I let out a sigh as I looked in the mirror. Running my claw over my stomach, I could feel the lump that had spent the past several months forming. It was tiny, you wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it, but it was there. Nadene had already started me on a prenatal diet to make sure the baby got all the nutrients it needed. I still find it hard to believe, that this is actually happening. People go through this all the time, yet I still find it difficult to fathom. I'm going to be a mother. The very idea of it terrifies me.

Griffin, I'm not worried about. He'll adapt fine, it's what he does, and I've seen how good he is with foals, when he's around them anyways, and now that he's gotten help for his issues, I'm certain he'll be a good father. If there's any consolation, it's that I can always rely on him, and I don't have to do this alone. He was so happy when I told him, at least I don't have to worry about what to do if I can't handle it.

Then, there's the other thing. Why am I out here? To find my parents? The more I think about it, the more what Griffin said makes sense. We've done fine with him out of commission, do I really need to stay on? Am I holding on to some foolish hope that will never come to be? Am I trapped in the past? Or, maybe, I don't feel like I can be a parent till I find mine?

I sighed again and shook my head. All these questions, no answers, and sitting here thinking about them isn't solving anything. I walked up to the bridge and looked out at the horizon, spotting the Hornet hovering lazily alongside the Possibility as we flew. I could see Shimmer at the helm, and she waved to me before bringing the ship into a tighter formation.

Time went on, many days of quiet thought and introspection. That was a bit of trouble. Since everyone knew us, the moment our ship showed up on the skyline, all the activity underneath would vanish.

... or not. As we passed over a hill, we saw a number of diamond dogs all jumping into the air, waving their arms back and forth, and howling, trying to get our attention.

"Land the ship. Tell the Hornet to circle around and keep an eye out."

When the gangplank lowered, a hurried silence fell over the valley. All the shouting stopped as the dogs looked to us. Many of them had desperation clearly pasted on their visage.

"Uh, what's up dawgs?" I heard a series of groans from both them and my own crew. Yes, I did that on purpose, Griffin was always cheesy and things seemed to work out for him, why not give it a shot? They all seemed hesitant to speak, as though they were worried about something. "Well? What was all the ruckus about?" In reply, every dog present suddenly and immediately bowed, so far as to plant their foreheads on the ground. "Um... okay, that's nice and all, but seriously, what do you want?"

Finally rising from the almost prone position, one hound wearing a pair of gold earrings stood, though keeping his head low, he spoke.

"Please, we beg, help. Alpha is ill. No medicine. We are miners, builders, smiths, warriors. He is strong, he keeps den safe, but he cannot slay sickness. Our enemies will come, overtake."

"Yeah, okay, so, where is he?"

"Follow."

"Just a sec." I walked away from the group and towards the rest of the crew. Trixie, Nadene, Tiras, and Geirmund. We huddled together for privacy, and spoke in hushed tones. "Think it's a trap? It seems almost too easy."

"I do not know. Either way, they could not have known we were traveling in this direction. This is certainly a chance meeting. If it is a trap, it was not meant specifically for us." Tiras reasoned.

"Okay, so, that's a good sign at least. Recommended course of action?"

"Send myself, Geirmund, Starlight, Second Sight, and Surprise's mice." Nadene suggested. "Geir and I can diagnose and treat most illnesses, Starlight and Second Sight can use their specialties in case of emergency to help us escape, and the shadow mice can scout the warren. By the way, she's up to ten now."

"I like it. I'll come along as well. Something about this place feels off to me. I want to check it out." We all nodded in agreement before breaking the huddle.

"Very well. What is your name?" I asked the dog with the gold earrings.

"Smochak."

"Okay. We're ready, show us the way."

We headed east for a time, both ships circling overhead, keeping a eye out for trouble, or signs of a trap. We eventually reached a hill with a cave entrance in the side, which we entered. Despite the cave being fairly large, it still made me uneasy, being underground. The fact that there were hundreds of bats hanging from the cave ceiling didn't help my nerves any. Nadene and Geirmund regarded the flying rodents with interest. As we descended into the bowels of the earth, keeping our senses sharp for anything amiss, I began asking 'Smochak' some questions.

"Smochak, if you needed a doctor, what were you doing before we found you?"

"Ally clan to west, strong, have many slaves. Pony doctor among. Seek help. See ship, call down. Heard of you, friend to legend, you will help us. Lucky find you, help sooner than long walk."

'Friend to legend? Is he talking about Aoi? News spreads quickly. This may work in our favor.'

"So, on your way to your ally's den, you just happened to see us? How did you know we would help you? We have a bit of a bad reputation around here." I asked.

"We know misunderstanding. Ruby Hollow alpha is... was... stupid." He seemed to wince at the fact that he insulted an alpha dog, but continued none the less. "Marble Pillars send word, truth words, not foolishness. Many Alpha's go there, many dens change, much happiness follows."

"You said your allies to the west have a lot of slaves. Does your den have slaves?"

At my question, he stopped walking. He stood motionless, like a statue. He closed his eyes, grit his teeth, then whispered.

"Yes."

"You do know what we do right?" He turned to me, and when he opened his eyes, tears were streaming out of them, running down his cheeks. His entire face was screwed up an an expression of misery.

"Yes."

I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, seeing that face. He knew what he was doing, and knew it was wrong, yet he did it all the same. What was the reason for that? I can see from his tears that he would not be doing it if he had any choice in the matter, so then why?

"There's something you're not telling me." When I said that, he bit his lip. "It's alright, just say it."

"Alpha is.... sick for long time. We trade gems for medicine, make well, but short time only. Need trade many gems, need slaves, or alpha die. Heard Marble Pillars, and Griffin Pirates, and Clan Nanashi help, no more slaves, all happy, we want freedom."

"Then, what's the problem? Marble Pillars has medicine. Why not release the slaves and join them? They'd help you."

"Because, Alpha not make it that far. No more medicine. All out. Slaves sick too. Used medicine to make better, have no more."

"Smochak, where were you getting your medicine before?" He grit his teeth again.

"From Pony."

"What?"

"Pony... Unicorn, Stallion, blue, dark mane, slick like oil. Mark of dagger on coin. He bring medicine, and list. List.... list say where ponies are. We go, we take ponies, make work, get gems, trade for medicine."

'A dagger on a coin? So, he's a hired mercenary. Just a tool used by whoever is really behind the scheme.'

We finally entered the den proper, where we saw dozens of ponies, a few griffins, and a minotaur, digging away, hauling carts, and the dogs working right along side them. There were very few guards. Most were busy digging. Even the ones wearing armor were doing what they could, passing out water, and carrying the exhausted away to mats so they could rest. The most distinguishing feature however, was the chamber we were brought into. Laying on a mat was the Alpha dog, easily the size of Steelhorn, and all around him were a number of slaves, as well as hounds. They were all coughing, several of them coughing up blood, and many were sweating and shaking. Most were emaciated, and a couple were vomiting.

Geirmund activated some sort of mechanism, bringing a steel plate up in front of his mouth, while Nadene donned a medical mask to avoid catching whatever was afflicting them, and set about their work.

"I try... so hard." Smochak began. "Even though slaves, we try be kind. No whipping, much food as can, always water, resting, care for sick. No foals here. Not take foals. Young are... future. To take innocence... too great sin. We told pony that we no more have slaves. He... angry. Yelling. Leave, no return. No medicine. Alpha is kind. Too kind. Won't let them suffer. I not let him suffer."

Hearing Smochak's story, it was truly heartbreaking. I found myself crying as well. A den that took care of their slaves? The alpha who decided his medicine should be given to others, and let himself fall to his illness? And when they found that there was another way, that they could all be free and happy, they were punished for pursuing it. So now, the reason why they didn't have any guards, the reason that the ponies, despite no longer being forced to remain, still worked, was so they could try and make enough money to convince the pony to come back, enough to afford medicine to cure them all?

When I looked behind me, I could still see, through misty eyes, Trixie, Starlight, and Second Sight were crying as well. Geirmund and Nadene returned, removed their masks, and sighed.

"Histoplasmosis." Nadene stated. "It's a lung infection caused by fungus, which grows from bat guano. There are bats all through these caves. This entire den is a dead zone. Everyone down here needs to be put on medication, us included, and especially you Gilda. Nobody can live here anymore." She turned to Smochak. "We need to get everyone ready to leave. We'll send word to Marble Pillars to prepare a massive quantity of antifungal medication. We'll use what stores we have on the ship, but, we're not prepared for such a large number of patients. I'll be honest. Not everyone is going to make it. And your Alpha... What's his name?"

"Herdran the mighty."

"His case is... he went too long without treatment."

"What do you mean?"

"Even if we gave him the medicine now, he has irreparable lung damage. He's not going to make it."

"No..."

"*Cough* Smochak. Listen." The giant dog hacked and wheezed from his bed.

"... I serve."

"Listen. I will not live. When the pony who brings medicine denied us, I chose to give what remained to those we took, to try and undo the damage I had done. This is penance... for my crimes. So listen well, and do as I ask. Leave me here."

"What? No, I not leave you to die alone!" He barked.

"... you are a friend, but a fool. If you stay, you will die. I will not command you to leave. You served for years. As my friend, go. Live. Many among the hound clans still believe these griffins to be invaders, conquerors. Tell all who will listen what you have seen, and what they have done. Then, with my death, there will be change." Herdran was crying now as well, and all his people, as well as the ponies who had been working, stopped to listen to him, and wept.

"Come on, we have to go. Starlight, go ghostly and go straight up, through the roof. Tell the Possibility to dump any cargo that isn't food or medicine to make room for passengers, that means repair supplies, ammunition, etc, and for the crew to meet us outside the den. Take Geirmund with you." I turned to the mecha pony. "Take the Hornet to Marble Pillars as fast as you can, and get as much medicine as you can, then head straight back here with it. You'll meet us on the way." Then, finally, I cast a sonor spell on myself and shouted. "Listen up! This place is a death trap. If you stay here, you'll die. We're all leaving. Come with us, and you'll get food and medical attention. We'll treat as many as we can, and we'll have to ration everything, but it'll be better than staying here! Anyone who is well enough, help with the evacuation. Let's get the hell out of here! Make sure nobody is left behind." I turned to Herdran. "That means you too bub. You may not make it through this, but I'm not gonna let you die here all alone. You at least deserve some comfort and a proper burial."

Everyone able helped to clear the den of those unable to move themselves. When we reached the surface, the Hornet was gone and there were boxes laying everywhere, all with labels written on them, such as 'Cannonballs' 'Planks' and 'Decorative Knick-Knacks'.

We helped everyone get on board, finding them room anywhere we could. The mess hall, the cargo hold, many of us shared bedrooms to make more room for our passengers. Nadene and anyone else with medical training went about triaging our patients, members of the crew included. In total, two hundred and seventeen ponies, thirteen griffins, and one hundred and thirty nine diamond dogs, including Herdran, who took up quite a bit of space.

The least ill went to the top of the treatment list, since it would take very little medicine to cure them, and since it would prevent them from getting worse, we were saving medicine in the long term. Next were the pregnant, and those with medical training, so Nadene and I got our medicine right away, considering we had both been in the den for less than a day. We didn't want to take chances, with me being pregnant, and her being our chief medical officer. Trixie opted out of treatment, stating she could wait till we reached Marble Pillars, and she might not even be infected. Second Sight and Starlight Wisp claimed the same, as did a number of slaves who didn't have any symptoms. Next on the list were the most seriously ill, those in danger of dying if they didn't get treatment, followed by everyone else.

Finally, those who didn't get treatment. Anyone who opted out. This included a large number of diamond dogs. It became a matter of pride for them. So many excuses. "We are not weak like ponies. We live in caves all our lives, we are strong. We can wait." Or, "If Alpha will suffer so another may be saved, so will I!" Or, "Please, let another have my treatment. They deserve it more. They didn't choose this, we forced it on them." Also, were the cases like Herdran, who were too far along to be saved. We did all we could to make them comfortable, but, as expected, along the way, a lot of them didn't make it.

In a week and a half, we had lost sixteen of our patients, Herdran included. Nobody slept that night, since the mournful howls of the dogs on board kept everyone up. The Hornet returned a few days after with a cargo bay full of medicine, meaning we didn't have to ration anymore. Everyone got their treatments, though we still lost another three who had been on the edge for a while.

Finally, we reached the town, where we were greeted by the three leaders. They had us come to dinner, saying that the ship was too crowded, and we needed to get off it for a while. I explained the situation to them, and their expressions turned grim.

"I see. So, the state of poverty in this warren occurred naturally, but a pony took advantage of the situation, and made it worse by betraying his kin." Yellow reciprocated for clarity.

"Greed is a terrible thing." Mer'na, the blue dragon, stated. She, (I could tell by the voice) sighed. "It drives us to madness and poisons the soul." As a dragon, greed is usually a chief part of the lifestyle. For her to say that, she must be speaking from experience.

"Unfortunately, whoever is behind this scheme was working through a proxy. Since the proxy bailed, there's no way to find out who it is." I added.

"Yes, that is unfortunate. Who could have believed that ponies, who are said to be the kindest of all in this world, could be capable of such cruelty?" Blue pondered.

"Just as Griffin always said. This world looks like a haven from the outside, but just under the skin, it's rotten... Anyways, I trust you'll take care of everything? Make sure the dead get proper burials. Herdran was well loved, and let Smochak tell his story."

"Of course." Red nodded. "You have done well, as usual. I am glad to see our faith in you was not misplaced."

"Thank you. If that is all, we'll be on our way."

"Actually, there's one more subject to address." Yellow began. "There's somewhere we want you to go. It's in the old Dominion. It's a location known as the 'Earth Scar', a massive chasm with cave systems and bridges crossing it. It's highly defended by overlooking artillery. It's also one of the biggest hotbeds for slavery and organized crime, the other being Fowl Feather Cove. If information about the pony behind these atrocities exists, you'll find it there. I wouldn't suggest force however, given it's defenses."

"I agree. Thank you for the information. The sooner we 'chop the head off the snake' the easier bringing other dens into the fold will be, since they'll no longer be manipulated by outside sources."

"We'll give you a map to the location. Just so you know, this isn't a den. At least not anymore. There was a slave revolution years ago, and since then it's become a thriving city for the dregs of society. However, don't bother with a disguise. Our sources tell us they'll receive you better if they know who you are, considering the Griffin Pirates are rather popular there."

"Very well. We'll be on our way."

Author's Notes:

NO! Not the decorative knick-knacks! Now how are we supposed to liven up the room with cheerful objects such as a Ceramic Bear, a Cat Clock, Plastic Fruit, and many many more? I know! Let's all go to Knack Knick's Knick-Knack Store and Shelving Emporium! Located in scenic Canterlot, 54 3rd street, in the 3 pm shadow of the castle. (EST) A knick for every knack and a shelf to put it on!

Why are the author's notes one of the most entertaining parts of the chapter?

The answer is: "Because I get to be CRAY-ZAY!"
Steppin on the beach!

In case you were wondering, 'Yellow, Blue, and Red, are the names of the three diamond dog alphas who ride dragons. They took their names from the scale colour of the dragons they ride, though it's more of a title than a name, (If Red were to die, their replacement would become the new 'Red') Blue is the female, and is the leader of the trio, and her dragon, Mer'na, is also the largest of the three. I wrote all this a while ago, back in 'Griffin the griffin' but I haven't revisited Marble Pillars in a while, so I wrote it as a bit of a reminder.