The First Ones

Chapter 3

Somewhere south of Equestria, a single chariot was flying high in the orange sun setting sky. Instead of the usual gold-plated transport, the chariot was coated in black.

In fact all the guards were wearing black version of their armor uniforms. The two pegasuses pulling the chariot are wearing black and the three stallions riding the chariot are in black as well.

Captain Path Finder looked on ahead, while lieutenant Claymore and Sergeant Major Moonstone were looking down from the edge of their ride. Both ponies were pointing to the many things they saw on the travel. Such as Ponyville, the Everfree Forest, the Ghastly Gorge, Appleloosa, and somehow Claymore spotted Las Pegasus from here.

The only thing the Captain was looking at was the large Macintosh Hills ahead of them. According to Spot, his tribe built their homes in those hills. They lived there for a many of years, mining for the precious diamonds, all unaware of the danger that lurks beneath them.

When they got near to the hills, Path Finder ordered the chariot to land down, they will trot the rest of the way from here. The two pegasus follow his command and landed the chariot. Once they touch the ground, the Captain and his two companion hop off and began their trek to the hills. The black chariot took flight again, they will hang back until the Captain signal them for their assistance.

The three stallions travel across the semi-desert, with Lt. Claymore hovering above them and acting as their lookout. Meanwhile Path and Moonstone galloped towards the giant hills. It took them almost half an hour before they even reach the base of the hills.

“Hey Captain, this might be a bad time to ask, but how are we going to find this guy's home?” Claymore asked. “These hills stretch pretty far, it will take us weeks to find his home!”

“Don't worry Lieutenant, Spot was really descriptive with his direction.” Path replied. “He told me his tribe is south of Apploosa and is in a big cave.”

“Yeah sir, that isn't really much to work with.” Said Claymore. “I mean there's like probably dozens of caves on this section of the hill alone, who knows how long it will take to find this specific cave.”

At that moment Moonstone alerted the two of his find. “Capt. Finder! Lt. Claymore! I think I found our cave.”

The two trotted to where Moonstone was and saw what the unicorn was pointing at. Both ponies dropped their jaws upon seeing the cave. The cave was massive, its entrance stretches far and wide. It was practically big enough to fit a very large Ursa major.

“Sir, is that are destination?” The sergeant Major asked.

“Well Spot did say the biggest cave, so yes.”

“Well then lets not waste anytime.” Claymore flew ahead of them, with the two stallion following right behind him.

When the three reach the cave's entrance the Captain silently commanded them to go in. Since Claymore has the best eyes, he'll take point. Path will take the middle, while Moonstone watch the rear. The three ponies enter the large dark cavern, they kept their ears up and their eyes wide.

Inside the massive cave, signs of inhabitants were all around them. Campfires, furniture, utensils, clothing, weapons, and all sort of items, laid scattered all around the place. However, the most disturbing of all was the crimson stain blood everywhere.

“By Celestia's Sun, what happened here?” Moonstone questioned, the look of horror was clear on his face.

Claymore examine the area and inspected a large spot of dried blood with a blood stain spear laying on top of it. “A battle happened here, Sergeant Major.” He answered. “A battle that these Diamond Dogs lost.”

Moonstone looked around and notice something missing. “Wait, then where are the bodies?”

“They were dragged deeper into the cave.” Path Finder said as he pointed to a trail of blood leading to the darkness before them.

“Why?”

“Don't know.” He responded. “But, I do know that this mission just got a whole lot more complicated.”

Captain Finder motion for his two troops to enter into the completely darken path. Normally they would have Moonstone cast a light spell and let him guide the way. However, since this was a stealth mission, that was not an option. Knowing that they will be completely blind down there, the Captain order his two companions to take out their 'special' equipment.

They rummage through their bags and took out glasses with green lenses. When they put them on, suddenly their entire vision changed. Before they couldn't see anything, now they can see the walls and ground beneath them.

“Whoa this is amazing.” Moonston said.

“I know, glasses that lets us see in the dark, how is that possible?” Claymore questioned.

“Well I'm not entirely sure, but those scientist back at Canterlot told me that they enchanted these glasses with the ability to allow any wearer to see perfectly well in the darkness.” Path Finder explained.

“Neat, this is like something out of those sci-fi stuff.”

“Please Claymore those are just scientific technobabble, this is magic.” The unicorn said to the pegasus.

“Silence you two, we're going in.” Path order and his two companions dropped their conversation.

The three continue their march down this long narrow tunnel. It was eerily silent except for the sound of their breathing and their hooves touching the rocky ground. Suddenly their ears picked up the sound of a dog yelping, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor.

They quicken their pace, trying to find the source of that noise before it disappears. They went around a corner and immediately halted. Something was burning brightly on the ground. Upon closer inspection, Claymore could see that it was a torch and its fire was slowly dying. His eyes then caught something else near the torch. It was paw of Diamond Dog. He couldn't the see the rest of his body, because it was hidden in the darkness. Then all of a sudden the paw move and the sound of dragging can be heard from here.

“What do you see, Lieutenant?” Capt. Finder asked.

“Not much, the bright light from the torch block most of my view. But, I did saw the paw that belongs to a diamond dog. Something was dragging it away.”

Instead of answering, the Captain motion for them to follow him. They came to the spot of the torch which by now the fire is gone. Claymore examine the spot where the dog was and found a bloody trail leading to somewhere. They knew that it was their best option to follow this trail, hoping it will lead them to who ever was dragging it.

Despite wearing their metal hoof shoes, they can still feel the blood beneath their hooves. It was still wet, indicating that the Diamond Dog was still alive before it was killed. They follow the trail that lead them further down the tunnel. Soon they began smelling the scent of rotting corpses, the smell was so bad the three could barely keep themselves from vomiting.

Doing their best to ignore the foul smell, the three continue onwards, only to stop in a large chamber. It wasn't the fact that the room was big that stopped them, no it was the several Diamond Dog bodies hanging on the walls. They just found the source of that vile smell.

The three inspect the bodies and found many wounds on them. They varied between claw marks to bite marks. Each of these open wounds have a lot of dry blood around them, revealing they were here for sometime. Above, both of the dog's paws had a large blade impaling right through them. This is what was holding them up on the wall.

“Hey guys come here.” Claymore whispered for his two teammate to come over. “I believe I found our dog.” He then pointed to the blood trail leading to the dog's fresh dead body.

Captain Finder analysis the body and notice all the same type of wounds, but they were still leaking fresh blood. Looking around his neck, Path discovers a large cut around it.

“Jeez these guys are mess up.” Claymore said as he looked at all the dogs, hanged to the wall.

“No kidding.” Moonstone commented. “Why would they do something so disturbing?”

“Who knows, Moonstone.” Said Path Finder. “They could have set this up as a warning for any intruders, or they could have just did this for fun.”

The mood was silent, nopony said anything to each other. They all let the realty of the situation they are in to sink in. The silence was broken when Claymore spoke up.

“Hey Captain Finder, I know we're suppose to verify whether these First Ones are dangerous or not, but I do believe this is enough of proof we need. So can we all just get out here before it gets any worse.”

“But, Lieutenant we haven't seen any First Ones.” Moonstone pointed out. “We can't just leave.”

“Are you serious Moonstone? We don't need to see these dogs to know what they are like, the bodies hanging on the walls are clear enough evidence to tell us what these guys are like."

As the two quietly argue with each other, Path was pondering on what to do next. Moonstone was right about not actually seeing the First Ones, but Claymore does bring up a good point. This horrible atrocity before him is indeed clear enough evidence tell him what these mangy dogs are like. Ultimately it is up to him to decide what to do next.

However, before he can decide, a low growling sound can be heard behind the group. Each of their heads turn toward the direction of the sound and through their night vision glasses they saw a large furry beast standing at the entrance they came through.

The beast was huge, his head was only mere inches away from touching the ceiling. They couldn't see any details on creature, just the shape and size of it. The beast growls at them again, in response the ponies took out their weapons. Claymore took out a spear, Moonstone levitated some throwing knives with his magic, and lastly Path Finder grabbed his colorguard saber.

Path mentally curse himself for getting him and his troops caught, now they'll have deal with this mutt. The beast charge at them with his right paw up, displaying his sharp claws. He swipe his claws at the one with wings, but the stallion evaded it. Suddenly the beast felt several painful stabs coming from his back, Moonstone just launch a barrage of knives at the beast.

This proves ineffective as the beast is still standing. Path attempt to take a swipe with his blade, but the dog smack him away with the back of his paw. He then grab a spear that was aiming for his neck and pulled it away from its wielder. Claymore may have lost his weapon, but he wasn't going to let that stop him from fighting. He dash in and sucker punch the dog in his face. The beast retaliate by clawing the pegasus's chest, leaving three nasty, bloody slash lines.

Claymore was down and at the mercy of the large canine monster. He was about to finish him off, but then felt more throwing knives piercing his sides. Remembering the one with the horn, he turn around to face him, but found no one. In fact the one he swatted away was gone as well. Turning back to his prey, the wing pony was also gone.

The beast was puzzle by this, unaware with the fact that the ponies were still in the same room, except they are invisible. Moonstone cast the spell, knowing they won't win against this beast. Path was busy bandaging Claymore's wounds. The trio tried to keep silence, not wanting to alert the beast of their presence.

But, then the beast started to sniff around and turn his head in their direction. This sudden movement shocked Moonstone. At first he thought it was just a coincidence that the beast saw them, but then he started to walk towards where they are. Panicking, Moonstone drop the invisibility spell so he can levitate the abandon spear and thrust it into the beast's neck.

The spear pierce all the way through his neck, causing the beast to choke. The beast attempt to remove the weapon, but it was stuck. Slowly his movement became slow and sluggish, he drop to his knees and is losing his senses. He then drop to the ground and died.

Moonstone was trembling from that experience. He has never taken a life before, thankfully it was in the dark, so he was spared the gruesome details of the beast's death.

Their victory was short-lived however, when they heard the sound of paw steps coming from the tunnel where they came from.

“Dammit more are coming.” Path cursed, he then pick Claymore up and carry him to the other tunnel, the one leading downward. “Moonstone, get over here.”

The silver gray stallion obeyed and rush to his Captain. “Here, take Claymore and go down this tunnel, I'll hang back and watch the rear.”

“But Captain, this lead deeper into the tunnel.” Moonstone argued.

“Would you rather face those dogs?” Path countered.

Seeing no other option, the two stallions went down deeper in the cave. Moonstone carried the injured Claymore on his back, while his Captain constantly check behind them. They then heard the sound of howling, which would show that they just found the body. Knowing that they won't be far behind the two gallop down the tunnel. Far behind them, the other First Ones started running after them.

As they gallop down the thin tunnel passage, the two felt the ground shaking. Then the top of the ceiling fell down, separating Path from his troops.

“CAPTAIN, ARE YOU ALRIGHT!” The voice of Moonstone shouted from the other side.

“MOONSTONE, TAKE CLAYMORE AND GET OUT OF HERE!”

“WHAT? BUT, WHAT ABOUT-”

“I'LL FIND ANOTHER WAY OUT! FIND YOUR WAY TO THE TOP AND RETURN TO THE PRINCESSES!

When he heard no response, he knew that Moonstone has follow his order and moved on. The crimson stallion then turn and prepare himself for the end. That part of him about finding another way out was a lie. There is no escape for him.

He can hear the sound of the approaching monsters from his position. He takes out his saber and readied himself to meet his killers. If he was going to die, then he'll go down fighting.

The head of one of the beast pop out from the corner and spotted the lone stallion. The beast instantly charge after him, with several others right behind him. Not wanting to wait, Path charge right at them as well.

When they were only a few feet away, both the pony and the front beast jump toward each other. One held a sword, the other with claws.

When they both made contact, the battle was over.