Hell's Mercy

Subject: Shadow Shield
Race: Unicorn
Occupation: Royal Guard
Specialty: Recon
Status: target
Prepare for capture

These were the words I read on the document. I was a target in this wretched place. As flattering as it was that I would have been given transportation heedless of my previous actions, I visited on my own accord. This was concerning though. I was sent on a mission to investigate what this place was. I had assumed I was picked for my expertise in this field, but I fear there was some other agenda being fulfilled.

The place in question was a cavern, either created or overrun by diamond dogs. It smelled like tar and liquids dripped from up top. I had seen many diamond dogs lurking around, but it seemed they weren't guarding anything, or even expecting company. I had assumed from this document that it was a trap, but no paws had attempted to detain me.

Confused, I tucked the document under my armor and continued to lurk around. Hearing some dogs, I hid behind a large rock protruding from the ground. I listened to their steps, and soon heard voices as well.

"So what's the job you picked up again?" A voice rang out, one which certainly belonged to a diamond dog. It made sense for diamond dogs to sell out to the highest bidder. undoubtedly for something petty like gems.

"Shadow Shield. We've got to capture him." A second voice. Deeper, but certainly of the same species.

"What, we can't kill him?"

"No, we can hardly even hurt him."

"What bonehead gave us this job anyway?"

"Kunik."

Kunik. Kunik. I ran the name through my head but to no avail. I collect info for Equestria, I just hoped I hadn't screwed over the wrong pony. Still, something bugged me. Why would he want me almost untouched? If they were going to interrogate me, then being nice was the least of their concerns. I just hoped I wouldn’t find out what they were going to do. The document itself seems rather out of place too. it was wrapped in cloth when I found it, which was rather odd for someone whose standards were a smell cave. and it just seemed too… neat for diamond dogs. It was probably from Kunik.

What they talked about afterwards was useless to me, so I began to inch away. I needed to get out of here and get what I know to Shining Armor. He would probably know who Kunik was.

As I approached the entrance I came through, I could hear hoof steps and something being dragged along the ground. again, hiding in silence, I listened in.

“Where should we put her?” Another Diamond dog piped up.

“Kunik said to put her in a cell.” I nearly jumped when I heard that voice. It clearly did not belong to a diamond dog. I peeked around the rock and saw something that sent chills down my spine. It was a griffon, strong in posture. It’s eyes were tinged purple with a green glow. I’d seen that before. Without a doubt it was dark magic. It’s face looked bruised, like it had recently been in a fight. The body being dragged was a pegasus. She had a pink coat of fur and a green main.

I knew nothing of her, however I needed all the information about the situation I could get. I decided to follow them and wait for an opportunity. I had no weapons but I wasn’t defenseless. My armor was black, thick and most importantly quiet. I had a noise grenade, and a flash bang in case I got spotted. I was also rather adept at magic, but hardly anything that hurts. I did know how to pick locks, So I was probably going to pick the cell door unless I came up with a better plan.

Following was rather easy, as the cells were not a common place to hang out, and with the even worse oder, it wasn’t hard to tell why. It also seemed uncomfortably easy to get grabbed by a prisoner reaching between the bars. I just strode confidently by the cells and none of the prisoners gave away my location. I wasn’t sure if it was because they thought I worked there or out of spite to those that did.
The two finally reached the cell and threw the body in. I stood on the opposite side of the hallway and I wasn’t noticed. The griffon locked the door and they both left down the way we came.

“Are you alright?” I whispered between the bars after I was sure no one could hear me. Her eyes slowly opened and as she regained consciousness.

“Wh-what? What did you say?” She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

“Are you alright?” I repeated.

“Yeah. No! You can’t keep doing this!” She seemed a bit more awake now.

“sh! I’m trying to break you out!” The other prisoners seemed to perk up at that.

“Oh. Then we need to hurry!” she frantically whispered.

“Here, I’ll pick the lock.” I started doing so with my magic.

“How much do you know?” She asked me.

“Not a ton.”

“Did you… find any documents?”

“Yeah, why?

“Good, we’ll need it.”

“Why- Got it!” The door swung open as I pulled. A big sense of relief came between the both of us.

“Good job there kiddo.” I froze in response the voice behind me. Slowly turning, I realized it was just a prisoner. A diamond dog, rather old.

“Uh, thanks.”

“Let me out.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Why do you think I’m in here?”

“No.” The mare I saved gave a look I couldn’t quite distinguish.

“You’ll regret it.”

“Still, no.” Realizing what he meant, I suddenly comprehended the look the mare gave me.

“GUARDS!” The prisoner yell at the top of his lungs.

“You idiot!” She hissed.

“Do you know how to fight?” I hissed back.

“Yes.” She continued in our snake imitation tone.
We darted down the hall we came, and unsurprisingly came across 2 diamond dog guards.

“Is that-” One of the diamond dogs began, before being rammed in the chest. Distracted, I rammed the other one with my full body strength. The armor doing most of the work for me, he fell down in pain.

As if satisfied with my performance, she nodded at me and began running towards the exit. Something that seemed rather strange for someone who hadn’t seen the way in, but now was no time for suspicion and hoof pointing.

I joined her, sprinted towards the exit. As we passed through a large open room, a shadowy figure sprung out from behind one of the rocks, pinning the mare to another rock.

“Gah!” She yelled. I darted over to the shadowy figure, and started pulling it off of her. eventually I pulled hard enough to yank it off, and see it was just another diamond dog.

“Look behind you!” She pointed out. we were surrounded. ambush. “Do something!”

“Like what?” I asked.

“I’m not the one with the equipment!”

“This wasn’t supposed to be a rescue mission!” They were beginning to close in on us.

“That!” She yelled, pointing to my flashbang.

“You sure?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“This is going to in ring your ears badly.”

“Just do it!” They were closing in pretty quickly.

“...okay.” I pulled out the grenade with my hoof and bit out the pin. “Cover your eyes.” I threw it down violently and everything went quiet for a second. Nothing could be heard but the ringing in my ears. I felt a hoof pulling me, and knew it was my new friend. Everything faded in and we were far away from the pack.

“You seemed alright considering- oh my…” I looked into her eyes and saw the purple tinge and green glow that was on the griffon’s. “What is…”

“It’s why they wanted me.”

“But…”

“I’ll explain AFTER we get out of here, alright?” I didn’t respond. as we reached the exit, the only thing guarding it was the griffon I saw earlier. He was staring to the outside, before locking a glare at us. I gritted my teeth, expecting the worst. The mare braced for impact.

“Go.” The griffin urged. bewildered, I was speechless, and for once the mare was too. “Did you not hear me?”

“Uh… right! let’s go then.” I announced.

We trotted off and finally breathed fresh air after so long...