Home is Where the Hoof is
Spyglass watched the scene. Three Diamond Dogs were currently occupying a house. From what she could observe, there was a garden for pony staples and a series of cages for rabbits. By the looks of things, the rabbits were for food.
Her partner, Feather Fall, had gone back to one of the nearby camps to report. He was to deliver the report while she kept a watch. She was not expecting him to come back with much since there had been no reports of attackers around here, but these Diamond Dogs were in Equestria. One Diamond Dog was rare to be seen inside the borders, but three? Someone would want answers.
Apparently, those two pegasi would be collecting them. Feather Fall had come back with some supplies and orders. They were to observe until they could ascertain why the Diamond Dogs were there. He even came back with a spying device, a small item that fit around the ear and covered one of the eyes. It would allow them to listen from a distance and, with the other eye closed, zoom in to get a better view. Apparently, this new magical item was getting field-tested.
Since Feather Fall had hoofed it back to camp and back, Spyglass took the first watch. The first thing she saw was a pony trotting up the dirt road as if he owned the place.
Gumption trotted up the dirt road as if he owned the place. Well, he DID own the place. He had lived there for years. Decades if anyone wanted to count. Even after all those years, though, he could find new things.
This time, for example, there was a new dress shop. The owner was a nice unicorn who bought all the jewels he had brought for sale. She offered him a more-than-fair price. Didn't hurt that she was a looker too. Bah, he was too old to think about chasing girls who were probably a third of his age, if not a fourth.
Besides, he had a little extra money from this trip and bought a few treats for his sons. They had been working hard... Wait. Things were quiet. He couldn't hear his boys.
That's when three large figures sprung from the bushed and tackled him.
Spyglass was ready to take flight. She woke up Feather Fall and told him to get ready for a fight. They sensed him coming and hid in the bushes, waiting in ambush. Hopefully, the worst that happened was a mugging and not...
"Welcome home, Dad!"
The earpiece she wore picked that up. Dad? She raised a hoof and stopped Feather Fall. She looked back to the ambush and saw they looked more like a family walking the road back to the house.
"Arthur, Barkley, Rufus, you couldn't wait a minute or two for me to get to the house?"
The Diamond Dogs were walking side-by-side with Gumption. It was quite the odd sight. All the Dogs were twice as high as the old, light green pony. Arthur was the color of fresh-tilled soil and lean. Barkley was gray like the morning fog and was as thick. Rufus was a patchwork brown, black, and white, with a black spot over his right eye, making it look like he lost a fight. Given his slightly short height, that would be believable.
Gumption proudly called them his sons. "You boys are lucky I'm in a good mood today or--"
Rufus cut him off. "Or you'd give us a strict talking to? Come on, Dad, you know we wouldn't tackle you for those candies we could smell a mile away. We're just happy you're back."
"What, you think I wouldn't come back?" Gumption did not notice the smiles had faltered slightly. "I had to make sure you boys didn't let the dandelions get out of control like that one summer."
Arthur said, "So, next time you go into town, can one of us go with you?"
Gumption was worried. They had more insistent on going lately, but he had just come back and already they were starting. "I told you boys it'd be risky. Most ponies wouldn't react to you very well."
Arthur stepped in front of his Dad and sat down, forcing him to stop. "Dad, listen. We know you're sick. We know we're not ponies. Sooner or later, you won't be able to make the trip. The few gems Barkley digs up will be too heavy for you to carry in your saddle bags. Your legs won't be able to walk the distance even without the weight. We're going to have to make the trip for you. I figure if you start taking us sooner, then ponies might be used to us showing up sooner. We don't want it to be too late."
Gumption sighed. "You always were the smart one Arthur. Look, let's get inside, have dinner, and rest up. I am tired. And maybe you're right, but let's discuss this when I'm rested up. Okay boys?" All three of the dogs nodded. Barkley picked up and carried him in, under protest. "Hey! I am still strong enough to walk, dang it! Now you're just teasing me!"
The four of them laughed together as a family does.
Feather Fall and Spyglass took turns throughout the night. They were glad that things seemed peaceful. Feather Fall did wince when he watched Rufus take a rabbit and prepare it for dinner. Ponies may not eat meat, but he wasn't foolish enough to think there weren't creatures who did.
Morning seemed to bring routine to the home. Gumption looked over the garden he had, pulling a few flowers and vegetables here and there. Rufus tended to the rabbits, feeding them and cleaning out the cages. Arthur tended to any weed growing the garden. And Barkley... Celestia slap him with a trout, he came up from underground with what looked like a giant boulder. That wasn't what impressed him. It was what was inside.
All four of them gathered around the boulder Barkley split wide open, marveling at the sparkly gems clustered inside. Gumption whistled and spoke in awe, "That's the biggest haul I've seen, Barkley! Why, there's enough here... Well, if I could sell all these, we'd be comfortable for a while!"
Arthur said, "Maybe we should just sell a few at a time. These look much better than the usual gems. I know you can't carry them all on your own. Unless--"
Gumption cut him off. "Unless you all came with me. This is a windfall. I don't think I'd mind taking you boys for this. We might be able to move into Ponyville. It'd be nice to not have to walk so far. We don't need to go just yet. There's a lot we could do with this. Let's take some time to think it over, okay boys?"
Arthur and Rufus answered in agreement. Barkley, ever the quiet one, nodded in agreement and set to work pulling the gems out from the boulder. He was happily working away when he suddenly noticed something. It felt odd. Almost scary. Barkley wasn't scared of anything. So when he let out a little whine, everyone took notice. Rufus ran over and noticed it too. He put his ear to the ground and listened. "There's something under there and it's coming this way! It's not digging... Barkley, is it coming up the tunnel you dug?" Barkley put his ear to the ground, listened, and nodded. This had the side effect of getting dirt in his ear, which he quickly shook out.
Arthur took the initiative. "Rufus, Barkley, surround the hole with me. Whatever it is, it'll have to deal with all three of us."
As they took positions, Gumption warned them, "Be careful, boys. If it's dangerous, I'd rather lose the house than you boys."
Moments later, something popped out of the hole. It was difficult to tell what as all three of the boys leaped on it as soon as they saw it. They could hear it easily enough, though.
"GET OFF OF ME!"
Feather Fall watched the scene unfold. The boys had captured another Diamond Dog, who was very not happy, and led two others to the surface. This was not good. He and Spyglass were rather certain the boys were not a threat, but these new dogs could be trouble. He woke Spyglass to get ready, just in case of trouble.
"Me Rover, that Fido and Spot. We found tunnel and follow. We thought we only Diamond Dogs outside Dimondia." The three Diamond Dogs were not aggressive, but they were on guard. After all, they had been ambushed. However, they seemed to understand that it wasn't done out of malice.
Gumption stepped forward and asked, "What is Dimondia? Never heard of the place."
Rover scratched his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "It like Canterlot for you ponies!"
The central home for Diamond Dogs! Ponies believed that, like other canines, they traveled in packs. It seemed, however, that there was a central home for all of them. Wheels started turning in everyone's head.
Feather Fall wrote down a simple "Dimondia=DD capital" before focusing back on the scene.
"Let me ask question. Why you Diamond Dogs here?" Rover clearly seemed to be the leader and he was asserting his position.
Gumption hung his head and his gray mane seemed to turn grayer. "I found them when they were babies. Their momma had passed on."
Gumption took them back in time about 10 years ago. That winter had been especially harsh. His wife had passed away from an illness and he could not get her to the hospital. Because they did not live in Ponyville, the weather team had not made sure there was not too much snow. He did everything he could to take care of her, but it was all for naught. He buried her in the middle of a blizzard.
When spring came, he went to his wife's grave to lay the first flowers of spring there by himself, since they never had children. That was when he heard a strange whimper. It sounded sad and painful. He followed it into some nearby woods. There he found them lying next to a large, snow-white Diamond Dog. They were huddled next to her for warmth, but she was not breathing. He could only guess what may have happened, but those pups were going to die if he did not do something.
And he did the only thing he could think of.
He pointed to the two grave markers at the edge of the garden. He had made sure the boys were safe and gave the mother a proper burial. Ever since then, he raised those boys the best he could. He started breeding rabbits because the boys could not live on vegetables as he could. He had them help with the garden to pass time and focus their energy. He gave them the best education he could, despite not being a teacher.
Rover looked at the graves. "You good pony. We don't know of many who would bury us."
Arthur said, "Well, our Dad is a good person. He taught us to be good too."
Rover looked at Gumption and said, "What now? You want us to take them back to Dimondia?"
All four of them looked at him in surprise. Rufus shouted, "Why would we leave?"
Rover looked at him as if it was a silly thing to ask. "Because he sick. Dying."
The boys looked at their father. He looked back and asked, "How could you say that? I've got a few good years left at least!"
Rover facepawed. "Lemme guess, you take strong medicine. You not long for world. When you go, who look after pups? We can lead them back home."
Arthur growled at him, "Our home is here!"
Fido, who was bigger than Barkley, stepped forward as if ready to fight. Spot, the little one, held up a paw. "Wait," he said, "I think they misunderstand. May I?" He looked at Rover who nodded.
"You're sick. We can smell it. You don't have long. When you go, what will the pups do? They can't go to nearby town. Diamond Dogs not really welcome. Stay here? They are a little young. We offer to take them where they can be watched over. Dimondia’s our home. Other Diamond Dogs. They be welcomed there. We may be rough, but they will be kind enough to them."
Gumption thought about it. He was on borrowed time, the doctor had told him as much. The doctor was surprised he could dig up gems like he did, but Gumption told him he had a secret. Now... Maybe there would be someone to look after the boys. This would also be an opportunity for the boys to learn where they came from. "You... have a point."
The boys looked at him in shock. Arthur shouted, "WHAT?! You can't be serious! We're not leaving you! You can't take care of this place by yourself."
"Well, I don't plan to stay here. The gems Barkley dug up would be enough for me to buy a place in Ponyville and live comfortably for the rest of my life, so you don't have to worry about me. That guy is right. I can't take care of you forever and I'd be a bad father if I didn't look out for you."
"But... But you're our Dad!"
"I am." He walked up the Arthur and hugged him. "I'll always be your father. But he's right. I'm sick. I have been since that summer 3 years ago. That's why I make those weekly trips to Ponyville, for medicine. But it's only slowing things down, not stopping them. And what'll happen to you boys when I'm gone? I can't just expect everything to be OK. I thought of us moving to Ponyville together, but it was risky. Too risky. That place is right up against the Everfree Forest. They are scared enough of that place, especially since the zebra started coming from it to town. We walk in there, they're not gonna see a family, they're gonna see three Diamond Dogs and they are gonna panic."
Rover nodded. "That sound about right. We hear stories of Diamond Dog who get lost and end up in pony town. They scream and panic and buck him out of town. We think, 'Oh, it just warning to stay away.' But old teacher of mine show hoofprint where he got kicked really hard. He never walked right. You ponies are scary when scared."
Gumption nodded. "Wouldn't be surprised if that was Ironhoof. He used to brag about how he bucked a Diamond Dog out of town with one kick."
The boys just couldn't believe what they were hearing. Their life was being decided now. Arthur had to ask, "And what if we refuse?"
Gumption looked at him sorrowfully. "Arthur, you're not making this easier on me. You three would be here by yourselves. What'll happen when I'm gone? You three just stay here for the rest of your lives? You just sit until some patrol comes across you and decided you're a threat? I don't have the time to have ponies get used to you. If it were when you were younger, they could have gotten used to you, but it'd be too sudden now. If you go with them, you have a chance. A chance to thrive, meet others, be a part of something larger. Here, you'd be doomed to this little area. I can't have that for you. Oof!"
He suddenly gasping for air came from Barkley hugging him. Barkley understood he wanted a happy life for them. This was their best chance. It was a combination of opportunities that would make this possible. Rufus noticed it and joined them in the hug. Arthur finally caved in and said, "Dad, you know it won't be the same without you, right? We're gonna cry for weeks."
Gumption hugged back as best he could. "Trust me, I'll be crying too, boys. But believe me when I say I'll still consider myself blessed. You've made my life happy and I'll never forget that."
Rufus nodded, not holding back the tears. "Remember the good times, right, Dad?"
Rover and Spot just seemed a bit nauseated at the display of emotion, but Fido smiled as if he wished he had a dad like that. Rover said, "Okay, if you bring anything, get it and we go. We can't stay out too long."
There were tears, goodbyes, and hugs and the boys took a few precious souvenirs to remember their lives. Within an hour's time, there was quiet. Gumption just sobbed as he knew how much he would miss them. He promised he would take care of himself. However, he realized he had a problem now.
There was no way he could haul that boulderful of gems to Ponyville. He could hitch up the old wagon, but lifting them was going to be a problem themselves. He tried pushing one of the halves, but he couldn't even budge it. He was getting tired already too.
"Excuse us, sir?" He turn to look at the female voice and there, from seemingly out of nowhere, were two pegasi Royal Guards. White coats, gold armor, the whole nine yards. "Need some help?"
"I don't know how to thank you Sergeant... uh... Sorry, what was your name again?"
The female smiled and said, "Please, you can just call me Spyglass." She walked along next to the cart with an air of leadership. "The one pulling is Private Feather Fall."
"Well, thank you Spyglass and Feather Fall. What were you all doing out this way?"
Feather Fall turned his head and said, "We were spying on you. Sarge, any reason you have me pulling this cart by myself?"
"Because you've been a little slow in your timed runs, Private. This should help burn off some of those extra pounds from Donut Joe's." She turned back to Gumption who was riding in the back. "But yes, we were doing a patrol and spotted those boys of yours. Diamond Dogs are rare in Equestria, so naturally we had to investigate. We've been watching since yesterday. I'm..." She seemed down. "I'm sure this was a hard choice for you to make."
"It was easy actually." Spyglass looked at Gumption with surprise. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I was their father. If I were a greedy or selfish pony, I'd have never let them go. But I'm not. I had an opportunity to see those boys would get proper care taken of them and I had to take it. It's almost as if Celestia put that boulder there for Barkley to find. I was worried what I was going to do in the future, but he dug up an answer. Those Diamond Dogs were quite the blessing."
Feather Fall chuckled a bit and turned to smile at Gumption. "You sound like my old man. He hated the idea of me entering the Royal Guard, but when I decided to, he told me no matter what I did, he'd be proud of me. I like to think he was a good father too."
"Eyes forward, Private. Anyway, we overheard everything and we realized you wouldn't be able to make it back to town without a little assistance. And since Private Feather Fall needed the exercise, I decided it was within our mission parameters to assist you."
"Well, thank you both kindly. When we get to town, there's this new bakery that opened up. Sugarcone Corner I think? Mind if I treat you to something?"
Feather Fall seemed to drool at the idea. "Can we Sarge?"
Spyglass just shook her head in disbelief. "You better shave those seconds off at the next flight test."
