scattered here and there. This place was a diamond mine, literally, and Rarity was not about to let a single glittering gem get away. Rarity and Twilight began searching for gems, marking the places for Spike and Dash to begin digging. The only remarkable landmarks that broke up the monotonous stretch of land were a series of massive craters, leading into a dark, convoluted series of tunnels. This was Diamond Dog territory, there was absolutely no mistaking it.
Fluttershy nervously eyed the massive craters in the ground. “Umm… I’m sorry to bother you, but are you all sure this place is absolutely safe? I mean, if you’re sure, then that’s OK, but if you’re not absolutely, positively, 100%...”
“Aww, lighten up, Fluttershy! Just let those beasts come! I bet I could take ‘em with one hoof tied behind my back!” Rainbow Dash scoffed at her friend, practicing her daring dives in between her digging for gems.
“But Rainbow Dash, I’m not sure that’s wise. I mean, maybe you could fight them all off, but, I’m just saying, what if Twilight or Rarity or Spike got hurt? What would you do then?”
“Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t leave any of my friends hanging! I’d take care of them any way I could.”
“That’s good, Rainbow Dash. I’m really glad. Because if anything happened to one of my friends, I don’t know what I’d do with myself. I don’t think I could live with the guilt…”
“Guilt, schmilt. I’ll keep all of you safe, don’t you worry your pretty little heads!” Come on, you mangy mutts, she thought, just try to hurt us. I’ll show Pinkie what’s what.
“OK, ladies, knock it off! Nothing’s going to happen to us. Or at least, I don’t think so. I guess I can’t really say for certain. But for now, let’s just dig, alright? The sooner we’re done here, the sooner we can get home!” Twilight had had just about enough of their bickering.
Dash snickered, “I see, Twilight, you just want to get back home to Applesnack, don’t you? Ha! That’s funny! Twilight liikes Applesnack! Twilight liikes Applesnack!” The pegasus sang mockingly, flying circles above Twilight’s head.
Twilight blushed profusely, furrowing her brow. “That’s none of your business, Rainbow! Besides, maybe I’d just really like to get home. I was on the edge of a breakthrough in my telepathy studies, you know!”
“Alright, alright, don’t bust a lung,” said Dash dismissively. “I won’t tell her.”
Twilight grunted and tapped the ground with her hoof. OK, so, maybe she did like Applejack. So what? Maybe it did hurt a little to be away from her for two (no, it was three) days. It always caused Twilight pain when she missed her friends. She needed to be able to talk to them, to share things with them. Maybe it just hurt a little more when it was Applejack she missed.
“Please, Darlings, pay attention! I had thought that you had come to help me!” called Rarity, marking a cache of gems with an “X.” Spike followed slavishly, casting reproaching looks at his friends for their lack of attention to his beloved Rarity.

The five friends searched and dug for several hours, until the sun was almost down.
“Are we almost finished? I was really hoping to be finished by sundown.” Twilight heaved a sigh. She just wanted to run to Sweet Apple Acres the moment she helped Rarity carry the gems to her boutique.
“Yes, Twilight, there’s just one more absolutely marvelous cache left over here. It shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes to excavate.” Rarity indicated the spot.
Dash grinned. The last few gems of the day. She was going to make it a point to make the awesomest dive she could before digging it up. She was mildly disappointed at how uneventful the day had been. Pinkie Pie had almost gift-wrapped an adventure for her, and here she was, with nothing to show for her efforts but a day of hard labor.
She flew high into the air, until the ground was almost a blur. Faster and faster, she began her descent, until she saw her friends. They were staring down at their hooves. Was the ground rumbling? Dash couldn’t tell from this altitude. As she approached the ground, she finally saw the sight that she had been waiting for.
Right on cue, a large, ugly claw raised itself from the ground. A Diamond Dog! This was her chance! Now we’ll see who needs to be careful, Pinkie! She descended even faster this time. She was going to do it, she was going to give this Diamond Dog a taste of her new trick, her very own patented Atomic Rainbomb!
But as Rainbow Dash reached the ground, she didn’t feel the atmosphere break apart. She had missed her chance.
Heh, no problem! She thought, licking her lips with unconscious nervousness, I can still kick that monster in the face!
She continued her speedy descent, rushing towards the ground faster and faster. Just as she was about to lash out a back hoof at the Diamond Dog’s jaw... She realized she hadn’t been fast enough.
A few nanoseconds too late, and all she felt were those thick, grey fingers wrapping around one of her back hooves.
Rainbow Dash disappeared into the darkness.
“Rainbow!” gasped Twilight. She ran towards the crater, but her telekinesis wasn’t fast enough to prevent the monster from escaping with her friend. Suddenly, the ground seemed to burst as two large, muscular Diamond Dogs leapt from the hole.
One of them grabbed Twilight Sparkle, and disappeared deep underground.
“No, Twilight!” screamed Spike. He tried to run towards her. He stopped dead as the second Diamond Dog swiped at him, sweeping him up as well. Its rough paw grabbed him, scooping him up into the air as he struggled in vain.
“No,” came a harsh, yet authoritative voice from within the now much-expanded crater. “Not the dragon. The unicorn.”
The Diamond Dog grinned. His job would be easy. He threw the baby dragon to the ground, and it landed straight on its head, falling unconscious. They already had one unicorn, and for all he knew, they already had the right unicorn. He would just have to take the other one for good measure.
He lunged at Rarity.
Paralyzed with fear, the white unicorn just stood where she was, her blue eyes wide. This wasn’t right. To the Diamond Dogs, she had been like a queen. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She controlled them. What did they want with her?
Suddenly, a yellow blur streaked across Rarity’s vision. Before she knew what had happened, she was pushed out of the way in a flurry of yellow and pink. One of Fluttershy’s hooves collided with the side of her head, and Rarity’s vision went dark. As she lost consciousness, only one thought came to mind.
Fluttershy… be safe.
The Diamond Dog grabbed the first soft, warm pony body that met his hands. He retreated underground, before he even had time to survey his catch.
The creatures filled in the craters, to ensure that they wouldn’t be followed, and then descended through the labyrinthine passages of the Diamond Dog mines. Even if they were followed, there was no way that they could be found by anyone not intimately familiar with those passages.

“The raid went off without a hitch, I suppose?”
“General, I…”
General Schnauzer glared at his underling. “This had better be good, Captain Beagle.”
Captain Beagle swallowed and stammered, “It wasn’t my fault, Sir, it was the privates’. They mixed up the…”
“As long as we have Miss Rarity,” barked the General, the name feeling like acid on his tongue, “Please tell me we have that one.”
“You can’t blame them, Sir, they weren’t with Spot, Rover, and Fido that day. They never would have seen her. All that they knew was that she was the unicorn. And isn’t it just our luck, there were two unicorns today.”
The general raised an eyebrow, a sick light gleaming in one watery yellow eye. “Describe this other unicorn for me, Captain Beagle.”
“Well, Sir, she’s small, and purple, and…”
“I seem to recall that Spot’s report on the Rarity incident included a purple unicorn, with a small dragon on her back. This unicorn seemed to be the leader of the group who came to rescue that whining creature. Of course, it isn’t the same level of offense, but she still created quite an embarrassment, did she not?”
“Yes, Sir, I believe you’re right,” said Captain Beagle, his voice full of measured relief. Maybe he would keep his job after all. “Then, the procedure, Sir…?”
“Is to go on according to plan. These ponies will run the Triple Crown, as if this new unicorn was Miss Rarity herself.”