Broken

The seven ponies exited the hospital and made their way over to the Golden Oaks Library. Twilight held the door open for her friends as they went inside her home. They sat down on one of the many tables in the public library.

"So, does anypony know where Lightning Dust lives?" Twilight asked as she sat down to join the rest of her friends.

"Yeah, she told me that she lives in Las Pegasus," Rainbow said, "but that's really far away. How are we gonna get there?"

"IDEA!" Rarity shouted suddenly, startling everypony. "But, um, I don't think I can join you there..." the stylish mare trailed off.

"Why not Rares? After all it's your idea!" Pinkie said.

"I have had a rather traumatic experience there," the fashionista said, "I prefer not to go."

"Where exactly?" Scootaloo asked, getting impatient.

"Well, you know about the time I was marenapped by the diamond dogs? I think you all might want to use their tunnels to get to Las Pegasus. After all, while they were making me do their gem collecting, they told me that their tunnels led to every corner of Equestria and that each city has each own mark. All you have to do is follow the mark in the tunnels. It's engraved in the dirt."

"Whoo, let's go!" Pinkie said.

"Wait!" Twilight shouted after her, "Rarity, I know the diamond dogs gave you a hard time in there, but it won't be the same without you. Friends stick together. Besides, you know more about the tunnels than any of us. We'll need you." the librarian said to her fellow unicorn pleadingly.

"OK, Twilight, I understand. I will come with you. For Rainbow Dash." Rarity nodded as the ponies headed out of the library, their plan ready.

Lightning Dust ran, her hooves making rhythmical beats on the rocky road. Click, clop, clop, click, clop, clop. She knew that Rainbow and her friends had probably alerted the Pony Police. The vengeful mare couldn't risk flying now, her wings would give her away.

Rain drizzled onto Lightning's black cloak, soaking it and making it heavier for the galloping pegasus. She stepped in a puddle, the muddy water dirtying her coat. She would have to worry about that later. For now, her eyes searched for signs saying "Manehatten". Flying would have saved her so much time.

Finally, an old, wooden board sitting in the grass showed her the way to the famous city. She took the right path and made her way towards a forest. Lightning wondered why there was a forest in front of nearly every city in Equestria.

She stepped in the shadows and stretched her wings. At last she was able to take to the air. Flying low, the mare's thoughts wondered back to Rainbow Dash... how she had hurt her. Dust remembered seeing the pegasus flying through the air, going limp and falling down back to the clearing. Guilt crept it's way into Lightning's heart. She had never seen a pony looking how Rainbow did right then. She wondered if her peer was alive at all.

A smack in her face snapped Lightning out of her frightening thoughts. She had bumped into a tree, bruising her cheek just bellow her orange eyes. The hurt pony rubbed the aching spot then continued toward Manehatten.

Seven ponies stood before a sea of holes. Scootaloo looked at the others as if they were crazy. The element bearers just frowned at the holes in the dirt, wondering which one they should take.

Rarity shrugged and went to the nearest hole. She waited for her friends to follow. Eventually, they did and everypony jumped into the darkness.

"I just know I will regret this!" Rarity said as they slid down the tunnel. Rocks and little pieces of dirt stuck in the ponies' coats, manes and tails. Finally, they rolled out of the tunnel and into a small room of some sorts, with dozens of other tunnels pointing in every direction.

"Uh, Rarity, which one d'we take now?" Applejack asked as she looked around, glancing into every never-ending hole.

"I'm not sure really, the diamond dogs never told me their different marks for cities. But I suppose Las Pegasus should be pegasi-related." replied Rarity while tapping a hoof against her chin.

"Ooh! Guessing games!" Pinkie shouted, hopping around, "I know! How about, WINGS?"

"That must be it! Wow Pinkie, you're a genius!" Twilight exclaimed.

Pinkie shrugged, "Nah, I'm a pony!"

Everyone rolled their eyes at that while Pinkie Pie beamed. Soon the friends got to work. Fluttershy got up to check the tunnels above while Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash checked the ones on the right. Twilight and Rarity examined the left ones and Applejack and Pinkie looked at the ones below.

"Nothing here!" the unicorns confirmed. The other ponies didn't have much luck, either.

"Wait! I think I got something!" Scootaloo cried out, pointing to a small, abandoned-looking tunnel with a worn-out wing drawn in the dirt. The ponies smiled at the filly and Rainbow Dash hoof-bumped her sister.

One after another, the seven ponies squeezed into the small hole and crept further into the ground. For Scootaloo, it was quite easy. But the other mares had to bend their legs at uncomfortable angles.

In the end, the ponies made it out into another room, this one a bit bigger than the last one. Piles of sparkling gems stood in the left corner and occasionally, the ponies would see a grey blur swipe a gem off the pile. Rarity clutched Applejack, holding onto the strong farmer pony.

"Yes! Almosst finishhed!" a raspy voice whispered excitedly.

The ponies huddled together as they cast each other worried looks. They realized that they were about to see somedog they would have preferred to have avoided, especially Rarity.

The seven friends decided it would be best to try and sneak past the diamond dog. Twilight made the first step and the others followed. Scootaloo came last, before her Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity.

Fluttershy's hoof came into contact with something hard. Before she could stop herself, she accidentally flicked it into a rock, where a sharp click could be heard.

A growl echoed through the cave and a grey dog leapt over the piles of gems. Its green eyes glowed in the darkness. The diamond dog glared at the intruders.

"What are you ponies doing here, in my kingdom?" it asked, examining the group. "YOU! You are the whiner!" it accused, pointing at Rarity with a giant paw.

The white unicorn shrunk back and stared at the diamond dog innocently.

"If you'll excuse me, good sir, we were just passing by. We had no intention of going into your hole." Rarity lied as she winked back at her friends. Applejack made a face at Rarity which clearly said, You may have saved our flanks, but next time, try not to lie.

"Oh, sorry then. You are free to go if you pay a small fee..." the diamond dog said, thinking up the ponies' fee. Its face lit up as it got a "brilliant" idea.

"Us, diamond dogs, love diamonds. If you find one for me, I will let you pass without any problems!" He said while he looked Fluttershy in the eye. She cowered back and coughed a little bit. Wow, Rarity was right that their breath is awful! Thought the poor pegasus, nearly suffocating from the creature's smell.

"No problem Mr. Dog!" Twilight said as her horn glowed with pink magic. The ponies saw all the gems in the dirt; sapphires, emeralds and rubies. The lavender unicorn trotted on a bit and she finally saw it, a big, silver diamond, embedded in the cave walls. She used her magic to dig it up and levitated it to the diamond dog.

"Here you go sir. Now please show us the way to Las Pegasus..." Twilight said as she pushed the diamond into the dog's paws. It nodded quietly and grinned, showing it's jagged teeth.

"The way there is the second tunnel on your right." it rasped, pointing a dirty paw to the hole. The ponies nodded in thanks and left the dog chuckling quietly at their stupidity. Never believe a diamond dog... It thought in its head smugly.