Terracana

Terracana
Chapter 75: Dog Hunt

I wake up the next morning and frown as I remember yesterday's events.

First thing we're going to do is go down to the Dungeon where Celestia or Luna will read the memory of the diamond dog we caught. Then once we find out where the rest of the dogs are hiding I'll flush them out.

I did warn them not to return and now they'll regret not listening to me.

After we all get up, Silk bringing our breakfast, and go through our morning routine, Luna handles the court while Shella returns to her Hive to assess the damage under heavy guard and Cadence is in our room looking after the foals where Discord is watching over them.

Celestia accompanies me down to the Dungeon where the dog is muzzled and tied up in a cell.

I glare at the beast that attempted to harm my wife and foal with barely restrained anger. Celestia walks up to the dog with an angry expression of her own and roughly grips its head while closing her eyes as her horn glows. After a few seconds she lets go and turns to me.

"They're hiding in Ghastly Gorge where a total of two-hundred and sixteen dogs are living. Apparently the brother of the Alpha you killed wants revenge and was offered assistance by Chrysalis, they get gems and revenge and she gets the life crystals..." my wife tells me.

"I see. I guess I better head over there and remove this threat before Chrysalis can use them again," I reply and head out the door.

"I'm coming with you. Shella is also my wife and they threatened not only her but our foal as well," she tells me and I smile.

"Alright, I'm not going to stop you since you're not carrying our foal anymore," I reply as we walk to the barracks.

Once we arrive Celestia's horn glows and I'm in my armour with my weapons as well. We walk inside where we find Shining working on forms for new recruits in his office.

"Captain," Celestia greets him as we walk in.

"Queen Celestia, how may I assist you today?" he asks.

"We need you to gather two-hundred guards for an assault on Ghastly Gorge," she replies.

"What? Is this about the attack on Queen Shella's Hive?" he asks with a raised brow.

"Correct, we know the location of the diamond dogs that attacked the Hive and are mounting an assault on them. So please gather the guard and direct them to the airship docks," she tells him.

"Of course your majesty," he replies and heads outside where the sound of a bell rings out followed by the sound of footsteps and talking as the guard gather outside.

After about half an hour of informing them what is happening, Hammer Strike along with two-hundred guards of mixed types are standing on the deck of the galleon E.A.F Nightingale.

We're now en route to Ghastly Gorge which is just outside the Everfree forest. The diamond dog den is at the bottom so we'll have to land and then get there by foot.

"So how do you want to do this, Tia?" I ask my wife.

"You'll take your fire aspect form and send in a gout of flames to clear the entrance, I'll then enter and send a bright flash down the tunnels to keep it illuminated for an hour giving our guards light to fight in. We'll head down to the Alpha's lair and kill him while our guards comb the den and eliminate any who resist," she replies looking out towards the Everfree.

"Alright, do you want to deliver the finishing blow or shall I?" I ask her. I don't mind either way but if she want's to then I'll let her.

"I'd like to. It's time I stop being lenient with these beasts and show I won't tolerate their aggression anymore," she replies with a frown.

"Very well. I'll watch your back while you put him in his place," I say and look over at the Everfree as well.

Twenty-four minutes later

We arrive at the top of Ghastly Gorge and I look down the cliff side. That's a pretty high drop, the unicorns can teleport down with an earth pony while the rest of us can fly down.

"Be careful, there are quarry eels in the walls," a guard warns the others as I notice holes in the the cliff side.

I take on my fire aspect form and cast my air wings spell and fly down to the closest hole. I look inside and two little orbs reflecting the light from my flames stare back at me. Without warning a large red eel with purple fins and white dots along its body lunges forward and opens its jaw, I try to fly away but it was quicker than it looked and engulfs me in its maw.

"ADRIAN!" I hear the muffled cry of Celestia shout at me.

I frown and gather Infernus and my mana in my chest and build it up. After a few seconds I violently release it with a roar as a nova and a large amount of flames bursts out and expands quickly, the head of the eel heats up and explodes after it couldn't handle the pressure anymore.

I fly out and back up to Celestia. "Well, that was an experience... I was hoping not to repeat that incident with the dragon..." I say and chuckle.

"That wasn't funny!" Celestia tells me and frowns.

"Sorry, but I guess I'll clear a path down and the rest of you can follow," I reply and head back down.

After a few minutes of repeating the same thing, I've killed about seven eels and reached the bottom of the gorge.

The others start making their way down and now we're walking up to the entrance to the den.

"Okay, let's go over this once more. I go first and clear the entrance, Celestia then lights up the cave and then the guard will swarm the den and clear it out while Tia and I head for the Alpha. That about it?" I ask.

"Pretty much," Hammer replies with a shrug.

"Let's get this going then," I say and float over to the entrance.

Gathering the mana for the spray, I hold both hands forward and release the spell sending a large torrent of flames down the tunnel. The sounds of panic and pain echo throughout the den almost drown out the sound of my flames.

After a good fifteen or so seconds I cut the flow and step aside for Celestia. She Gathers her mana and then touches the floor sending a line of light down the tunnel which then splits once it hits a fork. After a few seconds she stops and motions the guards to advance.

The guard roar out and charge in as they start swarming the den.

Celestia takes the lead and I follow behind her as she knows the way to the Alpha's lair. The tunnel is well lit but not due to Celestia's spell, our aspect forms are providing all the light we need.

Three dogs try to ambush us but a blast of light from Celestia blinds them, fortunately I can't be blinded in this form, all I see is a bright white flash before my vision returns instantly.

I cast a fire beam to the left dog melting through its armour then out through its back. Celestia reaches out as chains made of light extend from her palm and wrap the right dog before squeezing hard making its bones snap, armour shatter, and its innards crushed.

The middle one recovers and thrusts its spear at me which passes through harmlessly and also set the shaft of the spear on fire.

The dog yelps and lets go as the flames travelled down the shaft and almost caught its paw.

Celestia conjures a spear of her own made of light and throws it like a javelin into the dog's head. Once they were taken care off we continue down the tunnels killing all the dogs that blocked our path.

We passed a few females along with their children in side rooms, these may be low intelligence carnivores, but the expression of fear is still a sentient response and I won't go so low as to kill unarmed bystanders. Celestia gets some of the guards that followed behind us to take them away.

We finally reach the Alpha's lair and I'm given the honour of knocking, so I gather my mana and prepare to cast a nova as I charge at the shoddy but thick looking wood and stone door. Once I make contact with the door, I release the spell causing it to crumble forward as I barrel through it and come to a stop in a large cavern.

To my left looks like a group of females in rags and what appears to be poorly made collars around their necks, but what angers me is it's not just diamond dog females, there's also a cervine and three ponies as well.

To my right is a pile of gems and precious stones that would be worth quite the bit with some guard dogs around it who are now pointing their spears at me.

And ahead of me is the Alpha sitting on a stone throne with a female dog between his legs and a paw on the back of her head. I can faintly hear her sniffing, clearly not wanting to do this act. Not only that, but there's a pile of bones next to the throne that resemble a pony.

"Who be you!? Mutts! Kill it!" he quickly recovers from his shock and barks out the order.

I glare to my right and create two blades made of flames in each hand and hold them out to my sides.

"I am Adrian Stormsword! King of Equestria! And you have made the mistake of attacking my wife, foal, and people even after the warning I gave you to never return! I am here for your flea bitten head, mongrel!" I roar out in anger as Infurnus responds to my rage and floods me with his mana making the flames on my body whip about wildly and the temperature to increase.

The dogs that charge at me stop and back away from the heat. I then cast my air wings again and spread the draconic like wings of flame wide adding to the intimidation factor.

"You will drop your weapons and surrender if you wish to remain alive!" I warn them as Celestia and twenty guards enter behind me.

The dogs after some hesitation do so and drop their crude weapons and whimper. I turn back to the Alpha who hasn't even released the female he's still forcing himself on.

POV: Celestia

Adrian's eyes then shine brightly as black flames pour out the sides. "Release her immediately," he threatens the Alpha in a low tone who worryingly doesn't look afraid.

"Stupid monster, I am Alpha here! You die soon!" the filthy beast replies and then grunts as he defiles the poor female in his grip.

Thinking quickly I launch a ball of light in his face and blind him causing him to let go of the female with a yelp which I take advantage of and pull her away with my levitation spell.

I then place her with the other females who try to comfort the crying dog, even the ponies and cervine attempt to help sooth her.

The Alpha in a fit of rage reaches behind his stone throne and pulls out two warhammers that frankly look way too well crafted to be made by a diamond dog.

They're black with solid heads and two skulls on each side. Both faces of the head have many spikes protruding from them and each one seems to be emitting faint auras, one orange like fire and the other ocean blue.

Adrian's eyes widen as he looks at the weapons. "Those are elven enchantments!" he exclaims with surprise.

"What? But how is that possible?" I ask him.

"I don't know, but I'm betting it's Grogar's doing..." he replies and gets into an attack stance.

The Alpha gets up off his throne and lumbers his way over to Adrian. "You pay for killing brother, will have ya head on stick!" the Alpha growls out and then swings the blue hammer at Adrian.

Adrian leans away from the weapon but it just clips him resulting in a hiss of steam and a cry of pain from him. "AARRGGH!" the flames on his right hip are extinguished for a few seconds before reforming.

"Creature who gave these warn me of ya power," the snarling beast says to my mate.

"Really? Well then, I'll just have to kill you quickly!" Adrian replies and lunges forward with his right fireblade.

The dog swings the red hammer and Adrian's fire blade is absorbed into the orange aura. The mutt then swings the blue hammer again hitting Adrian in the left arm, and to my horror his arm is ripped off with a blast of steam. "AAAAARRGGH!" he yells in pain and backs off.

"Yes, creature warn me of ya forms and give way to beat them," the dog taunts and laughs.

I clench my fists and get ready to attack but Adrian starts laughing in between pained grunts. "And? There's one thing he forgot to mention," he replies and dismisses his fire aspect form, thankfully his arm is still there.

Adrian then gathers what looks like four lightning elements into his right hand and then holds it out at the Alpha.

"And that be?" the dog asks with a snarl.

"I KNOW MORE THAN JUST THE FIRE AND LIFE ELEMENTS!" Adrian yells and casts his spell.

The spray of purple lightning arcs out of his palm and heads straight for the head of the blue hammer. The moment the electricity connects the dog howls in agony as the high voltage courses through his body and making him unable to drop the weapons.

After about eight seconds Adrian stops and the mutt collapses to the ground with thin trails of smoke coming off his body.

"He's all yours, Tia," my husband tells me and starts healing himself as I can see blood coming off the armour on his hip and left arm, the same areas he was hit by the blue hammer.

I float over to the mutt and glare at him. "You are hereby sentenced to death for the attempted assassination of my herdmate and foal," I inform him sternly and begin channelling magic into my right hand.

The mutt coughs and glares up at me. "Stupid pony, it too late," he replies with a sadistic grin.

I frown and grip him by the scruff of his neck and lift him up. "What do you mean by that!?" I demand.

"Pony town should be burnt now," he tells me with a pained grin.

My eyes widen at his words. Could Ponyville be under attack right now? Before he could say another word I quickly read his mind for information but it's protected by another one of those mental barriers like Blueblood's imposter had.

After getting Adrian to remove it, I read his memories and find that he was visited by an undead puppet and given the hammers, he was nothing but a pawn in an attempt to kill Adrian. I then thrust my left hand into the dog's chest and rip out his heart, just as Adrian did to the last Alpha.

I then drop the corpse and head over to Adrian. "I believe Ponyville may be in danger!" I tell him and turn to the guards. "Get these diamond dogs and any other captives they have onto the Nightingale and take them back to Canterlot," I order them and they all salute before rounding up the females and surrendered guard dogs.

The ponies and cervine are thankful and so were the diamond dog females. I don't think any of them were treated kindly at all.

Adrian and I head back up and fly back towards Ponyville, when we arrive my eyes begin to tear up. Chrysalis' changelings are attacking the town and everything is burning as I see guards and changelings alike dead in the streets, though I don't see any of the town’s ponies bodies among them.

I hope they evacuated in time and the elements are alright...

'Twilight, please be safe,'