Foundations of Evil

CHAPTER 4

Friends and Revelations

'A son of Discord? That's impossible!' Twilight shouted to the voice, Lamia almost fell over in shock. 'How can Discord, the god of Chaos have any sons?'

That's actually not a difficult question to answer, child. You see, he is a 'god' and 'gods' have the power to 'create' their 'children' from scratch without the necessary act of 'procreation'. Even your princesses, Celestia and Luna, are children of creation. You seem like a smart, little Unicorn to me, you probably know their 'creator' don't you?

She knew did knew that, not many ponies know the mythology of Equestria in a whole. Not many ponies know that the Great All-Mother, Faust, created the two princesses to raise the sun and the moon while she was busy giving life on the planet. 'If you put it that way...' Twilight muttered, 'It's just... Strange... Strange to know that Discord has a son.'

Two to be exact.

'Sweet Celestia... Two!?'

Yes, the other one is Hades and he resides in Tartarus. But unlike Azazel, he isn't imprisoned. Hades took on the task to keep the most foulest of creatures locked away out of regret while Azazel continued his rampage only to be sealed away in this cursed place.'

The voice sounded quite contemptuously while talking about Azazel's brother. 'Get behind that stalagmite, NOW!' It yelled. Twilight and Lamia did precisely what the voice said and quickly hid themselves behind a large stalagmite. A Diamond Dog came out a hole in the wall and sniffed in the air. Twilight looked from the edge of the stalagmite to examine it. The Diamond Dog looks just like the one Lamia impersonated, only this one's eyes were blank. No iris, no pupil, it's completely white. The Diamond Dog still stands on the same spot, sniffing in the air like it smelled something or... Somepony.

This is the Rover Clan of Diamond Dogs. These ones are, unlike others, blind. The greed of King Rover, who is the clan lord, greatly increased due to Azazel's influence. They never saw the light of the outside world since the minute they entered this place. All thanks to the oath their 'king' swore. He swore that neither he or his 'subjects' will see the light of day until all gems were mined.

Twilight whispered, she didn't want the Diamond Dog to notice her or Lamia: 'How long are they mining here, actually?'

Long. Their greed blinded them. They never knew that this place has no diamonds or shining pieces of worth. There's only death and death defines these catacombs. They will never leave as long as there is greed in their hearts, they are forever lost.

The Diamond Dog is still sniffing. Jeez... How long is is it gonna stand there? It looked towards the stalagmite where Twilight and Lamia where hiding behind and stared at it like there was something wrong with it. It proceeded to step towards the stalagmite, Twilight's heart was beating like it never beat before, Lamia was surprisingly calm. As the Diamond Dog came closer, he was then halted by a bark from further in the tunnel. 'What are you doing over there, Muttley? The Diamond Dog answered with another bark: 'Examining this stalagmite, Barkun! My scent says something's wrong with it.' The other dog barked again, 'You can't even smell a bone even if it sat right next to ya. Get over here and help me digging here!' The dog eventually left the stalagmite for what it was and ran towards the other side of the tunnel, 'Alright. ALRIGHT!'

'Phew... That was a close.' Twilight said, Lamia nodded in agreement. 'You aren't much of a talker, aren't you Lamia?' Twilight noted, Lamia suddenly blushed: 'Lamia... Lamia doesn't talk much, no.' She shyly stares at the ground, she looked quite like Fluttershy in that way.

'There's one question I'd like to ask, Lamia.' The Unicorn said. The little Changeling turned her gaze away from the ground into Twilight's face and without her saying a word Twilight knew her expression meant yes. 'You know this... Voice, right?' Lamia nodded, 'Then... Why are you still here? I mean...You can escape this place with his help.' Lamia looked quite sad, 'L-Lamia was always alone... Mr. Voice is Lamia's only friend, Lamia really l-loves Mr. Voice. Lamia doesn't want to leave Mr. Voice. Lamia doesn't want to be alone again.'

Twilight wasn't surprised with that answer. She would do the same if she was born alone, no one to care for her, she against the world. Lamia never felt real parental love, so it's understandable that she is emotionally attached to the first, and probably the only one she sees as a 'friend'. Twilight felt something in her body, a feeling she once had before her first visit to Ponyville, before she met them... 'Can I...' She muttered, 'Can I be your friend?'

The look on Lamia's face burned with happiness, a big smile with an open mouth filled her entire head. Her glowing arctic blue eyes shined like diamonds in the sun and tears started to appear on her lower eye-lids. She quickly grabbed Twilight in a tick hug and she teared up, crying in happiness. 'Yes! You can be Lamia's friend! You can be friend! You can be friend!' Her happiness was unparalleled to anything Twilight ever saw, even Pinkie Pie's cheer personality couldn't top this. However... Their emotional get-together was disrupted by the voice.

I'm sorry to bring this beautiful and emotional moment to an halt but this could be a good time to move further. Before more Diamond Dogs show up.

Twilight and Lamia did exactly what he said. They let each other go and went further, Twilight saw Lamia smiling for the first time since they've met. They got to the hole in the wall where the Diamond Dog came trough, she thinks of going trough it; This certainly leads to somewhere outside was what she thought. But after remembering what the voice said, she left the hole for what it was.

They walked further trough the tunnel, the voice was silent and Lamia was still smiling. The earthen walls made way for those made of stone bricks. They eventually passed pillars that where embed into the walls and after a while they ended up in some kind of plaza. They were on a large octagonal terrace, a large fountain stood in the middle that still poured water. Several torches are lit and Twilight tried to see where she was now. It looked like a they were in a large cave-hall, where stone structures were build on the sides of the cave; Connected by stone paths, stairs and bridges. As Twilight looked in front of her, she could see a large stairway that lead to a castle/temple-like structure above. Twilight gasped: 'This ain't a catacomb system... This is a city!'

Indeed, Twilight. This is the underground city of Rochgroth.

...

King Rover pondered in his throne room but to be fair, it never was his in the first place. Not to mention, this whole castle isn't his either. He can't remember how long it was since he and his clan of Diamond Dogs first set foot, or rather paw, in this underground city. The only thing that haunted his mind was the thought of diamonds, crystals, shining trinkets and all other things that glitter in the light. The light... This 'light' became foreign to him, he couldn't remember the bright shine that filled his eyes or the warm, soothing touch it gave when it gazed onto him. No, he defied it. He misses it but also wants to neglect it, forget it. All that he cared about was getting all the shinies from these caves and he swore that he would never see that light again until it all came under his possession.

Myyy..... Thrrrrronnnnnee...

'How many times do I have to say to be SILENT!' The king yelled. The strange thing is that he's all alone in his throne room. Other Dogs started to think that their king went mad. His 'oath' was one thing but hearing voices... Yelling at someone that isn't there... Even that goes too far but not even the most brave Dog in their clan even 'thought' to stand before their 'king' and tell him that he is going mad. One did though and he payed with his life for this act of 'treason'.

Myyy..... Thrrrrronnnnnee...

The king yelled again: 'SILENCE, I TELL YOU!!!'

'Eh... Sire?'

Another Dog stood before his throne, he was little but still quite masculine. The little canine has a wrinkled face and a pushed-in nose. 'What news do you think is important enough to halt your progress in the mines, pup?' Rover said in a snobby and arrogant tone. 'I-I excuse myself, sire, fo-for halting my p-p-progress but I have urgent news.' The little dog stuttered.

'Speak up!'

'D-Do you r-remember that little p-pony we fished out of the lake?'

King Rover didn't say anything. He just glared at the poor little Dog, waiting for him to continue.

'W-Well... I-It e-e-e...'

'SPIT IT OUT, MUTT!'

'I-It e-e-escaped, sire...'

The King's glare filled itself with anger, he stood up from his throne, 'And that... That is the so called 'important' news?' Poor little doggy, he awakened the greedy wrath of his king. 'That pony was only to help you in the mines. It escaped? That's bad but that doesn't mean you. Can. Quit! You can start a hunt on this pony but your primary task. Is. MINING!!! I want all the shinies in this place and we won't stop until we have them all!'

'B-B-But... W-we never found a single s-shiny since w-we came here, s-sire!'

The King's anger was boiling up, his eyes blank, white eyes turned red, 'Are you doubting me?'

'N-No, s-sire...'

'ARE YOU DOUBTING ME!!!???'

Rover took a large golden axe from behind his throne and swings it around in the air. The little Dog ran away in fear.

'NO ONE DOUBTS THE KING! NO ONE DOUBTS ME!!!

The King threw his axe and it flew trough the room to eventually end up in the back of the little dog. It fell on the ground, his blood dripped out of the open wound in his back. The little dog felt his muscles going numb and the last pieces of air escaping his lungs. He lied death on the ground. The King pulled his axe from the little Dog's back only to kick the corpse disrespectfully aside. Rover then proceeded to sit on his throne again.

Myyy..... Thrrrrronnnnnee...

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Editor's Note

I'm kinda tired of writing right now... Gonna take a little break.

'Rochgroth' is made up of the Sindarin words 'Roch' (horse) and Groth (cave, tunnel, large excavation, delving, underground dwelling)