Off to the north side of the Unicorn Range lies a mountain called Stonerise, which houses a very dirt-based lower half. Such dirt isn't really the kind for growing or rolling in, more like the kind that holds up mountains, which this dirt did. This dirt is also very good for digging.

A scruffy, canine head popped out of the dirt, followed by a set of sandy-yellow paws.

The lower reaches of Stonerise were often called 'Muttland' for a very good reason.

The Diamond Dog hauled itself out of the dirt, a second Dog beginning to climb out after her.

"Rat, come on! You know Alpha doesn't like us on the surface." The second Dog scrubbed his face with a paw, peeling away the dirt to reveal a dark black coat.

"Alpha can suck gemstones!" The sandy-coated Dog called back, loping away from the hall. "I'm going to see the sun whether he wants me to or not!"

"Don't make me stop you!" The black Dog whined, glancing up towards the moon and the slightly-pink horizon. "Please?"

Rat laughed, claws digging into the rock of the mountain as she started her ascent. "You couldn't even catch me, Brunt!"

"You don't have to be rude." He frowned, climbing free of the tight tunnel. A second tunnel opened beside him, revealing a third Dog between the sandy-yellow and black of his siblings.

Brunt helped his brother out of the dirt, shielding a paw against the growing light to find Rat on the steep slope. He frowned, letting Scrap - as that was the name of the third sibling - fall back in the dust. Scrap scrambled to his paws, taking off after Brunt.

Rat swung away from the rock face, focusing her dim sight on her two brothers. She laughed, digging her claws into the nearest crevice, and continued climbing. The sky above her inked with colors she had only seen in gemstones.

A pair of paws burst from the cliffside, grabbing Rat`s wrists and holding her away from the wall. A pale gray Diamond Dog with a bushy muzzle frowned at her, eyeing the drop to the ground.

"Alpha t'ld yahs to stay clear o'the outside, didn't he?" The old dog frowned, glancing up at the sky.

"Please, sir, just this once!" Rat swung her hind legs, scrabbling for a hold on the rocks. "I only want to see the sun a little."

"Them pony folk'll have your head on a platter the second you look intah the light!" The old dog let go of one of her hands, dangling her precariously. "Yah sure yahs up to the threat?"

Rat gulped, glaring into the old dog's gleaming eyes. She nodded, reaching a paw for the safety of the stone.

"Well, I've never kept a pup from 'is dreams withou'a great load o' guilt." He frowned. "But if yahs get all wrecked up from one of them ponies, old Stoneedge ain't gonna save your tails, y'hear?"

"Y-yes, sir." Rat glanced down at her brothers, both of them having reached the stony face and begun their climb. "Uh, sir, could you slow them down, please?"

He let go of her paw and shoved the upper half of his body out of the stone, frowning down at the two pups. "Those two rapscallions been keep'n you from dreamin'? I'll be sure to knock their heads together jus' for you."

Rat grinned, digging her rear claws back into the stone and leaping up for the next hold, quickly regaining her lost speed. The mountain's peak was just bounds away!

She pulled herself onto the small plateau at the peak just as the sun rose over the horizon, casting brilliant golden light over all of Muttland. She grinned, a paw over her eyes, and took in the land that was hers.

And then a pale blue Pegasus with a sand-colored mane plowed into the rock at her paws.

He looked up, green eyes glinting. "Uh... hi!"

-TO SEE THE SUN-

-A story of hope, perseverance and adventure by IceOfWaterflock-