The Collected Adventures of Tyro

The journey south was, for once, uneventful. The seven ponies passed through forests and plains, finally ending their trip outside the entrance to a cave, well over a hundred miles from Ponyville. As the group approached the cave, they saw several diamond dogs standing guard outside it.

Only one of them spoke, the others remaining silent. "You must be the Equestrian ambassadors. Please, proceed. We have been expecting you."

Luna was worried by the attitude of the guards. These weren't like the showy (though generally ineffective in actual combat) ones in Canterlot, or even the ones she had seen on her diplomatic missions with diamond dogs in the past. These guards were soldiers, trained fighters. The presence of such trained warriors was clear proof that relations had degraded between the Great Pack and Equestria. If these talks went sour… best not to think about that.

The other ponies seemed to be optimistic about the upcoming negotiations, so maybe she was getting worried over nothing. Only Rarity seemed nervous as everypony walked into the cave. The tunnel was lit by strange torches that burned with an unnatural, bluish flame, seeming to produce little heat and no smoke. It twisted and turned as they descended into the ground, until finally opening up into a large cavern, its walls extending upwards into darkness.

Covering the walls, between many unlit tunnels leading into darkness, were carved pictures of diamond dogs at work, but the largest and most prominent one was straight ahead. Over and around an archway, two armies of diamond dogs fought in vicious battle, showing the reality of war in terrible detail. Through this arch lay a hall of worked stone, also lit by the bluish lights.

Luna paused a moment, allowing her companions to take in the sight, before indicating the battle scene. "Diamond dogs are powerful, and relentless in war. Untrained, they are dangerous enough, but diamond dog warriors are deadly, even when they're alone. During the last war in which we had to fight the diamond dogs, it took two ponies to match a single diamond dog in combat, and three or more to capture one alive."

Fluttershy tried to hide behind the other ponies, but Luna quickly reassured her. "But that was over two thousand years ago, before Echo united the diamond dogs and created the Great Pack."

Twilight looked at her curiously. "Echo? The Great Pack? I haven't read anything about either of those. What happened?"

Luna smiled, stopping. "It's a good story. It's a shame that we ponies have forgotten it.

"Mosspaw was the last true chieftain of the Greenclaw pack. He and Frost Snap, the mayor of a local pony town, were the first of us to work together with ponies instead of fighting them. Unfortunately, the two grew too ambitious, and were tainted by an evil power. It consumed both of them. Mosspaw went insane, led the pack in an attack on the town, and killed his friend's wife.

"Her death pushed Frost Snap over the edge, and he led the town in attacking the Greenclaw pack. Mosspaw was killed, and the Greenclaws were slaughtered, except for one young pup who escaped. His name was Echo."

Seeing the end of the hall approaching, Luna picked up the pace of the story. "Echo killed Frost Snap in order to drive away the last of the taint and redeem his pack, and reforged relations with the town. It was through his work that the packs were united, and his actions that were the first steps towards the creation of our society. He was the first Sirius, who is the leader of all the diamond dogs. Since then, the Sirius has ruled the diamond dogs, passing on the title to the strongest of the alphas."

With that, she walked through the opening at the end of the hall into another large cavern. All around were dozens upon dozens of diamond dogs, here to see the spectacle of the pony visitors. Luna was used to it, of course, and Fluttershy had some experience with performing for a crowd, so she felt alright. Naturally, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash enjoyed the attention, but Twilight and Applejack looked uncomfortable and Rarity looked even more nervous than before.

The bluish lights were present here as well, augmented by what looked like regular pitch torches. There must be a natural chimney to this room. Before them stood a great beast of a diamond dog, who waited a moment before addressing them.

"It has been long," he said, pausing every few words, "since we have seen ponies in these halls. I am Razor, Sirius of the diamond dogs. Princess Luna, I hope you are in good health? And who are these little ponies you bring with you?"

Luna responded cordially, "Thank you, I am quite well. As for my friends, these ponies are the Elements of Harmony, heroes of our land. Equestria sends only the best to speak with you, Sirius."

"The Elements of Harmony, eh?" The large dog looked closely at the six ponies. "I take it we have you to thank for averting more than one disaster in recent years, if the tales are to be believed. However, you have me at a disadvantage: you know my name, but I do not know yours."

At Luna's prompting, the six ponies began to introduce themselves. They didn't have the chance to finish, however, because as soon as Rarity stepped forward, a diamond dog yelled out.

"It's her! Rarity! She's the one who we warned you about! The one who whines, and tricks you! She's the one who stole all our gems a year ago!" The speaker had a familiar face. "As Rover, alpha of the Gemhunter pack, I claim insult first at her inclusion in these talks, and again at her very admission to this sacred place!"