The Scaled Courier

We moved fast, dogs from all the cavers running and digging through the soil as we made out way to the main meeting cavern. Unlike other caverns and tunnels, it was carved from salt deposits, and lit with glowing stones. A Warband was called. No dog alive was born when the last Warband was called, but it’s a call every Diamond dog must answer when word reached their ears.

I stood as leader of my pack and looked upon the many packs wondering with this may dogs who was left to fight. I turned to my second in command Runt who asked, “Who is leading this Warband?” I could not answer as It was unknown.

Before anymore talking could a large Dog stood on a platform at the end of the cavern a thunderous roar from the dogs could be heard before the cavern when quiet. “Here me my kin! For untold generations we dogs have been stuck digging underground and scraping by with polluted water and whatever we managed to hunt for food! No longer! Today, I am leading all of us to the cursed mountain! Where it’s core is ripe with gems our ancestors mined and collected for years before the wretched ponies stole our home from us! Follow me, and we will have gems, food, water, and we can finally live under the sun like our ancestors before us! Who here is with me!” The dogs cheered as I noticed a odd looking dog standing behind him the stench of something foul was coming off him.

“Are we really going to the cursed mountain?” My Runt asked.

“Keep your voice down I have a feeling that your tone might get you killed.” I said.

In the tunnels behind the salt cavern was a room reserved for the Warchief the leader of the warband. “That was a good speech Warchief.” I said as the warchief finished a rotten meal.

“Well your magic better make it so because the last thing I will do before the curse claims me is take your sorry hide down.” The warchief said before asking “And how will capturing these wretched Ponies get us the mountain?”

“Simple, with a bit of some special magic I have learned, their souls will act as a barrier around you, keeping the curse from harming you. Best part, the corpses left behind will make a fresh meal.” I said, starting the ritual, the ponies whose souls were being taken were panicking as darkness flowed from candles down their throats, orbs of light being taken out as the bodies fell over, limp and lifeless. The orbs all came together, forming one large orb, which I held in my hand. “Are you ready Warchief?” I asked him, ready for the next part.

The warchief nodded as he grabbed the orb and took the power for himself and smiled, the souls flowing into his skin and, as a result, covering his own soul once they reached it. The perfect camouflage for the curse. “You’ve done well Shaman I feel stronger than before.” He said as I walked off. “Where are you off to?” He asked.

“I must commune with our ancestors, taking back our rightful home will grant us their blessings in battle.” I said, seeing him nodding, satisfied with that as he left. Once he was gone, I began chanting, smoke arising from my fireplace...and a figure appeared. My Master. “Greetings Master. The plan is set. Everything is going according to plan.” I informed him.

My master nodded and spoke. “Good, as long as nothing interferes with our plan I won’t have to end you.” Before long the smoke disappeared.

A few days passed since I told my family the abridged version of my adventure in the wasteland. I was wondering the castle when I saw that mare from the village that I captured. I followed them to see where they were taking her. “Hey wait up.” I said as they stopped.

“What is it sir.” one of them asked.

“I wanted to know what you were doing with her?” I asked.

“Princess Celestia wanted somepony to interrogate her to see what she knows.” The guard said.

“Has anyo-pony been ordered to do this interrogation?” I asked.

“No sir they haven’t.” the other guard said.

“Then allow me to do it.” I said as they both looked at eachother confused.

“The Princess would rather somepony qualified to do it.” the guard said before saying “but it would save us time.”

“Good.” I said as I walked into the room where Starlight Glimmer was chained up.

“So your here to judge me.” she said.

“Yes I am.” I said looking at what Starlight actually did other than kidnap Twilight and the others. “Well it's interesting