Grand Fantasy: A Strange New World

Silver was busy practicing his Equestrian with himself in the bathroom when he heard the door practically burst open and Star screaming. “SILVER! WHERE ARE YOU!”

Silver popped his head out of the bathroom and saw Star running through the circular hallway. “In water room.” He said as she screeched to a halt, sliding past him. She looked determined and scared at the same time.

“I need your help! You remember those DDogs from the crater?! They captured one of my friends and I need you to help me rescue her!” She practically yelled at him.

“Why.” Was all he asked. As much as he didn’t like the Dogs, he still didn’t want to kill them.

“They capture ponies and use them as slaves in their warrens hauling and digging up gems for them. You got to help me rescue Lyra, she doesn’t deserve that kind of fate!” Star was determined to rescue her friend, with or without Silver.

Silver felt anger well up inside him, an old scar on his back started to ache. He knew all too well about slavery and the cruelty their captors could inflict on them.

“We go… Now.” He said as his face contorted in anger. A low growl emanated from his throat that made Star shrink back. Silver motioned for Star to show him the way and she dashed off at a full gallop out of the observatory and towards the Equestrian/ Gem Fido border. Silver was hot on her tail.

Two Royal Guards were patrolling when they saw a large, grey Diamond Dog chasing a small, midnight blue unicorn. Instantly taking action they followed, yelling. “STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM!”

Star looked back at the two guards, one was a brown unicorn and the other was a white Pegasus, and said. “Hurry up then! Follow us!”

They slowed down for a moment, confused by her reply before picking up the pace. Something was going down and they could probably get promoted for helping out or even by capturing the giant Diamond Dog.

Silver and the small group arrived at the warren of the Onyxjaw pack, they were called that because the earth they dug through was full of dusty, black coal that coated their fur. It made each and every one of them black as night. Because the mines were full of coal dust, they captured slaves to dig up the gems so that they wouldn’t have to deal with the dust.

The Guards looked as if they were going to speak up, but Silver held up a claw to silence them. “Shhh, quiet time now.” He said. They looked at each other and said softly.

“And just what is this Dog doing?” They asked Star. She glared at them almost as hard as Silver had.

“Helping me rescue my friend of course! Now stay quiet.” She looked up and asked. “Just what do we do Silver?”

Silver looked at the opening of the mines and at the two, short, squat guards that stood there with bored faces. “We kill…” This put a scared and disgusted face on all three ponies as Silver continued. “They no have right for life… They must be cleansed.” Star saw the passing look on Silver’s face. What was he thinking about?

Silver grimaced and spoke. “Fakest” And a sheet of ice formed over his right claw, forming a wicked blade of pure blue ice. Star and the guards looked at his claw in surprise. Just how did he use magic? Only unicorns could use magic. Before they could protest, Silver was already walking calmly towards the Dogs.

“Halt! No further!” The taller of the two coal coated Dogs commanded. Spears lowered towards him.

Silver emanated what could only be described as ‘Killing Intent’. Even Star and the Royal Guards cringed as the wave of malevolence hit them. This was definitely not a creature you wanted to mess with. The two Dogs whimpered and curled up into a fetal position as they cried. “Don’t hurt us!”

Silver didn’t even stop walking as his ice blade swept through their necks, blood spraying and staining the nearby earth. “No deserve life….” Was all he said to their corpses as he continued in.

Star and the Guards looked at each other till Star spoke up. “Let’s get going… He might need us.” But before she could start, the unicorn guards said.

“I highly doubt that he will need our help…”

The Pegasus agreed. “Yeah, did you feel that oppressive feeling! He could defeat them by just staring at them.”

Star was starting to get annoyed. “What? Are you two little scaredy-foals? Come on! We at least need to try.” The Guards sighed and followed her into the cave.

Bodies already littered the dark cave, some were just sliced, but others were charred to a crisp. The stench of death was extremely overpowering and caused Star to vomit several times before she stopped smelling it. The Guards were doing their best to hold everything down their lunches, their faces were stoic and had a green tinge to it. What did Silver do? I mean it is obvious, but he seems to be in his own little world…

Silver continued deep into the mines towards the smell of filth and rot, smells one would expect in a slave pit. The Diamond Dogs had been becoming much more wary, and had started to try and ambush him. He had just finished with another group and it had covered his fur in blood, giving him a monstrous look.

He stood in front of a large door made of iron bars. He grabbed the bars and gave them a shake. They were very sturdy and would probably take too long to melt with fire and too hard for his blade. He thought back to when Star had explained about Diamond Dogs having the ability to cut through metal and earth with their claws. He looked down to his left claws, which were now fully extended. He gave the gate an experimental prod, the claw sank in like he was cutting butter. Silver grinned and slashed at the bars a few times, leaving a large hole in the gate.

He stepped into a massive cave that held many ponies and eagle/lion creatures in chains. There were even some Dogs in chains. When he entered, several of the guard Dogs looked up at him and roared at him and charged him. They were much faster and stronger than their smaller counterparts from the outer tunnels. They had barreled into him and knocked him off of his feet. He knocked them back with a fierce kick and righted himself, giving them a hard stare and a loud growl. They charged again, but he was ready this time.

The Guard Dogs rushed towards him, only to meet air. Silver was already behind them with bloodied blade resting at his side. The Dogs looked behind them only to fall into halves.

All of the slaves had abandoned their work and all sat in the furthest corner from Silver, fearing this bloodied reaper that walked towards them. He stopped in front of a single bloodied unicorn that stood in defiance of him.

“I won’t let you harm these poor ponies, MONSTER!” She yelled at him. When she called him a monster, Silver cringed and looked at his own bloodied form.

“LYRA!” A voice cried behind him. Star dashed over and gripped Lyra in a crushing hug.

“Owowowowow!” Lyra cried. “That hurts Star!” Star sheepishly let go.

“I-I’m sorry, I just was so worried about you.”

Lyra glanced at Silver and asked. “What is this Dog doing here? Why did he kill his own kind?”

Star sighed and explained what Silver was. “He is not a Diamond Dog, or at least I don’t think so. He says he is a Lycanthrope from a place called Rathia or something. I don’t really know how he got here though. It all sounds crazy to me.” Star paused and said. “We need to get out of here before the Alpha gets here. Come on everypony! Follow us and be free!”

The slaves cautiously followed Star and Silver to the exit, cringing at the bright sunlight. Outside, there was the entire regiment of Royal Guards waiting. “Halt!” An older green unicorn in battered silver armor cried. The entire group of emerging slaves stopped and worriedly glanced to Star and Silver. The two Guards who were with them walked forwards and responded. “Captain Jade, sir!”

Captain Jade acknowledged the two Guards. “Private Forecast and Sergeant Gemstone, report!” The two Guards explained what had happened from the moment when they first saw Silver chasing Star to the moment when they rescued the slaves. The captain stood there in thought for a moment before saying. “Ponies! Retrieve the freed slaves and get them settled in town. Feed them and give them medical attention if they need it.” He turned to Silver and Star. “As for you two, I would like to talk to you in private. Follow me.”

Star turned to Lyra and said. “Go with them Lyra, we can catch up later.” She smiled at her mint green friend and followed Silver.

Lyra nodded slightly and followed the other slaves into town.