Equestria's Greatest... NIGHTMARE!!!

Time passed in a blur. Soul Edge flashed, I danced through the ranks of the dogs, swinging my sword, which had reverted back to the zweihander form, and cleaved the dogs who threatened me with ease. Some tried to run, but were easily dispatched with a quick weapon transformation into Cervantes de Leon's gun and sword form, allowing me to shoot the pathetic runaways in the back. After all of my opposition lay still and quiet upon the battlefield, I once more stuck Soul Edge into the ground and allowed it to consume the souls floating around the area.

Looking back, I saw that the ponies had huddled together and were regarding me with fear again. I smiled with the mouth on my chest, and Seafoam, Cinnamon, and Twist were some of the few who were brave enough to smile back. With a sigh, I picked up Soul Edge, which seemed to have entered a dormant state, and walked back to the ponies.

"So, Seafoam, where exactly are we?"

"I think we are in Southern Equestria, on an island," she said, closing her eyes and concentrating.

"We're actually in a previously uncharted island. I was down here to make a map for the Royal Sisters when I was ambushed and abducted by the dogs working for the dragon," an older stallion spoke up. "Thanks for saving me, by the way, my name is Spot Tracker."

I looked over at the speaker, a dark grey unicorn stallion with a brown mane and tail. Huh, so some of the bright ponies can look like normal horses back home. Wait a minute... Hah, he's the stallion who told me they had souls, and didn't trust me to leave theirs alone.

"So, how much of this place did you manage to scout before your little adventure into Hell?"

"Ah, a sense of grim humor. Well, I suppose with the craft you seem to have mastered, a grim sense is better than no sense, I suppose. Unfortunately, the area is very bleak. I saw naught but scrubs and bushes in my travels here, and I surmise that only Diamond Dogs have ventured into these lands. Alas, there will be no other ponies to flash your award winning 'smiles' upon in this area."

"Hmph," I said, turning back to my sword. "So basically, we have nowhere to gather any building materials, as there are no trees, and no pony settlements?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Well, Wrench Twist, I believe this throws a wrench into your offer to build anything helpful."

The purple mare closed her magenta eyes and furrowed her brow. After a couple moments she opened her eyes and looked at me, but hesitated when she opened her mouth.

"Yes?"

"Well, sir, I detest saying this... We ponies are a peaceful species, we don't really relish the thought of battle. But you seem to have quite a way with it, and you seem to also harbor no qualms with doing so. I propose that we locate more burrows of these dogs, and maybe they have materials we can use. I only request that you, umm, don't kill anything before we at least have a chance to ask for things, first."

"That sounds half great, and half horrible of an idea. Great to find more mutts, horrible to think they'd willingly help us, from what I've seen. But, as you wish, I'll let you guys try to negotiate."

"Then it's settled!" Spot Tracker spoke up. "I do know of a few nearby places that struck me as possible Dog lairs. I can lead us to them."

"Very well, lead the way."

I took a couple moments to pick up Soul Edge, which had seemingly slaked it's thirst for the time being, and hurried to follow the line of ponies.

It turns out it's not easy to negotiate with mutts when you look like something straight out of Hell. Even harder to negotiate with Dogs when their basest desire is to enslave intruders in their lairs. Oh, and did I mention that negotiations are near impossible when you are ambushed and locked in a cell? Yeah... Very hard to ask for things properly from behind iron bars. And harder still to make threats when you aren't carrying a weapon.

Two hours after setting out to find a lair, night fell over the island. We decided to set up camp, and I took up first watch. The mares managed to make a meager meal from the surrounding bushes, mostly helped by magic to taste good. At least, the stallions SAID it tasted good, but I was betting a good mind reader would have found a deep desire to save their own hides in their thoughts. I politely declined the food, mostly because it had no meat, and because I found that souls seemed like a normal food to this body.

Well... Chinese food maybe... Two hours after my watch started, when all the ponies were asleep, I began to get quite hungry. My stomach, which surprised me to realize it existed, began to growl non stop. I'd like to think it growled loud enough to distract me, but I know I merely overlooked the sounds of quiet digging I heard. I was in a strange land, but the noises I heard (which I didn't recognize as digging, just so you know) didn't sound threatening.

Three hours into my shift, the earth gave a mighty rumble and heave, and our entire camp fell into a large sinkhole. I barely regained my senses when a large Dog smashed me over the head with a hammer, knocking me out cold.

When I regained my senses, I found my entire group in a large holding cell, but they were lucky, since they weren't chained to the wall like I was. Thick iron chains bound my legs, arms, torso, and neck, effectively limiting my movements. I could look around, and I noticed that the unicorns in the group had a black slime on their horns, which seemed near impossible to manually remove. And judging by the fact that none were glowing, I guessed the slime had magic stopping ability. Perfect, just perfect.