The sound of howling and barking could be heard on the other side of the iron gate. Rover, of the Slave Caste of the Diamond Dogs… was on death row. Ever since that fateful encounter with the pale pony he had been cast aside, he had been imprisoned with Fido and Spot, waiting for a few years for their sentence. It… it was the most hellish years he had ever encountered. He could only take solace that his other friends didn’t get involved… they wouldn’t deserve this. His stomach growled, the desire for a good emerald and the thought of its succulent flavors dancing on his tongue made it almost unbearable.

He heard Fido’s whimpering, a sympathetic frown on his face. Largest of the trio, obviously he ate the most out of them. But that was okay. He was a glutton, and they adored him for it.

“Bring forth the accused.”

Rover froze. It… it was time, he supposed. He weakly got up onto his hind legs, approaching his friends and nudging them. “Time to face the music.” He told them, his voice raspy from lack of water. “C’mon…”

“R-Rover… I don’t wanna die…” Spot whined, his ears folded back and tail between his legs.

“I know, Spot.” He sighed, wrapping an arm around the both of them as he did his best to support them. “I know…” What else could he say? What else could be done to reassure them that they’ll be alright? He didn’t want to lie to them, that’d just be too cruel. No dog deserves to be lied to.

“Pit Master, take your place.”

Rover’s eyes bulged ever so slightly. They… they brought her…

At least it would be over quickly. The gates of their cell opened, prompting the other dogs to rise with Rover. “Alright… let’s go.” Rover urged them forward, yanking on the chains that bound their arms and legs. Fido and spot did indeed rise, but they were scared. Scared beyond belief and he couldn’t blame them.

What better way to ease their suffering than a tune? As they walked through the prison’s halls, the jeering and taunting from their fellow prisoners made them wince each time. Sighing, he listened to the tune of their chains, humming quietly for a moment. Before the words finally came to Rover almost spontaneously.

He blamed the pony crap.

Oh my lord, take this soul, lay me at the bottom of the river…

Fido and Spot glanced at him, and smiled thankfully. It was the only comfort they had left. They faced forward, still afraid, but at least facing their fears. They even joined Rover in his song.

The devil has come to carry me home… lay me at the bottom… the bottom of the river.

The finally came to the iron gates of the pits, a dog’s skull indented into the very door itself. Rover gulped, the sound of iron gears grinding against one another and the gate rising telling the beginning of his end.

Oh my Lord take this hand, save me from the gallows.

A simple plea brought into the song, to not die on the executioner’s block. As the gate finally rose, the artificial light produced by their sun quartz shined upon them. Barks, howling, yelling and demands for blood echoed in the arena. So they were to be the entertainment in this trial by combat? Rover looked between his friends, and nodded, stepping forward. They could see the looming figure of the Pit Master, a beast of a fighter from the Pitbull caste. They were bred for the pits, from what Rover was taught. To be the toughest and the best, even against some of the larger and more warrior orientated breeds.

A single jagged scar traveled down this black pitbull’s eye, forcing it closed and making her far more intimidating than anydog had any right to be.

She was also Rover’s Aunt.

Hear this news, bear my gold, lay me in the shallows.

Fido winced as a loose stone was thrown in their direction, its impact making a resounding crack on his skull. He could feel the blood pouring from the wound, minor as it was. He kept his eyes forward and kept the song going, despite the crowd’s jeering and projectiles being thrown at him.

Evil will come if you call my name, the wicked day shall rise.

They didn’t deny their charges when they were brought to court. Not a single one of them. They knew what they did, but they only had the best of intentions. They waded through the malcontent, feeling the sheer despisal coming from the crowd in waves. They disapproved of their methods, going against traditions. But what could they do!? They had to do something to get them out of their squallor!

Rover, in no way, regretted his decision! The Caste system oppressed dogs like him, and he’d be damned if he didn’t want to improve the lives of the Wild Youth! Misfit dogs, wanting nothing more than to be something their caste demanded they become!

The river's sins gonna wash me clean, the river don't run dry.

Rover, Fido, and Spot began to file themselves into a line within the drab, grey coliseum. Their chains snapped open, prompting them to rub their chaffed and sore wrists to try and soothe the pain, however momentary it may be.

Oh my Lord take this soul, lay me at the bottom of the river.

However comforting she could be, Rover’s aunt Sasha offered a small, slight smile. “...I will do this as quick as I can, Rover.”

Rover nodded. He understood her position a little too well. Often she would talk to him about how trying the title Pit Master has become, especially the responsibilities expected from the Great Dane. This was the only kindness she could offer in her position.

The Devil has come to carry me home, lay me at the bottom... the bottom of the river.

Tears stung their eyes as Rover looked up to the source of their current woes. There he sat, far above the rest of them. The most intimidating dog to date… The Great Dane himself. He towered over all dogs, his very fists could break the foundations of Lupusgrad with a single strike. Yet there he sat, his golden gaze bearing down on all three of them like the tyrannical divinity he seemed to be.

“Rover, Fido, and Spot of Lupusgrad.” There it was. No title. As expected for the lower caste. You were only associated with the city you were born in, rather than your title. “Your judgement is trial by combat. You are to be given the chance to save your very own lives by contesting your will against the iron of our Pit Master. Your crimes are as follows; Bribery, embezzlement, defiance of the caste system that has been established, and conspiracy. Have you anything to say for yourselves?”

Rover’s head was bowed, his teeth slowly becoming bared. His fangs glistened in the light, and he casted a heated glare towards The Great Dane in defiance. “We only did so because you keep us in dirt conditions! We never rise, we never can make things better for ourselves! You say we are guilty of crime, I say the only thing we are guilty of is caring for our fellow dog alike!”

The jeers, howling and shouting grew louder. Sasha frowned, but kept her silence. She couldn’t say anything, really. It would only jeopardize things.

It wasn’t until an invisible pressure bared down upon the entire arena. As if the eyes of a great predator have landed upon them and they would be crushed in an instant. The Great Dane’s body glowed with an unbelievable power, before the auburn aura receded. “I suggest you mind your tongue. Now then--”

“Enough!” A familiar voice echoed through the entire arena, the doors on the other side of the arena bursting open from a great force. Running through were--

Rover’s eyes widened. The ponies!? What in the world!? What!? Wait a minute, who was--

“ROCKY!?”

“WHAT!” the three accused dogs screamed, their eyes wide. It was Rocky!? Wait, how does the Great Dane know--

“Father, this is wrong and you know it!” The brown, much smaller Dane yelled back up to his--

Rover’s head began to spin. This was… this was too many revelations at once. How did this even happen!?

Then the marshmallow colored pony that Rover was regrettably familiar with spoke. “Just because they wished to make their living standards better, doesn’t give you the reason to just kill them! The only wrong they’ve done is abduct me, and admittedly they were horrid in their treatment-- but I wouldn’t wish them ill like this!”

“Yeah!” A very vibrant colored pony that was like a flying rainbow chimed in. “So what if they wanted to have better lives at home!? They didn’t hurt anybody!” The marshmallow glanced at the rainbow one with ever so slightly narrowed eyes, as if saying ‘really?’ but remained silent.

Rocky sighed, glaring upwards at the Great Dane. “Father, they do not deserve to die just because--”

“You will be silent, boy. If you wish to defend their honor so much…” The Great Dane went silent for a few tense moments, his hands crushing the very arms of his chair. “Then you shall take their place. You will face the Pit Master in combat, and fight in their stead. Have you the nerve?”

“What!?”The six ponies screamed, their eyes wide. Rover couldn’t believe his ears either, to be honest. The Great Dane… he would kill his own son just to satisfy the system!? He looked back, pleading and begging Rocky not to do this. But just as he expected…

There was that stubborn, iron will that Rocky carried. “Yes. I will not let you kill them. If I obtain victory… you will let them go free, and they will not suffer under their supposed crimes.”

The crowd was stuck wondering between whether they should jeer or cheer, or do nothing. This… This was the crown prince. The one that they would come to worship as their new Great Dane. What could they do!?

“...Very well. Let the Trial of the Pits, begin.”

~To be continued~

Author's Note

Thank you all for taking the time to read this. A thank you to whichever mod approves this story as well, and a thank you to anyone who decides they wish to give this story a shot.

I will be doing everything I can to get a chapter out, but do bear in mind that I will be starting a job soon.

Now, as mentioned in the summary, I do not own any references you've seen, or any images I link. They are simply used to add to the story.