“What do you mean by that, pal?” asked Rainbow in a rather rude and challenging tone.

“She is not very smart, isn’t she?” asked a different voice coming from Rex, but he didn't move his muzzle.

The Mane Six plus Spike looked at the other dogs to make sure if one of them was the one that spoke.

“See, I told you,” said that voice again and after that the root like markings on Rex’s breastplate moved until formed the silhouette of a wolf like face. That face then said, “Yo.”

“What in tarnation is that?!!” shouted AJ when she saw that, Fluttershy squeak in surprise and fear, Twilight and Rainbow's eye widen in surprise, Rarity fainted, but luckily she had Pinkie to lean against, who just tilted her head to the side a bit.

“Not now Zetsu,” said Rex looking down.

“You're no fun,” said Zetsu’s face before it retreated and disappeared, but not before sending a look of distaste at AJ that went unnoticed by the ponies and hatchling, however, the dogs noticed but chose to not question it.

“Anyway ignore him. And to answer your previous question I will only let you go after the territorial dispute that we are having is settled,” explained Rex to the shocked mares and hatchling. They were too shocked to react, but Rex ignored their shock and continued, “Besides my boss went through the trouble to save you all on that mountain.”

This caused Twilight to remember the day a mysterious pony –at least she thought it was a pony since the figure was somehow obscured in her memories– that came with a green dragoness and subsided the red dragoness. She didn't know what he did, but he –again she assumed it was a he– took the hoard and the dragoness with him, the fact he also controlled this pack of diamond dogs was alarming.

“What you mean by that?” asked Twilight only for Rex to remain in silence.

With Kazuki, just before Rex confrontation with Rover

Kazuki just sent Rex to rescue the Element of Generosity when he noticed that the scenario deviated from the show. He tried to keep deviations of the “Prime Timeline” from the show until he could acquire another apprentice and possibly reach his fortress, preferably in that order.

But it seemed that while Kazuki managed to keep the changes minimal on Equestria some changes were inevitable, he wouldn't be able to rely on his knowledge of MLP:FIM cannon completely. Pity he wanted to remain on the background until the end of season 2, just to be sure he kept watching with his Byakugan.

“Sometimes I wonder why the Tree of Harmony chose them, but it's not like I don't know about their hidden potential. At least the bearer of of the Kandai no Mi(寛大の実, Fruit of Generosity) is safe,” thought Kazuki as he saw Rex subside Rover and his squad subside the rest of that group that apparently were Rover’s pack, which meant that he was not the clan leader, then Kazuki sighed.

“Is something wrong, boss?” asked a female diamond dog accompanying him. She was a akita like Rex but smaller being around 6ft tall, gray and with just a few scars on her arms; she had a very athletic figure, which was expected since she was one of the best warriors of the pack just below Rex. Like all warrior she also was wearing a White Zetsu as armor that was similar to Rex’s, the only difference was the shape of breastplate for obvious reasons.

“No Lexi, I’m just thinking about the future,” said Kazuki as he and Lexi were followed by a squad of warriors, with some breaking off from the main group and entering the adjacent tunnels when Kazuki motioned for them to advance with his hands. While they continued Kazuki noticed Lexi’s nervousness, so he added, “Don't worry, Rex is fine.”

“I know boss, I trust and have faith in my mate, but I still worry about him,” answered Lexi just as Kazuki saw the rest of the mane six and Spike being captured.

“This might complicate some of my plans. This incident will without a doubt catch the attention of the Royal Sisters,” thought Kazuki as he saw the Mane Six and Spike's reunion with Rarity. He could change their memories, but if that was done then eventually Luna would notice the discrepancy on their memories. The only reason that didn't happen before is because he just obscured himself in their memories, they probably just passed off as a mage that wanted to study in privacy and didn't want to deal with other ponies.

“Ma, there is nothing I can do about now, I just have to adapt to the new situation,” thought Kazuki as he searched the tunnels for the leaders of the enemy pack.

Eventually Kazuki found them, at least he assumed its them because he saw a group of three diamond dogs shouting at each other with a group of guards not far from them and since there wasn't any cells he assumed that at least they were not prisoners.

“Zetsu have you or any of your brethren located the cells holding any prisoners?” asked Kazuki looking at Lexi, or more specifically at the Zetsu she was wearing.

“Yeah, they are further away. You can just beat up their bosses and be done with it,” said the Zetsu being worn by Lexi after the image of a muzzle formed on her left vambrace. After his report he paused for a while before asking Kazuki, “Can I eat them?”

“We will see,” said Kazuki as he looked at the direction Zetsu pointed and sure enough he found the prisoners. He could see diamond dogs, ponies, some minotaurs and gryphons but one species in particular was the most interesting. Then Kazuki said, “Thank you Zetsu that will be all.”

That was another reason he found a army of Zetsu to be useful, the Zetsu without a partner served as spies and sent information to other Zetsu, so long they were within range and on the ground since Zetsu communicate “through the land” and only those that can “merge with nature” can notice this phenomena.

It was always fascinating to “hear” their conversation, Kazuki couldn't describe in words that could be understood with just the normal five senses he once had as a human or even the sharper senses –by human standards– of some species he reincarnated as over the ages.

“You all know what to do,” said Kazuki to the ones following him just as they were about to reach the entrance of the chamber where the three supposed leaders were and after deactivating his Byakugan. They all nodded and did a Rat Hand Seal before slowly fading using the Meisaigakure no Jutsu, with the exception of Lexi who remained beside Kazuki.

After that Kazuki and Lexi entered the chamber without even trying to hide, especially with his geta hitting the ground making a clanking sound that got the attention of all those present while the diamond dogs under Kazuki's command used the basic Chakra Control techniques to walk on the walls of the cave quietly.

The guards immediately turned to face the duo and growled while pointing their spears at them, the three diamond dogs that were on a heated debate stopped and looked at the intruders as well. Kazuki looked at the guards and noticed that they had slightly better armor than Rover’s pack, but considering that Rover’s pack was very small they were probably not very high on the clan’s hierarchy it wasn't unexpected.

The first leader was similar to a anthro male Doberman a little taller than Kazuki without his geta, he had large paws that were average for diamond dogs, he was wearing a brown vest with small metal plates and he had a spiked collar with a golden tag.

The second leader was similar to a anthro male Black and Tan Hound very similar to the first leader, probably a close relative, he even worn a similar brown vest with small metal plates but his collar was without spikes.

The third leader however was more like a female anthro wolf, which was rare —at least on this continent— as far as Kazuki could remember. Anyway, she was just as tall as Rex, had a gray coat and few scars on her arms and legs, her yellow vest was closed halfway, which showed her cleavage and on her neck was a black collar with a golden tag.

“Who are you?” growled the female wolf.

“I’m the alpha of the pack you are attacking,” said Kazuki.

“Ha! You a alpha, you look and dress like a pony,” said the Doberman as he saw Kazuki's “dress”, but then something else caught his attention, so he said, “Look, he even paint his nails.”

“Are you the clan head?” asked Kazuki as he looked at the Doberman, looking at those whitish lilac eyes he stopped laughing when all of his instincts told him that whatever was in front of him was dangerous.

“Don’t pay attention to him, he is a idiot sometimes. I'm the clan head and I didn't approve of this attack,” said the female wolf the last part growling as she glaced at the other two.

“But boss, there are many gem deposits on the outskirts of the forest, so surely there a more beneath it. Beside his pack is small we can defeat them,” said the hound speaking for the first time.

“Not now! I did everything to keep this clan safe and fed and this is how you two repay me! By going behind my back and attacked a neighboring pack! Especially when I told you not to! What do you have to say for yourselves?!” shouted the female wolf.

“It matters not who ordered, your clan attacked my pack in my territory,” said Kazuki firmly before the two could answer.

“What are your demands?” asked the female wolf wanting to avoid a fight.

“Leave this territory and don't come back,” said Kazuki.

“What?! We can't do that, this place is rich in gems and right now we have many young pups, a journey to find a new territory won't be easy. Is there nothing else you want?” asked the female wolf clearly wanting to avoid a battle for dominance with Kazuki’s pack, especially now that that her territory was invaded and especially if her comment about pups were anything to go by.

“I don't care. You attacked those under my care, personally I am not the type that seeks retribution, but I won't let others just walk into my home and take what they want. That is a invitation for others to do the same and I take care of what I consider mine,” said Kazuki with conviction.

“I see, you are a good alpha, but I too must take care of my clan,” said the female wolf.

“Guards!” shouted the Doberman, but immediately after that he heard many thuds when the guards were pushed to the ground as if something heavy suddenly dropped on them.

Then the air above the guard started to distort until it revealed members of Kazuki's pack holding the guards down, some of the more uncooperative guards were either knocked out or had a blade on their throats in order to not struggle.

“Now you can either submit or pay the price,” said Kazuki to the trio.

“Will you spare them?” asked the female wolf trying not to growl.

“Of course, killing without a good reason would be a waste,” said Kazuki and without hesitation the female wolf knelt down before bowing, looking down and placing her paws in front of her facing up, a sign of submission. He could easily damage her neck or paws like this.

“No big sis! We can still fight!” said the hound. The paws of the wolf twitched wanting to berate them, but she resisted the urge, she didn't want to show any sign of resistance when the lives of her pack were on the line.

“You two are still willing to fight? Even now?” asked Kazuki and their response was a growl from both of them. So he said, “Very well, it seems you fools need to be taught a lesson. Lexi keep an eye on her.”

Kazuki moved back before moving his hand in a circular motion, using his aura he carved a circle around himself. The circle itself was just a step from the center where he stood, then he challenged, “If you two can make me step out of this circle I will leave, but if you don't then there will be consequences. I won't even use magic, you have fifteen minutes. To make even easier I am only going to defend for the first five minutes.”

They looked at each other before they jumped at Kazuki, who didn't move. When their claws got closer to him he masterfully and gracefully used the back of his hands to gently redirect their claws away from him, which caused the two of them to lean forward and fall face first.

“We barely started and you are already face first on the ground,” said Kazuki just stating a fact as he lowered his arms and let his aura permeate the air around him, but without leaving the circle, an advanced technique of nen called En(圓, Circle) using the basic Ren(練,Refine/Enhance) and Ten(纒, Envelop/Shroud) to create an invisible bubble where he felt everything inside, even if he shut down his five senses he would still be able to feel what was inside his aura.

“You said you would not attack us,” growled the Doberman.

“And I didn't, I only redirected your attack. Fourteen minutes left,” said Kazuki as he turned to face them.

Then this cycle repeated itself, Lexi and the female wolf were in awe at Kazuki's mastery of martial arts. Lexi in particular remembered many of his lessons, in which he was teaching the pack how to fight properly, he knew many different styles that he was teaching to the pack, granted they had to learn one style at the time and no one became a master yet.

Just as Lexi finished her introspection she hear two yowls of pain, then she saw the two diamond dogs each holding a paw in pain.

“Ten minutes remaining,” said Kazuki with the index and middle finger of both hands extended. Then he lowered his arms before asking, “Do you want to keep trying?”

They growled and attacked again, which cause Kazuki to sigh at their stubbornness. So he kept using the modified Jūken(柔拳, Gentle Fist) since most creatures on this planet don't have a proper Chakra Network, but they still have something similar that allowed the flow of magic and aura, he could affect the nervous system directly though.

Kazuki wanting to just end this just hit them on the back of their necks after another attempt, this paralyzed them from the neck down and he managed to hit that spot after evading another failed attack from the two diamond dogs.

“It seems you can no longer attack and we still have seven minutes left,” said Kazuki as he looked at the two dogs laying on the ground. Then he asked, “Do you want to wait for the time to finish?”

The two downed dogs didn't even answered Kazuki's question, so out of courtesy he waited for the remaining seven minutes. After that he dragged their unresponsive bodies until they were beside their surrendered leader before undoing the paralysis and let them get up. For a moment they seemed to want to attack him again, but they knelt and showed their paws like the female wolf.

“Please, just promise to take care of the clan,” said the female wolf.

“I see no point in needlessly mistreating them. You three will remain the alphas of your packs, but the clan now belongs to me. You all will be treated the same as the pack under my command, just follow the same rules and everything will be fine, I also expect your packs to follow the same training regime as my pack,” said Kazuki with a firm tone that left no room for argument.

“Are you sure, boss?” asked Lexi.

“Yes, this might sound cold, but it would be a waste to just eliminate them and I don't like to waste what can be useful,” said Kazuki in a matter of fact tone, this caused some of the former enemies to flinch. Then he asked his new subordinates, “What are your names? And the name of this clan?”

“My name is Duke,” said the Doberman in a defeated tone.

“My name is Alan,” said the hound in a equally defeated tone.

“I am Gard leader… former leader of this clan and we don't have a name,” said the female wolf.

Kazuki motioned for the warrior to get off of the guards and also for the ones that were hidden to show themselves before asking, “Do you use slave labor?”

“Yes,” answered Gard.

“Then, take me to where you keep them so I can decide what to do with them,” said Kazuki after the confirmation that the prisoners he saw were slaves.

“Speaking of prisoners, what Rex should do with the ones he captured?” asked Lexi.

After doing some thinking Kazuki answered “Tell him to…”

With Rex and the Mane six plus Spike

“... then I was like *GASP* before running and making a super-duper surprise party, and let me tell you she was very surprised. And that's how I met each one of them,” said Pinkie Pie finishing her story.

Rex’s eyebrow was twitching at the sound of Pinkie’s ceaseless chatter, luckily all the dogs trained by Kazuki learned how to meditate and ignore distractions and their training was being put the test by trying to keep their focus near the pink menace. Even the Zetsu worn by the group were annoyed. And before Pinkie's storytelling it was Twilight firing questions, it took a while but at least she stopped when they refused to answer any of her questions.

The Mane Six had more experience and managed to tune out Pinkie Pie, Rainbow even tried to escape twice when she thought no one was paying attention on her and twice she felt the wire tying her being tugged, showing that the warriors were still paying attention. The same happened once with Rarity and AJ when they tried to escape, Spike tried to fight when he saw Rarity being threatened and Fluttershy didn't try to do anything.

“Is this what you feel when we don't shut up?” asked the Zetsu being worn by Rex.

“By the Maker! Make her stop!” shouted the Zetsu being worn by the one holding Pinkie and Fluttershy since he was the closest to the pony in question.

“Not so fun when you are on the other end, isn't it?” asked the guard holding Pinkie and Fluttershy with a smug tone and smile on her exposed muzzle directed at the Zetsu she was wearing.

The Zetsu from the one holding Pinkie and Fluttershy was about to say something, but stopped when he and the others received information from Lexi’s Zetsu. Then the face reappeared on Rex’s breastplate and looked up.

“The boss said to let them go, but you are allowed to hurt them in self-defense,” said Rex’s Zetsu in a serious tone.

“They will probably report this to the army or even directly to their princess,” said Rex simply.

“The boss doesn't mind, besides their princess has no reason to sent her guards down here. It would be far too much trouble compared to the fact that we didn't attack any of her ponies unless they invaded our den,” Rex’s Zetsu said to his partner before he looked at the prisoners and said just as Rex motioned for them to be released, “and before you ask we captured you during a territorial dispute, so by all intents and purposes we kept you away from the fight. Unlike them we don't go after ponies, so you have no reason to bother us.”

After that Rex’s Zetsu retreated, then Rex said to the guards, “At least one of you will accompany them to the surface and after that come back here.”

“Hai!” said the warriors before the ones that held Applejack, Twilight and Spike stepped forward.

“Are you two volunteering for this mission, Rocky, Riley?” asked Rex.

“Yes sir,” said Riley, the one that was holding AJ. He was the same height as AJ, had black fur on the exposed parts of his armor and blue eyes behind his helmet.

“Just to clarify. Only self-defense, right?” asked Rocky, the one that was holding Twilight and Spike. He was just two or three inches shorter than Rex, he had brown and black fur on the parts that were exposed and he had light brown eyes behind his helmet.

Rex just nodded, but then Rex’s Zetsu said, “Yes, even so the boss doesn't want them killed or even crippled.”

Rocky and Riley nodded before Riley motioned for the Mane Six to follow. Soon the group reluctantly followed Riley into the tunnels with Rocky following behind the group.

With Kazuki

Kazuki followed the trio into the tunnels, he also activated his Byakugan and was mapping the underground network of his new territory. On the way he saw that all diamond dogs were worried, it was natural since their leaders were defeated and they feared for their future.

It didn't take long for him to reach the chamber where the prisoners were kept. The chamber had cells on the walls and inside them many prisoners. They seemed to be relatively healthy all things considered, they didn't show many signs of abuse and were separated by species, mostly.

The few guards that stayed here and all the prisoners immediately looked at Kazuki as he walked into the chamber, the guards were about to attack, but stopped when they saw Gard with her head lowered and following Kazuki. That fact alone told them what they needed to know about the new status quo.

It was also possible to hear the whispers of the older prisoners quietly explaining what was going on since they probably have been with the pack long enough for them to pick up some of the unspoken rules and signs, but the whispers died when Kazuki approached a cell that had a group of diamond dogs, but most of them seemed to be around their teenage years.

“Those don't seem to be like the other prisoners,” said Kazuki.

“No boss, those are pack members that broke some minor rules, they would stay here for a while before being released,” said Gard confirming that Kazuki was the new clan head when she called him “boss” and she did that before anyone could said something stupid.

“I see,” said Kazuki as he slowly walked over to the other cells. Then he stopped in front of a cell with a group of zebras wearing rags and asked, “how did you acquired these group?”

“Some were sold to us during our travels by other packs while others by slavers from Zabrica in the black market. Almost every group has a similar story just in a different place,” said Gard.

Kazuki just tapped the lock with his right index finger, which caused it to click and unlock itself, courtesy of a simple Unlocking Spell. He approached the group, which caused some of them to recoil fearfully. Not bothered by their reaction he grabbed a nearby zebra stallion by the chin.

The stallion had some muscles, probably the result of hard labor, had a black mane and brown eyes along with the typical black and white stripes. Kazuki gently moved his head to the right and then the left to see his face. Then he noticed scars on the arms, shoulder and probably on his back as well, but they seemed to be old, which meant that he wasn't on the receiving end of a whip recently.

“Gard, do you or any of the Taskmasters use a whip?” asked Kazuki.

“No, we don't. Those scars are from the previous pack he belonged to,” answered Gard.

Kazuki let go of the stallion before looking at the group, then he grabbed another stallion's arm and pulled him out of the cell, then he asked for Lexi to keep an eye on him. Then he inspected the other cells, soon enough he had two gryphonesses, a minotaur, an earth pony mare and a thestral mare along with the zebra stallion.

“You can stop now,” said Kazuki simply to the group in the center of the chamber.

“W- wh- what do you mean by that master?” asked the zebra stallion.

“You all can drop the act now,” said Kazuki only for them to act confused despite the barely noticeable hints of distress on them. He sighed and snapped his fingers and a magic circle appeared beneath them. They screamed when they noticed that their skin was peeling of, which caused those around Kazuki to look horrified at what was happening.

“Boss! Please, don't hurt them,” begged Gard and that was the final piece of the puzzle that Kazuki needed.

“I see. The fact that the slaves are relatively well cared and your sympathy for them, the fact that the packs while related are not that closely related since your smells are too different and lastly the fact that this clan has no name. This is a group formed mostly by outcasts, is it not?” asked Kazuki, but he didn't need a answer. His conclusion came from the fact that a pack would either be against or in favor of slave labor –usually against– and they rarely show sympathy when they were in favor, the fact that they use slave labor despite being against it told him that they were desperate for resources.

But before anyone could answer they all noticed that instead of showing red flesh beneath the skin of the ones inside of the circle it showed black chitin.

“I gave the chance to show yourselves willingly changelings,” said Kazuki returning his attention to the group in the circle just as their disguises were removed completely, showing their black skin like chitin, insect-like wings and bladed tails or stingers, the only differences were their fin/mane and the color of their second eyelid, that was covering their eyes and making them appeared one solid color. Then Kazuki contemplated aloud as he looked at the fearful changelings, “Now what should I do with you?”

With Celestia

Celestia was having dinner with her sister Luna, dinner and breakfast being the only two meals they normally shared since they have opposite schedules. Luckily because of their alicorn physiology they could take a day or two without sleeping to spent some time together without consequences.

It was after Celestia and Luna's meal and during one of their conversations that a scroll materialized in front of the older princess.

“Is this another friendship lesson from Twilight Sparkle?” asked Luna.

“Most likely,” said Celestia, then she looked at the window. So she turned to Luna and said, “Well, it's getting late. I am going to retire for the night, good luck with the Night Court Luna.”

“Great, another night of me mostly doing nothing before patrolling the dreamscape,” said Luna to herself.

“Don't worry Luna, I am sure soon enough more and more ponies will come. Besides you can use that time to acclimate yourself with the modern days,” said Celestia.

*sigh* “You are right sister, at least I got some petitioners schedule for tonight, but still most of the time it's just me sitting there and it's boring,” said Luna almost like a child, which caused Celestia to giggle.

“Don't be such a foal. Goodnight Luna,” said Celestia before exiting the dining room.

“Goodnight sister,” said Luna as she too left the dining room before heading to the throne room while Celestia went to her room.

Now wearing a comfortable nightgown Celestia sat near the fireplace and opened the scroll to read what she presumed to be a weekly friendship lesson of her faithful student.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today Rarity was ponynapped by a group of Diamond Dogs, don't worry she's fine now. But when we went underground to rescue her we were captured by another pack.

Apparently they were in the middle of a territorial dispute. We found out that the mage that rescue us from the red dragoness is also the leader of this other pack.

They released us when the fight was over and by the time we returned to Ponyville it the sun was already setting. However the most worrying fact is that they had strange seemingly sentient armor made of wood. It could be a very advanced and wearable golem, but I'm not sure, they also had training.

They said that it didn't matter if you knew or not about their existence and that it would be far too much trouble to go after them since they don't plan to cause trouble for Ponyville.

I’m worried and in need of advice. What should I and the others do?

Your faithful student Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia finished reading the letter and was relieved that her student and her friends were safe. While the news about the diamond dogs were somewhat worrying Celestia saw no problem in letting them live peacefully so long they didn't cause trouble. Despite the fact that they were captured she was glad that they were kept away from the fight, a pack war could be pretty brutal and she didn't want the Elements to be in such a dangerous situation.

The news that a mage might have set up a workshop in the Everfree Forest while interesting was not unheard of. Mages could be very secretive when it came to their research, they however loved to brag about the results once the research was done. So long there was no indication of any unethical research occurring there Celestia was willing to leave a mage to its solitude.

“Talking armor of wood. Where have I heard that before?” wondered Celestia to herself. Then she thought, “It’s probably nothing.”

Then Celestia summoned a scroll and quill before she started to write a letter, "Dear Twilight..."

Author's Note

Just to clarify, all of Kazuki's senses are very powerful, like the Four Heavenly Kings (四天王 Shiten'nō) from Toriko level before going to the Gourmet World, but he suppress/blocks them most of the time. No Gourmet Cells though and it's only in his original body.