Once, there was an old shack on the edge of a dirty, dark little town deep in what is now known as the Diamond Dog Confederation.
Newly laid rails passed by the old shack carrying gleaming new trains imported from Equestria hauling loads of fresh ore, gold and crystals from the town's mine to some far off land that the dogs of Bad Rock could only dream of.
Should any creature look out of one of those trains at that old shack, they would be surprised to see that the shack was, in fact, the town post office. If, by chance, one was to ride the morning train, they would see a gray diamond dog with an eternal frown shuffle from the post office carrying a brown sack.
Some would notice the small brown cap of an Equestrian post worker adorning his head, others might wonder why an Equestrian post worker's shirt was stretch across the dog's back, but all creatures who saw him noticed the manacles binding his ankles to a metal ball he carried in his brown sack.
He would dutifully collect the mail from the train's ornery conductor and shuffle away, returning that night to place any outbound mail on the last train leaving the station.
Few creatures ever bothered finding out the unfortunate soul's story, but those that knew it felt no remorse for the diamond dog that deliver their mail.
'A deserving fate for a criminal like him!' they might say, others had once spit on him.
It never seemed to bother him, nothing ever seemed to affect the dog, until one fateful day that two lives were forever changed by a strange loophole in the Equestrian Postal System.
Dug Diggum was asleep on his cot when the shrill scream of a train's whistle and the rumble of a hundred freight cars woke him from his slumber. The morning train heralded the start of another day for the dog, his groans being drowned out by the squeal of brakes and slamming of buffers.
Donning his cap and pulling the tiny shirt over his torso, he place the brown letter pouch over his shoulders before picking up his ever present weight and placing it into the pouch. The clank of his chains were the only sounds he was able to hear over the noise of the train until it finally halted with the conductor's caboose sitting at the ramshackle platform the town considered a station.
“ 'orning Garf.” Dug grunted as he stepped up the caboose and waited for the day's mail.
The conductor, a plain looking griffon with a scar over his right eye, promptly dumped the small batch of letters into the waiting mail pouch where they settled snugly against the metal ball. Two parcels and a cylinder followed after them.
“See ya ta'morrow.” Dug growled as he turned to leave.
“Hold it.” Garf hissed, stepping back into the caboose. He let out a small, cruel chuckle before calling from the inside. “Got one more package for ya!”
The clop of tiny hooves attracted Dug's attention. A small, Equestrian pony slowly stepped out of the caboose and looked at Dug intently. From the angular structure of the pony's muzzle, Dug guessed that it was a colt, a young one at that.
He was a dull blue with scraggly gray hair that looked like it had never been combed, but Dug didn't really care about that. The diamond dog was more focused on the card hanging from the colt's neck containing an address and a large number of stamps.
“Mister Bit, meet Mister Diggum.” Garf cackled from the doorway. “He's gonna escort ya to yer aunt's house.”
The colt hesitantly stepped down to the station and held out a hoof to Dug.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.” The colt squeaked out.
Dug shot Garf a dirty look as he shook the colt's hoof.
“You take care now, Mister Bit, don't let that mean old dog push ya 'round!” Garf laughed before he slammed the door to the caboose shut, although Dug could still hear him laughing from inside.
The colt looked back at the caboose before he looked anxiously up at Dug with a nervous expression.
“What did he mean by that?” The colt, Bit if Dug heard Garf right, asked.
Dug looked down with a frown. “He be making joke. He not very funny though.”
Bit's nervousness faded and he even smiled a bit. “I didn't think he was very funny either.”
Dug leaned down and stared long and hard at the card hung around the colt's neck. Apparently the colt was addressed to a Granite Rock out in the mining camp. It was typically the last stop on his route. While that meant it would be a slightly longer trip than just going straight to the camp, there would be plenty of opportunities for the small colt to rest if he needed to.
“Come.” Dug ordered and began walking.
Bit promptly caught up with him and settled into a steady trot, looking all around him in wonder. Dug watched him out of the corner of his eye and noticed that the colt spent a lot of time staring at the manacles around his ankles.
Whether it was out of fear or politeness, Bit didn't ask about the diamond dog's iron bracelets, and Dug didn't feel much like talking about them. It continued like this for quite some time.
Dug would lead the colt through town, stopping in front of a rundown house or building and placing a few letters in the mail box if there were any. The sound of Dug's manacles and the occasion whistle from a passing train was all that could be heard in what appeared to be a ghost town to the young colt and he finally worked up the courage to ask.
“Mister Diggum?”
“Hur?” Dug grunted. “What?”
“Um, well.” The colt looked around once more. “It's just, I don't see anypony. No one's here.”
“They digging.” The diamond dog answered as if that answered everything.
“Digging?” Evidently it did not.
“Diamond dog town.” Dug explained. “Dog's dig. House on top of hole. Whole town on top of big cave. Every dog be digging.”
“Oh.” Bit looked down at the dirt. “Why's that?”
Dug shrugged. “It be what dog do. Us like to dig.”
“Oh.”
Bit fell silent again and looked around for another conversation starter. A glance upwards reminded him of the sky and he decided to switch subjects.
“Those clouds sure look nasty.” He remarked of the gray sky. “I sure hope it doesn't rain.”
“It never rain.” Dug grumbled as he fumbled through the mail pouch for another letter. “Never shine, never rain, always gray. That why here called Bad Rock. It be bad day.”
“. . . Oh.” Bit said. It was quiet after that.
It took nearly half the day for Dug to finish sorting the mail and deliver it at his slow, steady pace. Bit was remarkably patient for a colt his age, just following along and taking in the sight of the rural town.
Once, the pair even met another diamond dog above the surface. Bit waved at him, but the dog took one look at Dug and merely hurried along his way.
Finally, Dug slammed the door shut on the last mailbox in town and checked his pouch. There was still a package and several letters all bound for the mine nestled in next to his ball, but Dug was in no hurry.
Turning to Bit who was still faithfully right behind him, Dug spoke for the first time in hours.
“Hungry?”
“Huh?” Bit seemed startled by question, but nodded after a brief moment. “Yeah, I, uh, I'm a little bit hungry.”
“Come.” Dug ordered tersely. “It be long way to mine. You eat first.”
Bit fell in trotted behind Dug to what looked like the town hall. Something illegible was written above the door and Bit stopped to squint at it.
“It say 'Food'.” Dug said as he opened the door.
“I thought this was the town hall.” Bit said sheepishly as they entered the building.
“It was.”
Light filtered in from a few windows and the rest of the interior was lit by a few lanterns. Tables and chairs were set up inside along with a bar counter at one end.
Dug picked Bit up and set him in a chair before approaching the bar counter and leaning over.
The gaping hole behind the counter seemed to stretch downwards for miles, but Dug knew better and promptly barked.
“Ruff! Ruff! GrrrrRuff!”
The sound echoed down the hole and disappeared. Moments later a series of higher pitched yips and growls answered him before there was a scrabbling of paws on hardened dirt and a golden yellow diamond dog climbed up the sides of the hole.
Goldie was comparatively small for a diamond dog, not fit for mining and had instead opened up a small bar and restaurant for travelers and miners to relax in. Although unsuccessful in terms of finance, Goldie was able to keep a small menu and several drinks stocked at all times in the back room.
As she climbed out of the hole and looked at Dug, she lashed into him with a series of growls and barks explaining just how stupid Dug was for interrupting her, well, Dug wasn't sure what he interrupted but Goldie was mad for some reason.
However, she fell silent when she saw Bit sitting at the table and looked to Dug for an explanation. Dug explained to her that Bit was essentially a package and pointed to the card with an address and stamps for proof.
Satisfied Dug was telling the truth, Goldie approached Bit and knelt down.
“Hello there little one.” She said in broken Equish. She was better than Dug, but still not perfect. “Are ya hungry?”
Bit nodded numbly, for some reason unable to talk. Goldie merely smiled and continued.
“How about a hayburger? Got it fresh from Fillydelphia yesterday.”
“O-O-Okay.” Bit finally managed to gabble out.
Goldie was quick in making the burger and it was five minutes before the food was set in front of Bit along with a glass of water as anything else in the tavern was alcoholic.
Bit eagerly dug in to his meal but paused after a few bites.
“Isn't Mister Diggum going to eat?” He asked.
Goldie looked at Dug with pity and quickly changed the subject.
“Tell me little one,” She said. “what brings ya ta Bad Rock?”
Bit instantly brightened.
“My aunt's out here! My mom and pop sent me out here while they get a new house!” He explained.
Goldie looked at him uncertainly, tilting her head questioningly.
“It is strange for you traveling by mail? And here?”
Bit nodded, still smiling. “It's been really hard back home, and Mom and Pop had no money. It was cheaper to send me by mail and I technically have a guardian the whole way! Anyways, I'm supposed to stay with my aunt at the mine until they write her a letter saying they've got the house!”
Goldie frowned at this, and Dug knew why. Even he thought it seemed strange.
After a brief moment, Goldie gave a slight shrug and gave Bit a big smile.
“Well, little one, if ya are ever in town, stop by and I will make you a nice, big meal!” She said.
Dug had not been lying when he said it was a long walk, easily taking two hours at their current pace. Outside of town, the wind picked up drastically. Bit was huddling behind Dug for quite a ways for protection, but eventually the diamond dog heard the colt's teeth begin to chatter.
Even though Dug was not prone to showing any sort of emotion, he still felt sorry for Bit and promptly picked him up and set him in the letter pouch. The fabric did not offer much protection from the wind, but it was still something and Dug's body heat was slowly leeched over to the colt's shivering body. By the time they reached the mine, Bit had stopped shivering and was eager to be out of the pouch.
The mine was little more than a large hole in the ground with several conveyor belts leading up out of the ground to a railroad track where several hoppers where filled until they could be dumped into the train. To one side was a large building hastily put together by the mine's owners as a sort of headquarters.
It was here that Dug would deliver letters and packages to and let the mine owners do the rest. The influx of ponies and even a few griffons had lead to a lot more letters and packages being sent to the mine, although today was rather light save for Bit.
Stepping through the door, a griffon looked up from the desk and hissed.
“Leave the letters in the usual spot.”
Dug nodded, but stepped aside for Bit to enter.
“Package for Granite Rock.” He growled.
The griffon gave a squawk of surprise and looked between the two of them open mouthed. Bit eagerly stepped forward and helpfully showed his card to the griffon.
The griffon looked at it and then hissed angrily. “I don't know what kind of joke you're playing but it isn't funny!”
“It's not a joke!” Bit said. “My parents sent me out to meet my Aunt Granite. They said she runs the place!”
“I'm the owner of Bad Rock mine!” The griffon snapped. Then he stopped, realization dawning on his face.
“Wait, have you ever met your aunt before?” He asked cautiously.
“Uh uh.” Bit shook his head. “They told me she left before I was born.”
The griffon looked at Dug and motioned him over quickly. As soon as Dug was near enough for him to whisper, the griffon leaned over and spoke into Dug's ear.
“Dug, something's fishy about this. There's no Granite Rock here, never has been.”
Dug's own eyes widened at the implications and he looked at Bit with worry.
“What I do?” Dug whispered back.
“Send him back!” The griffon practically squawked. “I'll get in big trouble if a child's on the premises!”
“Parent's moved!” Dug whispered.
“Can't help you!” The griffon said. “Good luck!”
Bit had realized something was wrong when the two grownups had started whispering, and when Dug ushered him outside, the colt looked about ready to cry.
“Is something wrong?” He begged. “Did something happen?”
Dug didn't know how to answer and instead began to wall back to Bad Rock.
“Come, we go!” He ordered tersely.
“Mister Diggum! Please!” Bit cried. “What happened?”
Dug didn't stop, he was afraid of what might happen if he did. Bit continued to call after him, dancing between following him and going back into the office.
Finally, he turned around and began hammering on the door for the griffon to let him in. Screaming that he needed to know what happened, he didn't notice Dug's chain's approaching and was taken by surprise when Dug picked him up and began to carry him away.
The small colt's hooves beat against Dug's face and chest, but Dug didn't let go. Bit cried the entire time Dug carried him, eventually wearing himself out and falling asleep in the diamond dog's arms.
Even in his sleep, the colt whimper and shivered uncontrollably for quite some time before he finally calmed down. The clank of chains and howl of the wind became the only sounds on the plains.
For the first time in his life, Dug cried.
Dug strode into town to the small shack that passed as a post office. There he laid the colt down in his own cot before walking to the front of the office and staring at the board mounted near the door.
On it was a list of towns with prices next to them. Postage wasn't cheap this far out in the middle of nowhere, but sometimes it was worth the cost.
“Mister Diggum?” Bit's voice, small and frightened, came from inside the shack.
Dug walked into the door and stood there sheepishly looking down at a sniffling Bit.
“Mister Diggum.” Bit said. “What happened?”
Dug would have traded his entire life away if if meant he didn't have to answer that question, but he was here and there was no easy way out.
“Yer aunt. . . She was not there.” Dug said slowly. “She never was.”
Bit's eyes moistened but he didn't start crying, at least not yet.
“So what does that mean for me?”
Dug looked around and saw a stamp that had never been used before. He reached over and picked it up before giving it to the colt.
“Return to sender.” Bit read aloud.
The silence was deafening. It was almost a relief to hear the train whistle in the distance, and even more so when the train rumbled past and shook the entire shack. The train didn't last forever and eventually passed leaving the two in silence once again. It was Bit who broke it, speaking out in a hushed voice.
“Somehow, I knew it was too good to be true.” He whispered just barely loud enough to hear. “The yelling stopped, the fighting, the hate. It just stopped. Suddenly, Mom and Pop were smiling, telling me that it was going to get better. I was going to leave and they'd come get me when it was all better.
“I knew they were lying, but I wanted to believe them. Why did they have to lie?”
Dug didn't have an answer, so Bit asked again, the tears beginning to flow.
“They could've told me! Why lie to me? Why send me so far away? Was I that bad of a colt?”
The diamond dog didn't know how to respond and so he picked up the colt and hugged him close while sitting down on the cot.
“Why does nopony want me?” Bit cried into Dug's shoulder. “Why was I even born if not even my own parents wanted me?”
Dug made soft growls as he stroked the back of the colt, trying to calm him like he had seen a mother calm her baby.
“Bit, I. . . Bad things happen.” Dug began. “But you have to keep going. Keep going, it will get better.”
“You can't know that!” Bit yelled, squeezing his eyes shut as he slammed a hoof against Dug's shoulder. “What would you know? You're just a mail pony! I- I don't even know what you are!”
Dug let Bit hit him a few more times, each of the colt's punches weaker than the last.
“Bit, I tell you story.” Dug said, placing Bit on the cot to his side and reaching down.
Bit watched as he pulled up a metal ball attached to the chain that ran to his ankles.
“Your chain?” The colt whimpered.
“It not always there.” Dug said. “I young once, and free. Many years ago, I was digging. Digging far and finding shinies. Two dogs with me. Best friends. One day, I find white pony, she find best shinies. We try to take her, but she escape.”
“You tried to kidnap her?” Bit asked, horrified.
Dug nodded sadly. “I bad dog. And I pay for bad.”
Bit looked at the ball and chain. “You're a prisoner?”
Nodding again, Dug reached under the cot and pulled out a picture frame.
“When King Dirt learn we take pony, he angry. He say we start war with ponies maybe. My friends go to griffon land. Me, I get caught. I punished.”
Bit looked at the frame and was surprised to see it written in Equestrian. Taking a hold of it, he began to read aloud. “I, King Dirt Mover, hereby find thee, Dug Diggum, to be guilty of treason. From this day forth, you shall serve as a post dog until your. . . your dying day?”
Bit looked at Dug with scared eyes. “You're never able to leave?”
Dug took the frame and placed it back under the bed. “Maybe. I still young. Maybe someday King change mind. Someday, I dig again.”
“Have you ever tried to escape?” Bit asked.
“Once.” Dug said, picking his ball and chain again. “Magic. No escaping. No money. No food. Only mail.”
“No food?” Bit asked. “Wouldn't you starve?”
Dug merely pointed to the ball. “Magic.”
Bit looked down at the stamp and sniffled. “I guess you got it pretty bad, huh?”
“No. You rock bottom. Me okay.” Dug said. “But you keep going, okay? Just like me. One day, it get better.”
Bit looked up at him, and even though he was still crying, he was smiling. “Okay, I'll keep going.”
Dug took the stamp from him and set it back on the shelf. Shuffling over to a corner of the room, he picked up the floorboard and reached inside. The moment he grabbed the handful of gems laying in the hole, his ball and chain lit up with a burning light. Searing pain jolted up his legs and he yelped at the feeling.
“Mister Diggum!” Bit ran to help, but Dug pushed him away.
“Okay! Okay!” Dug yipped.
He quickly placed the bits in a metal tray next to a register looking device and the light died out as well as the pain.
Bit looked at the ball and chain in fear but moved to help Dug.
“What happened?” He asked as he checked to see if there was any damage to Dug's legs.
“No money.” Dug said before pulling the lever on the side of the register.
The tray of gems tipped into the machine and there was grinding noise before it spat out a set of stamps. Dug took them and began placing them over the stamps already on Bit's address card.
“What are you doing?” Bit asked.
Dug finished placing the stamps on the card and began looking for the quill the post office had been given.
“You go new home.” He said. “Pony town. They take good care of you.”
Upon finding the quill, he crossed out the address of the mining complex and wrote 'pONyt0WN OrFunAGE'.
“But, I want to stay with you!” Bit protested.
“No money, no food, no you.” Dug answered firmly.
“What about Goldie then?” Bit asked. “What if I stay with her and work in the town?”
“She more poor than me.” Dug said. “You go, but visit someday.”
Bit tried to protest but Dug held up his hand.
“You visit?”
The colt's words died on his lips and he mutely nodded. He began to tear up again, but was suddenly wrapped in a bear hug by Dug.
“You keep going. Someday, I go too.”
The evening train's whistle shrieked and the engine yanked forwards, straining against the heavy load trailing a mile behind. The caboose felt the jolt moments later, slowly beginning to moving out of the station. Bit stood on the rear railing, waving to Dug as the train slowly picked up speed.
Dug stood on the platform waving to Bit.
For the first time in a long time, he smiled.
Author's Note
I was inspired to write this after learning the the US Post Office actually did transport children for a few years in the early 1900s.
This was written very quickly in the space of an afternoon, so please forgive and point out any grammatical errors (That weren't put there on purpose). Feedback is always appreciated.
Thanks for reading, have a good day.