Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 38: Dusk’s Determination

Twilight had led the group to the town square, where the diamonds dogs were waiting. They were in a hideous condition. Their gray fur had many splotches of mud and dirt on them, some of the dogs had scratches and grazes around their body, and they REEKED. (Maybe this is what the always looked/smelled like.)  They seemed to look a bit like a pony, if you count out their paws, their increased bulk and their sharp teeth.

There were no less than twelve dogs in the area, and Dusk is preparing himself just in case they begin to get aggressive. Luckily, he decided to hold the thick, wooden, pinata whacker, that was given to him during the party, with his hooves.

As soon as the dogs set their eyes on Rarity, Twilight asks them a question.

“Why do you need to see Rarity?” She questions, with a noticeable amount of venom.

“We want the unicorn, so we can get more gems for our stockpile.” Aggressively answers the leader (?) of the pack, who is slightly bigger than the rest of the dogs.

“We'll never let ya lay ah paw on Rarity, ya hear me!” Yells Applejack.

“Yeah. What’s the worst you can do?” Asks Rainbow in a challenging tone.

“We’ll take ALL of the ponies that live here, and put them down into the mines!” Loudly retorts their leader.

“Oh yeah, well-"

[*ding ding ding* Brilliant Idea Time]

“WAIT, I HAVE AN IDEA!” Booms Dusk, who is under the effects of what he calls ‘Determination Mode’. It is similar to Level 2 Rage, except that he is still thinking straight, and is filled with the euphoric feeling of inner strength. He feels faster, stronger and more durable, while feeling much smarter than usual. He

The leader of the diamond dogs, crosses his forelegs, (arms?) “I’m waiting...”

“Well, what if we could come into an agreement that would benefits both you and Ponyville?” Negotiates Dusk.

After saying this, their leader signals the rest of the pack into a small group, and they begin to have a discussion about what they should do next. Meanwhile, Twilight calls Dusk over with a slightly pissed, but thankful look.

“I don’t know what the hay you are planning Dusk, but I think it’s working. I don’t want us to get into a fight with them.” Approves Twilight.

“I know what you mean. I’ve been in way too many fights in my life, to want to be in another.”

“Just try to get them out of town, we all know what it’s like to become one of their slaves.” She sadly concludes, not wishing to remember that unpleasant memory.

“I’ll get them out, in one way or another.”

The pack of dogs finally finished discussing with each other, and one of the smaller dogs started talking with a higher pitch of voice than their leader. “We will agree to negotiate, what are your terms?”

“Well, instead of enslaving everypony, why don’t you just let them work instead?” Asks Dusk.

The leader looks a bit confused, and starts to talk. “But isn’t that the same thing?”

“Sort of, but instead of you forcing them to mine, maybe you could hire them to mine the gems for you willingly, and put the gems that they find into your stockpile.”

They all seem impressed with the prospect of ‘work’. “I am happy so far, tell us more.”

‘They are becoming putty in my hooves...’

“So while the workers work in the mine, you could improve the environment for both the dogs and ponies working inside, and this could start a good alliance with the diamond dogs and the ponies of Equestria.”

All of the dogs seemed to agree with the idea of a peaceful alliance, they were all visibly beaming at the prospect.

Dusk continues, “But there is always the prospect of the pay for these workers.”

The mood across the pack went down considerably, “What?! This was never part of what you were saying?!” Aggressively yells the leader.

Dusk facehoofs the pack, “Well what did you expect, nopony would willingly work in the mines without some sort of pay, and since you don’t use bits, then maybe the workers could get a small fraction of the gems mined-”

“NO! This deal is off.” The alpha dog slowly approaches Dusk. “Dogs, we shall enslave all of the town, starting with-”

“WAIT A SECOND!” This stuns the pack of dogs, as Dusk continues. “I had a back up plan, in case you disagreed with our first terms.”

The leader looks like he could grab Dusk at any moment, but he calms down to hear him out. “...what is it?”

“Well...” Dusk quickly puts the pinata whacker in his mouth and...

*CRACK*

The alpha dog is now unconscious on the ground, after a particularly hard strike from Dusk, who is ready for the oncoming battle. “That... was my back up plan.”

The remaining eleven dogs charged at Dusk, and he heard one of them yell, “Get as many ponies as you can!”

Dusk could see the overwhelming number of dogs charging at him, but he felt slightly relieved that they only attacked from one side. He started swinging his pole in the air, as the dogs stopped in their tracks, not wanting to get his by the same pole that their leader was hit by. They stepped backwards, as Dusk stepped forwards, and they were caught unaware, when Rainbow dive bombed one of the dogs on the leftmost side. Dusk saw the opportunity to strike at the buffeted dog, and the pole hit with a sickening *CRACK*.

While the rest of the dogs were checking the skies for the cyan dive bomber, Dusk took this opportunity, to rally the rest of the ponies.

“Come on girls! (And Zephyr) This is the best time to drive these dogs out of town, I need your help!”

“Gotcha Dusk.” Responds Applejack.

“For Ponyville!” Yells Twilight.

“Let's do this.” Zephyr says confidently.

Fluttershy squeaks as she shies away from the battle, along with Rarity, while Pinkie Pie quickly leaves the area, yelling. “Be right back, got to go for a second, need to get something.” And with that, she rushes back to the Sugarcube Corner.

The dogs finally realise what is happening, and split up into three different groups. Dusk had to take on three dogs, who he had managed to keep a safe distance away because of his pole. Every time he tried to hit them, they would step back, but when they tried to hit him, he would defend with a strike to the gut.

Elsewhere, Applejack and Raindow Dash were working together, to take out the group of four who decided to move towards Rarity and Fluttershy. They were the defensive wall, which kept the two non-fighters safe. Rainbow would act as the distractor, and she would dive at the dogs to stun them, while Applejack bucked them out of submission. The farm mare had recieved a few scratches, but had already put one of the dogs out of commission.

Meanwhile, Twilight and Zephyr were having problems of their own. Twilight had put a constant shielding spell on both of them, but even though Zephyr was defending Twilight with his life, he couldn’t push them back, as he isn’t as good a fighter, as Dusk. (Despite him being bigger than the normally weak, Dusk.) The dogs kept on getting closer and closer the the purple unicorn, until the battle was interrupted by a loud voice.

“I’M BACK EVERYPONY!” Yells a familiar mare’s voice. All of the ponies and the dogs stop in their tracks, to see that Pinkie Pie had come back, holding a pink megaphone near her mouth in one hoof, and a... large pink cannon, that she happens to own, pointed and the dog which is closest to Twilight. Every single pony and dog had their jaws dropped, after seeing what the pink party pony had brought. Pinkie begins to talk/yell “SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!”

*BOOOOOOM*

The cannon had hit it’s intended target and knocked the targeted dog out with something Dusk like to call ‘Death by balloon fire’. The dog is somehow unconscious because of the balloons. (Everypony just thought of it as Pinkie Pie logic.) The biggest canine (which wasn’t knocked out), sees that they are fighting a losing battle, so he yells “GO UNDER!”. All of the dogs dug their way underground. Dusk dropped his pole after a battle well fought.

All of the mares, as well as Zephyr, were in a panicky state, while Dusk was contempt with the ‘victory’.

“What are all of you worried about? Haven’t we won?” Dusk could feel the ground shaking slightly.

Applejack starts to quickly speak, “Dusk, grab the pole, and move away from where the ground is shaking, it’s safer where we are.”

He feels the ground shaking quite violently so he grabs the pole and starts to run towards the group of ponies, until a diamond dogs pops out of the ground, about a metre away from the dark blue stallion, the dog grabs Dusk legs, and drags him towards the hole. Dusk yells in surprise, and he hit the head of the assailant with the pole, making the dog lose his grip, as Dusk sprints away. He digs underground again.

Dusk begins to yell, as he feels vibrations from all around the area. “Run away everypony, and don’t stop moving! Rainbow, Fluttershy and Zeph, fly up in the air!”

Every non-pegasus begins to run around in random directions, narrowly avoiding where the dogs had popped up. Rainbow Dash and Zephyr had both made it into the air, but Dusk sees that Fluttershy hasn’t taken to the air yet.

“Fluttershy, YOU NEED TO FLY!” Yells Dusk. The yellow pegasus couldn’t move, her wings are locked up because she is too scared to do anything. A diamond dog pops up right under her and grabs her. Dusk quickly remembers something...

[FLASHBACK]

Dusk saw when the stallions surrounded Fluttershy, he watched the whole thing unfold. He was silently hoping that this was all a misunderstanding, but he knew this wasn’t the case. He was too afraid of the knives that they were carrying, to want to intervene.

“...C-Can you just l-let me go home... please.” When Fluttershy began to cry, he could feel himself starting to lose control. Dark thoughts entered his mind, mainly thoughts of what they wanted to do to Fluttershy.

“No can do toots, let get her boys.” Dusk had lost all control of his actions. He didn’t care for his well being anymore, he just knew that he had to protect Fluttershy, whatever the cost. His eyes started glowing red, and he let out a battlecry...

[PRESENT TIME]

Time seems to slow considerably around Dusk. His eyes are glowing red, as he watches the dog very slowly pull Fluttershy into the hole that he dug. He grabs the pole, and runs towards the two, as the rest of the group watches in horror. The closer Dusk gets to Fluttershy, the faster the world seems to move. He feels somewhat at peace.

The diamond dog panics as he sees the enraged stallion charge towards him, so he pulls Fluttershy at a much faster pace. Dusk sprints even faster at the two.

Fluttershy tries to resist the diamond dog’s hold, but she is too scared, and too weak to make much of a difference. They are very close to the hole. Dusk readies his pole up for the upcoming strike.

The dog was about to dig underground with Fluttershy, when Dusk was within striking distance. As Dusk swings his pole at the dog’s still exposed head, he utters, “Never again.”

*KEEERRRAACK*

Fluttershy feel the dog’s grip around her legs loosen, and she looks at Dusk. He looks at her with glowing red eyes, but with a relieved smile. The other group of ponies gain enough confidence to step closer to the two.

Dusk’s smile falters, as soon as he feel more vibrations from under him. He sees the rest of the group approach Dusk, while prepared for the continuation of the battle.

Zephyr quickly turns towards Dusk and says, “Don’t worry, we’ve got your back this time.”

Dusk, who is feeling the effects of his tranquil rage, only says one word.

“Thanks.”