Author's Note

It has been a while! Hopefully not too long though. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Rocky Gear Rigid V: The Ghostly Hurt

Letting go of a spell, I wipe a small amount of sweat off my brow and think of the past for a small time.

The last two weeks.... Have been one episode after another. I had to stay out of it completely too, which felt horrible. At least I was able to watch the Sonic Rainboom from a decent ways away. Twilight got petrified, which was... Unsettling how easy it was to remove. The CMC had their big show as well, I can see why it was thought they would have specific cutie marks after their personal talents. Knowing where they actually end up makes me cringe at those thoughts, since it makes much more sense for them to stay together even through their marks. But speaking of marks, it was nice seeing them going to each of the girls to find out about how they got their cutie marks. It's MUCH better in person to see such sentimental moments. I heard about the cockatrice as well as the CMC getting their treehouse too. Seems like everything is still going according to the show, which is extremely good. Last thing we need is some screw up in the timeline thanks to me.

I yawn and look around the area I chose to train in this time around. It's a small ravine right outside of Ponyville. Strangely enough, sometimes I'd find large holes. Sometimes it wouldn't in the same place I found them before. I ignored this, simply because the more I delve into this world the more I ruin it. Training with my sword usually makes me exhausted so I tend to try and train in other ways that won't knock me out after just thirty minutes.

After two weeks of training, I think it's time to try out my idea that will reduce my magical usage!

I raise my hands and bring up two rock arms complete with fists on my sides with a few simple commands. Follow my arm movement, morph to avoid my body, and harden. Testing out the spell, I move my right arm up and down, watching the rocky version I create follow the movements exactly. I test the hardiness of the stone by slamming my arm downwards in a hammer-like fashion while putting up a small barrier towards the right side of me. The stone fist slams into the grounding, creating a small crater while shooting rocks everywhere that bounce off my barrier if coming towards me.

Close range, and controlled by following my movement instead of giving multiple movement commands at a time. I can already tell that this won't be hard at all to maintain. Now if I go farther away, of course the requirement for magical essence goes up.. I could put a command in that makes them follow me! But that doesn't solve the main issue. I simply don't have a way to get magical essence back yet. I have no real spell to efficiently do it, nor will I ask for help on this. I've already gotten so much training and help along with this sword. Time to figure stuff out myself. Luckily, what I asked Rarity to do for me should be done soon and I'll be able to test it. In fact, she should be on the way to deliver it soon. She mentioned having to scavenge for gems today for some reason or another.

I try a few more punches into the air and end the spell after viewing how successful it was. Collecting some water I brought, I move on to where Rarity usually is. Arriving there I find more than a few mounds of dirt, with no one in sight. No Spike, no Rarity. Nothing.

Righhttt... Must be that episode where she needs more gems and the Diamond Dogs take her. Should I even get involved? Nah, probably not.

I start to turn back towards my training area when I feel something pulling on my sword that's hanging off of my waist. I turn and see a young Diamond Dog pulling on it while staring at the gems on it. I first get startled and then smile as I notice how young it is. I pat it's head before saying a few words.

"Sorry, I know it's full of gems but they aren't coming out of it anytime soon. I need it to protect little guys like you." I say before noticing something else.

It's gone.

I look down as I reach for my sword and realize it's gone. The mound where the young Diamond Dog was in is also much messier and has a small hole leading down into the ground.

No! I can't lose that sword!

I create an aura around me, protecting myself from anything outside of it, and use telekinesis to drive myself into the mound. I go so fast that I actually pass the runt that stole my sword. I double back and rush to it before realizing that they went a different path completely. I end up following a tunnel that connected to where the dog dug to and end up at a very decorated room with the young Diamond Dog holding out the sword while looking behind at me with fear on it's face and a cloaked Diamond Dog standing in front of the other.

"Oh, you must be the owner of this magnificent sword that my grand pup here brought me. I'm terribly sorry, he was simply trying to get me some more gems." the cloaked Diamond Dog, that now I realize is an elder, says before picking up the sword and studying it. "My, what beautiful crafting. The gems are particularly powerful and useful. A speckled jasper if I had to guess.

Her rough voice gives me the impression that she is still very tough and has lived through plenty of issues in life. I then, for one of the many times in my life, realize something way too late. I call Skipansverð back to my hand and watch as it floats out of her hands and into my right hand, which I used to sheath it.

"Ho ho, enchanted as well. Though that was obvious. What can it do exactly?" the elder asks me as the younger one hides behind her.

"I suppose I can say what it does, since you seem knowledgeable and maybe could tell me if I decided correctly." I say after shrugging and floating the blade in front of me in the air.

I give the command to detach them all yet still be connected by a magical tether, causing it to act like a whip. I then give a command to change each piece into different shapes and sizes before making them detach and fly all around me. They then form back into a sword and slide into it's sheath.

"Incredible. It seems you have thought of everything. Though, why keep it in a sheath? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a weapon you can control magically like that? One that can change shape whenever you wish? It'd be better to hide it to surprise your enemies." she says with a hint of curiosity and confusion.

"I.. uh..." I stammer, realizing another thing I should have been doing. "You're right... I'm an idiot!"

I give a few commands to the sword and it wraps around my waist, becoming completely flat except for the gems that are studded in each piece, including the grip.

There, a fashionable belt. No sword here!

"Well done.. I believe we still need to introduce each other however. My name is Brandy. I am the elder of this pack of what you might call Diamond Dogs. We collect gems for many reasons, almost greedily. Though that is because we need them, or at least that is what we are taught. There is an elder for each pack that supports the whole through gem magic, like me. Here, let me show you." Brandy states before rummaging through a nearby box and picking up a red gem that is most likely a ruby.

Brandy holds the ruby close to her and a dark brown aura radiates from her and seeps into the ruby.

"Enchantment is but a borrowed form of gem magic. Gems can be used by themselves as both a carrier of spells and magical essence. For example, watch what happens when I throw this ruby down after giving it a command and some of my magical power." Brandy says while holding up the ruby and throwing it down after she finishes speaking.

The ruby bursts into a small explosion of flame instantly, then after around two seconds it does it again, and then again after another two seconds.

"I put a spell in the gem and enough magical power to make it release an explosion of fire every two counts. This can be used for many things including lighting fires, distracting or scaring away dangerous creatures and so on. Heh, honestly, gem magic has been lost for so long... I had to show you, seeing that you have a small part of a larger whole. Our people rely on these gems in order to live in this big world without having many advantages. We are looked down on as brutes that are particularly dumb and foolish. I grew up as well as other elders to learn and improve our way of life. We arrived at this, gem magic. Something that we learned from Dragons who used it like toys. Bah! It can be used for so much more. We learned to make gems support our crops, give us lighting underground, cool us in the summer, heat us in the winter. We survived because of this secluded magic and it has been improved upon after us as beings learned it!" exclaims Brandy, showing examples of each use of gem magic that lie around the room.

I stand there, baffled at the ingenious magic that lay before me as well as the intelligence of this Diamond Dog that I expected nothing but greed from. The history and ancestry that was lost in the show and never touched upon again filled me with a sort of determination to maintain their lives in my mind. Seeing such beauty be reduced to 'brutes' and 'foolishness' makes me feel an anger I'm not used to. Something that makes me clench my fist and almost bubble over until a small paw pulls at my pants. Below me is the young Diamond Dog that took my sword earlier, looking up at me with some worry. I push away the negativity in my mind and smile at it.

"What's your name?" I say while kneeling down.

"Levi.." he says extraordinarily quietly, more so than a whisper.

I notice the interesting features of this young pup for the first time. A white coat with brindle spots all over him. He's a bit chubbier than I remember seeing when I first met him, but he's definitely bigger than I thought. Undeniably, he is a very cute pup.

Oh my god.. So many cute things.. Is everything here cute!? The Ponies, the food, the houses and now the Diamond Dogs? I can't help but...

I let out an almost stereo-typically happy sigh that seems to confused the pup.

"Well, nice to meet you Levi. Don't worry, you'll get plenty of gems soon. Follow me, but first... Brandy, can I use your knowledge?" I ask, picking up a nearby coarse gem with a green color.

I focus for a second, giving the gem some of my magical essence and a small command before tossing it onto the floor. After a second the gem starts to fly upwards, by using that air boost spell I was taught, every three seconds. Both Brandy and Levi look at the gem with amazement. Brandy claps after the magical essence in the gem is used up while Levi does what any kid does, wanting to see it again. I simply put some more inside of it and put it down in front of him as I walk over to Brandy.

"You show great promise with gem magic. It takes years for us Diamond Dogs to learn how to use basic magic, let alone be able to give gems the commands I can today. I trust you to not go around and tell every being that wants to know, for this magic can be used for evil. A timer on an explosion for example is quite... Underhanded. I want this magic to be used for the good of this world, not to terrorize! I want hope for those that find themselves to be weak in magic to feel stronger. I see you are already strong, but please... Teach this to communities that are struggling and weak that also won't use it for evil. I want this magic to help those that need it to prosper and survive." Brandy desperately says to me, with obvious tragedy in her eyes.

I give her the best smile I can to an old dog just trying to make the world right and nod in response. It's met with tears from Brandy, a confused Levi hugging her, and me, waiting silently in respect.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

A few minutes later after Levi was done consoling Brandy, we leave that underground room. I smile and ruffle the fur on Levi's head before noticing that I have no idea where I am going. After walking through a few tunnels leading to multiple other rooms, I see Twilight and the rest, excluding Rarity of course, run through a connecting tunnel in front of me.

Ah, there we go..

"Alright, let's follow them!" I say while looking down at Levi, who seems to be frightened and shaking.

I pick him up and scratch his head, watching him calm down and stop shaking before we move towards them.

"Don't worry, they are very nice. I'm sure they'll treat you well, especially since you're so cute." I say honestly, hopefully comforting the young pup.

"Okay... If you say so mister. You are a mister, right?" Levi replies, gracing me with his stereo typically, innocent-like, boyish voice that I previously didn't notice.

"Yes.. Yes I am." I say, internally freaking out at the almost Oliver Twist like voice that just resounded from the small anthropomorphic dog in my arms.

"Sorry for not talking before and.. you know.. taking your sword. I was taught to bring any and all cut gems to the elder, and keep quiet when she is speaking to another."

How very tribal.. But it makes sense from an efficiency point.

"You did well Levi. Very well. Its fine to do your best for your pack! Just dont steal from others, itll cause future problems that you might not be prepared for." I say gently before turning the corner of another tunnel and finding Rarity and the others with carts and carts of gems.

Welp, looks like the episode will be wrapping up soon. But first...

I put Levi down next to me and ruffle his fur before moving forward to Rarity who doesnt seem to notice me while she's whining at the trio of Diamond Dogs I was greeted to on the show. I tap her gently on her back and she turns around with the most whiny face I have ever seen before realizing who she turned to and regaining composure.

"Hello Devan darling, strange seeing you here! Have you joined the mutts?" she says with a snicker and flip of her mane.

"That's actually not a bad idea, seeing as they rely on gems to live. Take a look around at all the lights, weapons and whatnot." I reply with a soft and somewhat stern tone, making sure she is the only one that hears me.

Rarity's facial expression drops to a nervous and guilty look as she scans the room, noticing each and every piece of gem magic thats clearly visible.

"I see.. This just makes me feel dreadfully awful now.. Simply horrid!" Rarity says while throwing a gem down with her magic, creating a resounding thunk through the cavern.

I instantly stop her, and lean towards her ear before whispering something that she and only she needs to hear.

"It's fine. This must happen. I won't give any details now, or hopefully ever, but let's just say that I can somewhat see the future. You need to take the gems, but if you don't mind coming back to gather more for them, that would help them greatly." I say gently, making sure my tone conveys the seriousness of my claim and words.

A pink ball of fluff appears on my back without me knowing, and it takes all my strength to not fall over.

"Hello there ya idiot." I say casually, falling backwards purposefully.

Pinkie Pie giggles before catching us both with her hind legs before lowering us gently and rolling around the ground with me for a few seconds. After she gets her initial excitement out, Pinkie stands up over me and gives me a grin while the other girls lean over me, except for Rainbow Dash of course.

"Well, you have some carts to pull, right mares? I'll join you in a second, but it's time for you all to go!" I say nervously, standing up and dusting myself off.

I give Pinkie Pie a small wink, which she nods at with a smile before pushing her friends to their respective carts. I turn back to Rarity and notice she has given Levi a small bag before patting his head with her hoof. Looking at me, Rarity smiles her typical smile and gets in her carts harness and moves out of the caves with the rest of them. I walk over to Levi as he opens the bag and stares in it with astonishment. Inside the bag are plenty of flawlessly cut gems.

Going by what I know... It's much more efficient and powerful to use gems that are cut for enchantments, since it allows for easier magical essence transferring and release. This would most likely be some of the most useful gems they would ever have.

I ruffle Levi's head once again and point towards where we came from and where Brandy is. Levi nods with determination before hugging my side hard and running off in that direction.

Element of Generosity indeed.