Everfree Guardian

"You want me to do what...?"

Applejack and Nathan Schmidt stood outside of a new building, one the latter has rarely ever seen inside Ponyville. It took the shape of a carousel of some sort, the dome at the top reminding him of the rides he used to take at the fairgrounds on Earth when he was little. The building itself was the most stunning of any structure he's seen in Ponyville. Unlike the usual housing, which was made of wood and steel, this carousel building looked to be made of marble and various stylistic minerals. It was honestly impressive, and also baffling, that Nate had never seen this building before, considering it stuck out like a sore thumb.

Then again, Nate's never been to this side of Ponyville. The building they were at was on the east side of town. All of the pathways and roads he took drifted south towards the Everfree Forest. It was his comfort zone, so to speak. A set of channels he wander down without getting into much trouble.

Speaking of trouble, the debacle with Zecora has been cleared up, and Ponyville welcomed the Zebra after apologizing profusely for their bigoted behavior and reactions to her entering town. With the stalls and stores now open to her, Zecora had no more need for Nate to continue gathering herbs for her. Now, she can put her stockpile of bits to better use than just storing it and letting it collect dust, and Nate's source of potions and ingredients now came at a different cost every now and again.

With the trade now changed, Nate found himself in a predicament. While he was nowhere near depleted of ammunition, he was running out of material to scrounge up from the forest. All the gunpowder substitutes, all the minerals, the metals and plastics; they were all becoming more and more scarce with each scavenge hunt for them. This worried Nate, as without his guns, he felt as if he was almost completely defenseless. Sure, he can fight with swords, clubs, and just about anything he can swing or punch with, but getting up close to something that withholds magic at its fingertips isn't easy, and often times, more dangerous than keeping them at range.

He needed another spot to find the materials he needed to continue making homemade ammunition. As shitty as it is compared to the professionally-made cartridges he had arriving in this place, something was better than nothing, and he'd be hard-pressed to be caught with his pants down and clips empty out in the Everfree.

Nate had also been carrying those flasks he found around quite often. Always found in his backpack, he keeps them at the bottom of his main pocket. For some reason, he's... compelled to keep the two sources of pure magic close. He couldn't tell what it was, but it felt as if the two sources called to him, urged him to take them with him on his hikes through the forest, but he knows not why...

Anyways, that all led to now. Applejack had a special assignment for Nate to help with, and in exchange for assisting, she'd pay him triple for three weeks.

How can you pass THAT up?

Well...

"Ah need y'all ta help out another friend of mine. One of the gals ya saw back in Zecora's hut. Her name is Rarity."

Nate gazed towards the farm mare, his distaste for her favor evident, even though she couldn't see his face.

"Now, don't gimme that look, sugarcube. Rarity's a bit dramatic, but she's trustworthy. Ah wouldn't have asked ya to come all this way if Ah thought it would put you or your lifestyle in jeopardy."

"..."

He shook his head as they approached the door.

"Jesus Christ, Applejack. You could have, at least, said something the day before so I could have prepared better."

"That's the thing. Ah just got a letter from her this mornin'. Considering how... frantic she was in her writing, Ah assumed this was important. Unfortunately, though, Ah can't stay. Big Mac spotted a heap of trees out in the orchard that've gone bad, and we need to get rid of them as fast as possible before their rotten magic spreads to the other trees around 'em."

Nate blinked when that description graced his ears. Trees can get infected by the rot that consumed its neighboring brethren? That... doesn't make much sense.

Then again, he's seen oddities worse in the Everfree, so it's not like this was anything new. This fairytale land of techno-colored horses has its own rules, and he's yet to know it all. Shrugging off the strangeness of it all, he glanced at Applejack as she knocked on Rarity's door.

"And I take it you want me to sit in for you like I did when taking Applebloom to school that one time?'

"If y'all can spare the time, sugarcube. Plus, Ah am payin' ya triple for the next few weeks. Can't really say no to that, can ya?"

He hummed, figuring he really couldn't, considering his material situation was now feeding off of whatever currency he's accumulated since working with Applejack in the last month or so.

"Fine, but this is the last friend of yours I'm meeting until I'm more content with leaving the Everfree again. I don't want to walk out and find another Gilda among the crowd, AJ."

She rose up her hands in defense as they entered the boutique.

"Fair enough, Nate. After this, Ah'll leave ya to it and let'cha get back out there on your own pace."

The human nodded as they examined the interior, finding it to be as classy and stylistic as the outside. Running back and forth was a white mare, a familiar one that wore clothing much fancier and proper than Applejack or Fluttershy. Her figure was to kill for. Seriously, if Fluttershy could give erections off of her adorable nature and lustful body, then Rarity could make some sorry bastard cum in his pants by batting her eyelashes at them.

However, the mare was too panicked to flaunt her sexual attraction and beauty onto others. She was frantically going back and forth with several items and gems levitated at her side as she zipped to and fro. The speed she was going could give the Pegasi a run for their money, and Applejack winced as she took off her hat.

"Aww, shucks... She's at it again."

"Again?"

Applejack motioned to the Unicorn as she skidded up next to her sowing machine.

"Every time Rarity has some big order, she gets like this, especially if the due date is pitted closer than she'd anticipated to work around. Believe me, sugarcube, this is tame compared to a deadline runnin' the next day."

Nate cringed, knowing just what Applejack meant by that. If this is how active this otherwise regal mare is when presented with a bit of stress, how bad would she get when the shit REALLY hits the fan? That was not a question he needed answered, lest the whole village would implode...

Be that as it may, Applejack took a step forward into the boutique, finally getting Rarity's attention.

"Oh! Applejack! You're right on time! Is your helper here today? I could REALLY use some help right now!"

"Why? What's got yer panties in a bunch, Rarity?"

The white-coated mare fanned herself before going back to the sowing machine, working diligently and quickly, but not fast enough to overload the machine.

"S-Sapphire Shores came by earlier today."

Applejack blinked at the name.

"Sapphire Shores? Ain't that the mare who sings them popular pop songs everypony's been gettin' into?"

"Yes! Yes! She just recently made a huge boost in her name! Her face is practically all across Manehattan. She came by my shop looking for a new sensational uniform to wear on her tour."

Rarity pointed towards the curtains to her right, which barely concealed her latest creation. Inside was a white suit designed for the female demographic of Pony kind, and with it came the diamond, rubies, emeralds; literally all of the gems you could find in common Equestria grounds as accessories. Seriously, this dress practically glistened in the dimmed light. Applejack got a good look at it before turning to her friend.

"So... did she hate it?"

"My heavens, no! She absolutely ADORED it!"

"Okay... So what's with all the fussin'-"

"I HAVE TO MAKE FIVE MORE IN A WEEK, ALL OF THEM DONE UP IN DIFFERENT JEWELS!!!"

Applejack cringed as she finally understood what Rarity needed help with. Gems were very easy to find if you're just looking for them at random, but finding a huge stockpile of the same ones is not as easy. In fact, culminating a small pile of the same gems can take a week if you don't find a spot with richer soil. You'd only ever know if you'd paid attention to how the ground mists over with the gems' dazzling glimmer.

Applejack herself knew no such place. There weren't even any spots around the orchard that had rich soil ripe for gems to grow in.

But she knew someone who did.

"Well, Rarity, Ah don't know where y'all can find a sweet spot for gems, but Ah have someone here who does."

Rarity's ear perked at the chance and swiftly turned to find her saving grace.

Imagine her surprise when she found the very same "monkey" standing before a line of her male products, sifting through and looking at some of her wares.

"U-Um... Isn't that...?"

Applejack nodded.

"He is, and Ah have a bit of a confession to make."

She motioned to Nate as his attention settled back on them.

"This here is mah employee: Nathan Schmidt. Colt's been workin' at mah farm fer about a month now. He ain't native to Equestria, so you can say he's a lot like Zecora."

"I... see..."

Applejack could see some measure of apprehension in her eyes as Rarity looked Nate up and down, her caution warranted as she could spot one of his weapons clasped to his belt. Applejack ignored this, facing her employee as Rarity eyed his clothing specifically.

"Y'all got any good spots that Rarity can find gems, sugarcube?"

Nate glanced down at the floor, raking through his mind for any locations he's spotted or encountered during his explorations and hunts in the Everfree. Unfortunately, there were no spots that were actually INSIDE the forest, but Nate had exited the forest from the south before, and if he's recalled the geography of Equestria correctly, he remembered seeing some fragments of glistening dirt.

"There's a spot just south of the Everfree Forest. If we go now and take the path around, we would be there by mid-afternoon."

Applejack smiled, ushering a hand out to Nate as she glanced at Rarity. The Unicorn was still put off by the human. Even though she can't see what he really is, he had this aura of mystery that put her on edge. Being a Pony of gossip, she hated having secrets kept from her, but she was also smart enough to not push anypony to reveal them on her terms. Doing so would be unladylike, after all.

Taking a breath, the fashionista nodded.

"Alright, then. I suppose it wouldn't hurt. I am still a little... uneasy around him. No offense, darling."

Nate narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything as Rarity snapped her fingers, activating her magic. With a puff of light, she replaced her fancy clothing with that of a set fit for exploration, especially if one was to get their hands dirty. Beside her was also a wagon for the gems she needed. Given that they were going to be at this location by mid-afternoon, Rarity assumed they wouldn't find much, even in a patch of land rich with gems.

"But I am not a choosy mare right now. I need these gems, so I will take whatever help I can get."

She gave Applejack a side eye.

"Although, I do want an explanation later, Applejack, as well as the names of those who know about him as well."

"Ah'll do mah best..."

Applejack tipped her hat to them as she made for the door.

"You two have fun, now, ya hear?"

Nate deadpanned after his boss as she shut the door after herself, leaving him alone with the fashionista. Turning back to Rarity, he could still see she was uncomfortable. Knowing his task for today, however, he couldn't care less how she felt.

"You have a shovel?"

She looked up at him as he took up the wagon's handle and began pulling it towards the door. Following suit after snapping herself from her stupor, she conjured up a simple shovel with the use of her magic, tailing after the human as they made their way towards the Everfree Forest.

"Sapphire Shores?"

Nate followed behind Rarity as he finally spoke up in the one-sided conversations he and Rarity have been having. Despite showing discontent when being near him, Rarity was not one to stay silent for very long. A good conversation is all one needs to ease the tension between two potential friends, and seeing a good opportunity to finally break the ice, Rarity nodded as she waved her hand about over the glistening dirt beyond the south exit of the Everfree, hoping to find gems in a few quick minutes to start them off.

"Sapphire Shores is one of the most popular pop singers in modern Pony history. She had just recently made her resurgence after a five month absence, which I heard was a vacation period for her."

"Another singer, huh? Here I thought Songbird was the name most would be familiar with as of late."

"Oh, quite so, darling. After her latest hit "Rainbows", she has been on the front of magazines and newspapers from here to Vanhoover. Speaking of which..."

Rarity glanced back at Nate as she found some gems, marking them for him to dig.

"That song was inspired by you, wasn't it? I had heard mention of you when Fluttershy and Applejack were following us up Everfree Mountain."

Nate grunted as he hit the gems about a foot into his digging, scuffing away the excess dirt and picking out the gems they'd located.

"Yeah. The Dragons attacked me when I was headed back home, and in the middle of the fight, I was... Well, kind of shoved through a portal to the middle of the Everfree Mountain."

He dumped the gems into the wagon as they moved along.

"I had to fight my way down. All those bodies you and your friends saw? That was me."

Rarity cringed and leaned away from Nate.

"M-My word! All of that was YOU? There is no way a stallion could take the lives of so many Dragons, especially when their kind is physically superior to ours!"

"Yeah, well... I'm not what you'd call normal compared to other "stallions", Ms. Rarity."

The fashionista prolonged a short stare to the back of Nate's head before she eventually let it go. She had to focus, and they had a very limited window to get all the jewels Rarity needed for these suits. If they don't find a jewel mine by tomorrow, Rarity would need to get creative with her work, and that would risk Sapphire Shores disapproving her changes in the design.

On and on, the day went. Rarity would locate the gems, and Nate would dig them up. A few times, they'd struck up a conversation based around small talk, often gravitating towards topics the two of them were familiar with.

By day's end, they had enough to fulfill their first day's worth of goodies. The wagon was beyond full. So much so that both Rarity and Nate had to carry some of the gems in their arms while the latter pulled the wagon along. Considering how heavy gems were when collected into a mound, this put a bit of stress on him, and he hated not having a hand free to reach for his gun.

Keeping a close eye on the Everfree Forest's treeline as they circled around it, Nate couldn't help but have a foreboding sense of impending danger when looking at it. He's felt this before. That lingering sense of something stalking you. A dreaded terror of someone following you. Nate knew it all too well.

*rustle-...*

Nate stopped the second he heard something move within the brush. Pressing a hand on Rarity, she was forced to a halt when she walked into his grasp, standing just slightly behind him as he narrowed his eyes. The rustling he was hearing was too deliberate, too coordinated. These were not Timberwolves, or any other creature that was native to the wildlife of the forest. Nothing had this level of intelligence to work with one another in full synchronization.

Keeping his eyes going to and fro, he watched as more of the shrubbery was being disturbed. He counted off at least four spots where the quivering masses was most violent. Taking a step back, he kept Rarity behind him as one of the figures emerged.

What appeared to be a bipedal canine came stamping out of the forest, hissing and growling as its ears were folded back. A menacing smile-turned scowl was present on its face, and its matted fur gave it all that much more of an intimidating presence. The amount of dirt and grime on it suggested it lived underground, or used tunnel systems like the one centered around Nate's home frequently. Rarity, scrunching her nose at the creature, backed away.

"O-Oh! Hello there. Good day to you, uh... gentle-- fellow. I am Rarity and this is my friend, Nate."

The human glared back at the white Unicorn as the canine stalked forward.

"Me Diamond Dog...~"

Nate ushered Rarity to keep retreating as they left the jewels behind, Nate's hand slipping to his sidearm attached to his belt. Rarity, still attempting to be charming, giggled anxiously.

"O-Oh, really? Well, that explains your fine taste in jewelry. I-I mean, I know that diamonds are a girl's best friend, and now I know they're a dog's best friend, too. Ahaha..."

More dogs appeared behind this red-vested one, some shorting and some taller. The danger began to get real as their sights were primarily set on Rarity.

'Shit... I can see where this is going...'

Rarity smiled as the two stopped, the presence of the dogs now behind them as well.

"So! You're out hunting for gems as well?"

"Yes! We hunt!"

"Uh... We?"

"We hunt for gems, but you are a better hunter, so now we hunt... for you."

Rarity's eyes widened as Nate tugged her down by the arm, forcing her to crouch as one of the dogs from behind lunged at them. Catching the predator by his arm, Nate pressed his other hand on his underbelly and sent him flying through the air, the momentum of his lunge used against the Diamond Dog as he went crashing into two others by the trees. Hearing a snarl to his left, Nate swung his fist back, cracking the mutt out of the air just it jumped for him. Turning and punching another in the stomach as it raced for his right, he grabbed it by his neck and twisted it over his shoulder, snapping the bones as it hit the dirt with a powerful slam.

Spinning back around, Nate snagged another dog by his throat as it reached out for Rarity. Stepping past the fashionista, Nate shoved it to the ground and grabbed it by its tail. Using the creature as a weapon, he managed to clobber two of its brethren before he tossed the breathing tool away, sending it far into the trees of the Everfree.

Keeping himself over Rarity, Nate lowered himself slightly as the entirety of the Diamond Dog force was now coming at them. Stopping one left him open for another to clamper onto his back, biting him in the neck. Forcing its jaws away from him when they opened, he kicked another dog back as he whiplashed the first one into a nearby small boulder. His various small victories over the dogs were shortlived. Where one was discarded from the attack, another took its place. Nate was practically being mauled, yet still fought off the onslaught of sharp teeth and ragged claws, all to keep the crouched figure below him untouched. Throwing the last of those on him away, he felt a set of teeth graze his lower calf.

*CRUNCH-!!!*

"GRRGH-!!!"

One of the Diamond Dogs had bit him in his heel, forcing him to drop as another tackled him to the ground. Kicking and shoving at them, he was dragged away from Rarity, forced to watch in combination with fending off the rabid creatures as they grabbed her and began dragging her away. Snarling, Nate held one of them back as he drew out his pistol.

*BANG*

With that single gunshot, the Diamond Dog that was upon him was dead, a hole now present in its face as he rolled it over off of him. Standing back up, he cringed as his leg was damaged greatly, forced to give him a limp. Looking towards the Diamond Dogs, he saw the last of them retreat down one of their burrows, Rarity struggling the whole way. Gritting his teeth, Nate ignored the pain enough to tear off after them, only getting as far as the hole before he tripped. With his arms overlooking the whole, he dropped his pistol, his only lethal defense against the creatures of Equestria, into the hole.

"NO!!!"

He punched the side of the hole as the throbbing pain of his leg made his scowl twitch. Pulling himself up, he looked down at the bite mark on his heel, seeing that the dog had, indeed punctured his skin and sunk deep into the top of his foot, but not enough to do any lasting damage if he got medical attention for it.

Something he can do without for a few more hours.

Reaching down his belt, he drew out an old 11.25 inch hunting knife that he always kept on him in the event that he had to get personal with something that can be downed with a slice of their throat or a jab in the abdomen.

Looking down into the tunnel Rarity was pulled down after his fall, Nate took a step forward, then leaped in, trailing down with his arms before he was able to begin sliding the rest of the way. As he descended lower and lower, his eyes narrowed upon seeing the end of the slide, which would then spit him out into an old mine.

"Motherfuckers..."

*THUMP-!!!*

"Ow!!"

Rarity was harshly thrown to the floor after being dragged level to level in this cave system. Having reached, undoubtedly, the bottom, the dogs that had nabbed her under the human's eye was now held hostage by them. For what purpose, she didn't know, and it didn't seem like they were intending on having a tea party.

"W-What are you going to do to me?"

The leading dog nodded to her, signalling two of the side dogs in the crowd to pull out... a breeding stock?

Oh no...

Rarity yelped as she was hefted into the air, brought to the stock and locked in before she could even make a move. The leading Diamond Dog came around to the front, the chains on the stock pulling upwards as it, and the Unicorn, were pulled onto a cart.

"W-What is this?! Let me go!"

"No! You our precious Pony, now! Forever!"

"W-Why?! What did I ever do to you?"

The leader chuckled as he smacked the minions he had attached to the front of the wagon into gear. They began walking as several dogs crowded around the wagon, sniffing at her.

"It is not what you have done, Pony, but what you will do. We hunt for gems. Pony also hunt for gems. You help find gems hidden in the Earth, and you remain unharmed. Cease to cooperate...~"

Rarity yipped as she felt several slimy tongues run up the back of her legs, reaching calves as they lapped away at her fur.

"And you will be useful in another manner.~"

Rarity only shuddered as the dogs removed themselves from her, her quivering gaze focusing up on the leader.

"I-If the gems is all you needed, you could have just asked. I would have helped had you done so."

Her horn ignited in a pale blue aura as she scanned the room, showcasing several spots in the area where small stockpiles were present. Marking them, the dogs split up around her, digging out the jewels as the leader blinked. If all they had to do was request her aid, then...

Bah, no. It would never be that simple. They will hold her here... They will KEEP her here. Eventually, they will find all the gems in this cave, and she will be useful thereafter still.

Licking his lips, the dog's eyes wandered across Rarity's body. Those massive breasts. Those luscious birthing hips. Yes... She will do nicely...

Turning the corner with the cart, he crossed his arms as he stood on the end of it just behind Rarity, waiting for the moment she could not find any gems, and thus forfeit herself to him.

In another part of the cave, several armored Diamond Dogs were patrolling the tunnels, going up and down on lifts attached to pulley devices to reach the various floors and levels of the numerous caves that were strewn about many central points.

Nathan Schmidt had managed to fall into the layer of tunnels closest to the surface, sliding through the vertical entrance till he reached the mineshafts that lied below. Looking around and venturing further, he didn't start coming across the beings that took Rarity till he had reached the fourth level down.

Peering around the corner, he found one of the armored dogs facing away from him. Sneaking up on him, Nate rose the hunting knife to his neck and plunged it straight through, piercing the bone and slicing through the flesh with ease. Tearing it out to the side, he watched as the body collapsed into a crevice, remaining unseen unless intentionally sought out by other dogs. moving on, Nate took his spear as he found himself at another corner leading down into the fifth level of the system. Peeking around the corner, he leaned back to avoid detection, prepping the spear in his hand. Jumping out from behind it, he launched the spear at the next armored dog, jamming it through his chestplate and into his lungs. Nate let him fester and die, suffocating on his own blood, as he moved on, taking one of the pulleys down to the fifth floor of the cave.

Seeing two more dogs up ahead, he took cover behind some of the rock formation on the side, waiting for them to come closer. When one was on the pulley, he stepped out and stabbed his blade into the second dog's face, killing him instantly as he then strode forward and slit the throat of the other. Both went down without a fight, though did spray the young man with their fluids.

'Ugh... Gonna have to dry clean this again... Maybe need more lemon to get the blood out...'

He shrugged to himself as he stopped in front of the pulley, looking down over the edges it sat upon. This strand of caves seemed to go on for a few miles down. At least twelve floors from this perspective alone.

Getting to Rarity will take forever, and he may not even make it before something horrible happens to her.

Still, though, he's gotta keep moving.

Rarity gave out a hoarse breath as her magic diminished. The last hour and a half was spent casting the same spell over and over again, exhausting her reserves bit by bit. Granted, the Gem-Finding Spell didn't take much to cast, nor did it drain a Pony all that much. However, using this one single magic's purpose endlessly wore her down. Her ragged breathing caught the ear of the leading Diamond Dog, who grinned when seeing her in such a tired state.

"Oh? What's wrong, Pony? Are you wearing out your use to us?"

The white Unicorn looked up from the stock, gulping as she cast the magic spell once more. The Diamond Dog crossed his arms, humming as he was denied his chance to indulge himself. Stupid Ponies and their resilience. Even the softest of them are difficult to break.

The group rounded another tunnel, digging out all gems in the area and making their way towards the central chamber that connects all these tunnels. When they entered, Rarity was impressed by the size of the place, how intricate and complicated it seemed. From every level, there was about six or seven tunnels running out in separate directions, all single and none connected together. She wondered how the dogs could navigate such a place, but didn't have any time to ask, as she was forced to cast the spell again, this time with difficulty. With the Diamond Dogs preoccupied, she attempted to break the lock using a simpler spell. With her aura surrounding the lock, she jiggled at it, sliding a few strands of that hue into the inner mechanism. Fidgeting with it, she could feel one of the pins pull back.

*SMACK*

But she didn't get much further than that before the leader slammed his paw against her ass, her Cutie Mark now having a paw print over it.

"What do you think you're doing, little Pony?"

"I-I...! I was just-"

Rarity panicked as she watched him go behind her, not wasting any time with tormenting or foreplay. It was clear what his intentions were, and she began to writhe and struggle when feeling his paws roam her thighs.

"Attempting to escape, you are. Just the kind of excuse I needed.~"

'No! No, no, no, NO!!!'

The leader drooled as he prepared himself, getting behind Rarity directly and readying her for a little... Pony ride. Smirking, he lined himself up and-

*SPLAT-!!!*

The Diamond Dog's ear flicked as he turned to the side, seeing... seeing...

"W-What...?"

The group turned their eyes upwards as another corpse was thrown from an upper level, crashing down onto the rocks and smashing into the ground in a wet pile of meat. Running across the side of the upper floor that body came from, a non-Pony figure was rushing the armored elites of the Diamond Dogs, using tactics and maneuvers unfamiliar to them to either beat them to death, or run them through with an enlarged knife. Rarity gasped when seeing it, recognizing the hoodie immediately.

"Nate! NATE!!! Darling, down here! Help me!!"

The leader spun his attention back to the mare in his hold, then looked back up at the figure. No longer fighting or running, the unnatural shape of the creature was now looming over the edge, staring directly at the group that had Rarity captured and escorted around the caverns. The leader didn't really know what instilled fear into him. Nothing about this creature appeared more frightening or threatening than the dogs themselves posed to others, but something about him, the way he moved, the way he was looking down onto them.

Even the air around him smelled... evil.

Nate dashed around the side of the path in the central chamber the second he found Rarity at the bottom. His feet ground against the dirt as he pedaled to another pulley, jumping into the lift and lowering himself down with haste. Passing by each level had a few dogs come jumping onto the lift with him, but with his mind set on getting to Rarity, he wasn't keen on being delayed. If they got away, Rarity was lost, forever, and who knows what they'll do to her both in and OUT of that breeding stock.

'Why do so many creatures want to molest these Ponies?!'

He paused for a second after ramming his knife into an armored dog's face, thinking back and remembering what their bodies looked like. Their voluptuous curves, their huge assets, their limitless potential and strength...

'Okay, actually, I can see why they're made a target...'

Shaking his head, Nate jumped off onto the level above the ground floor, tackling one of the lesser Diamond Dogs off the side and using him as a means to break his fall. Crushing his neck against a cart hauling gems, Nate turned his irate gaze towards the group of dogs retreating into another tunnel with Rarity. Chasing after them with a pace rivaling their own on all-fours, he managed to stay on them throughout the chase, using rocks sticking out from the ground to quickly turn corners when they tried to bait-and-switch him. Coming to a decline, he slid down the rest of the way, and had a clear shot to Rarity. Raising his knife, he prepared himself to lunge at the first dog he can get his hands on.

*CK-CK-CK-CK*

Hearing the sounds of chains being ruptured from above, he stopped, jumping back as a large wooden gate came down between him and the group of Diamond Dogs. The latter of which stopped, the leader turning back and laughing when seeing that he had managed to get away.

"Haha! Slowpoke! Too bad for you! If it is Pony you want, you should have come sooner, or run faster!"

He laughed again as he pointed to the wooden bars that separated them.

"That gate is made out of the wood from the Growing Bark trees of the Everfree! No matter how hard you try, you'll never be able to get through them!"

Nate looked at the gate as the dog continued to laugh, turning Rarity around to look at him. Clasping her by her cheeks, the leader gave a firm, sloppy lick up the side of her face.

"Say bye-bye to Pony, creature. It will be the last time you'll ever-"

*SMASH*

The leader jumped as a piece of wood went flying past his face, his eyes widened as Nate's hand was now on the other side of the obstruction in his way. Taking his hand out, he reeled it back and violently smashed his way through another bar. The Diamond Dogs were all growing near-pale with fear, the leader especially.

"I-Impossible! That wood is made from Growing Bark! It is said to be strong enough to survive the spears of the Canterlot Royal Guard!! No one is that strong! NO ONE!!!"

*SMASH*

Nate's fist went through another, blood oozing through his glove as he grasped the piece of the gate he was smashing through. With a stressful jerk, he tore the flimsy board away, throwing it backwards as he ran in and at the leader.

"N-No! Stay back! Don't come any clo-"

Rarity closed her eyes as Nate was upon the Diamond Dog in an instant. She could not see what was happening, but she could hear it, clear as day, and what she DID hear made her ears fold back.

Nate was practically beating the alpha of these mutts without remorse or mercy. Every fist swung at the anthropomorphic dog was followed by another. The moment you were hit by one fist, the next was already connecting.

First, Nate had punched him in the temple to confuse him, then followed with a sequence a varied punches in this order:

An lead uppercut, a haymaker, a two-three-two, a cross, a jab, a rear hook, a rear uppercut, a lead hook, an elbow, a back fist, an overhand, a hammer fist, and finally a superman punch.

All this adding up to fifteen hits that alpha Diamond Dog took to the face. With the strength to bash through Growing Bark, Nate's arms were now covered in the leader's blood as that fifteenth punch delivered the final blow. Left without a face, the body fell to the ground, twitching and festering as the other Diamond Dogs were shrinking away in fear of this... this... monster of a man. They've seen Ponies who can fight back withhold and exert a surprising amount of strength, but never before had they used it to do what this creature had done. It went to show that Nathan Schmidt may not be as strong as Earth Pony, or as intelligent as a Unicorn, but if there was one thing he was that nopony in Equestria could be...

It's V̷̥́̚Í̶̖̭͠O̵͙̗̖̔̈́͝L̶̡̦̘̈́̉̅E̷͎͉̎N̶̖͆̓T̷͎̍͛.

Turning his head to the other mutts, they all attempted to get past him, hoping to escape the wrath of this demon.

The caves were only filled with their screams as they were all horrifically murdered, just as their boss was.

"M-Mmph..."

"Darling, please stop fidgeting."

Rarity glanced up at the human as the two were back in the Carousel Boutique. Having ruthlessly dispatched all the Diamond Dogs in that cave, Nate had managed to free Rarity and escape the tunnels with her. They had quickly made their way back to the perimeter of Ponyville, the safety of its population warding any stragglers from attacking them further. Neither were injured by the dogs, but they also didn't want to go through any more funny business with them.

Nate was already disgusted with the amount of grime that coated his arms before, and Rarity was still shaken up from being very-nearly raped by one of them. Getting back to the Boutique was a priority, and to Rarity, patching up Nate's fist was a close second and getting him new clothes was a definite third.

Now, here they were, back to square one. They had no gems, no progress, their only known source was teeming with dangers they didn't even know was there...

And what pissed Nate off the worst about the situation was the fact that he lost one of his guns. His favorite pistol was somewhere buried in those tunnels. He wanted to get it back, but thought it foolish to return there. If anything, the only reason he'd ever go back to those tunnels would be to plug them so no other Pony would stumble across the massacre, or get captured the same way Rarity did. God forbid they didn't have the fashionista's talents if that ever did happen.

Oddly enough, Rarity didn't seem bothered that they didn't have her gems. The whole walk home was her mainly getting over the peril she was in before Nate came to her rescue, and not once did she complain or whine about not having what she needed. Instead, she sat him down and practically forced him to take off the glove as she went and got a First-Aid kit from her bathroom. While surprised at his lack of fur, she didn't say anything about it. She sat him down and took a seat next to him, pulling out the splinters from the Growing Bark with her tweasers piece by piece. A few times, he jerked away in pain, resulting in the disapproval and annoyance of the fashionista.

With this being the fourth time, Nate sighed as he gave her back his hand.

"Sorry..."

"It's alright, Darling. The quicker we get this out, the better you'll feel in just a few moments. Now, hold still..."

Nate looked away as she went back to work, her fingers holding his palm as her thumb brushed against the back of his hand. He had to admit, despite them looking as if their colors were mere skin, he still couldn't fathom feeling their soft fur. It was short, but... luscious in a sense. It was comforting to touch, and in some situations with Fluttershy, it was nice to cuddle with. They were like living, breathing blankets.

Still, thoughts aside, he was sure Rarity had some apprehension of being around him. Nate had demonstrated just how unforgiving he can be to others if pushed. Hell, he completely mauled an entire squad of Diamond Dogs right in front of her, and with such ferocity that would scar Fluttershy and actually FRIGHTEN the iron-willed Applejack.

How was she so calm?

"Are you not going to say anything...?"

Rarity glanced up at him as his hood was facing forward, his eyes not focused on her.

"About what happened back in that cave, you mean?"

Nate nodded. Hearing her sigh, he turned his head further from her.

"I will be frank with you, Darling. That... display was, indeed, disturbing. I've never met somepony who could do something like that without hesitation or a lack of self-control."

She prodded out another splinter, taking it with her tweasers as she continued.

"The way you move, the way you fought... The way you killed..."

She shook her head as she got the last of the wood out, putting the tweasers aside and grabbing a roll of gauze.

"It doesn't matter, darling. What matters is that we're safe. You saved the both of us. Even if it was scary and..."

She cringed at the red on his arms.

"M-Messy, it does not mean I am not grateful, and can look past what I saw to see the bigger picture."

She wrapped up his hand as a smile graced her lips.

"Y'know, Fluttershy and Applejack have spoken quite a lot about you. They had both told all of us of an unstable friend who just wants to help the Ponies around them. He was someone who always tried to do the right thing, and sometimes, to do the right thing, words simply won't do. Even a lady such as myself can understand when a Pony, or creature, needs to be taught a lesson."

She turned back up to Nate as she clipped the gauze together.

"Though... I won't sugarcoat this, dear. Murder, and especially homicide to an extreme degree like what happened in those caves, is a heinous crime in Equestria. This Kingdom prides itself as a moniker for peace. Despite the few legends and Ponies in the past that have tried to rule and take over this land, Equestria is meant to be a safe place of Harmony. Crimes like killing is punishable by..."

She fell silent as Nate got the message, looking back at her with a solemn glint in his eyes. Seems like now he has one more reason to stay out of the public eye. He doesn't know any other way to defend something or someone without killing something, and besides, if something threatens your life, don't you have a right to defend yourself? Nate has seen crime back on his world in its sickest and most deplorable form. Murder, here or there, is one of the more tame crimes he's grown accustomed to seeing.

What he saw upon the Everfree Mountain, and what was about to happen to Rarity... That always triggered a reaction from him, and never a good one.

Staying silent, Rarity stood up with the human, the latter taking his glove back as he faced her.

"Well... In any case, I'm sorry we couldn't get anything for your work."

"Think nothing of it, Darling. Getting out of that situation was more important than gathering enough jewels for a project. I'm just lucky to be alive."

She turned and walked towards one of her desks.

"I can always find another spot to search for gems. I may even bring Spike along this time to help dig for them. He's just as good at finding jewels as I am."

She looked over her shoulder at him.

"You... should return home, dear, and... perhaps take a shower."

Nate blinked before looking down at himself. His nose was assaulted by the smell of the oozing blood that trickled down his hoodie. Cringing and brushing off some of it onto his glove, he groaned to himself as he nodded.

"Yeah. I should. Will you be okay here on your own if I leave, though?"

"Of course. I may be a lady, but I can get myself out of... certain circumstances."

She shooed him along.

"Off you go, Darling. Don't you worry about me. It's late, anyways, and everypony will be asleep within the hour. Be careful on your way back home."

Rarity turned back to her desk, no longer paying any attention to Nate as he stood there, watching her for a moment. Slipping the glove over his gauzed hand, he turned and strode for the door, leaving the Boutique and treading out onto the dirt road of Ponyville. Glancing at the shop as he left it behind, he took a breath as he began to make his way back to the Everfree Forest. As he walked along, he occasionally peered out towards the tunnel entrances leading into the caves he fought the Diamond Dogs in. He hated leaving work unfinished, and his pistol was still down there.

With Rarity's work schedule crammed as it was, she couldn't go out on a second day to find gemstones. She needed them, now.

With a grunt, Nate continued forward, figuring he'd return in the morning to scavenge those carts on the bottom floor of the system for the jewels those mutts had stockpiled.

For now, he was tired, and his hand hurt. It's best to leave it be till morning.

Lord knows what tomorrow would bring...