Element of Balance (Season 1)

Rarity was hard at work in Carousel Boutique, arranging a set of gems on a dress. The dresses were kept behind a curtain that she just had slightly open so only she could see them. She levitated a ruby out and put it on one of the front leg sleeves then followed up with a ruby on the other.

"Perfect!" she declared.

"Is that it, Rarity?" a voice asked nearby.

Rarity looked over and saw Twinkleshine coming forward.

"Yes my dear, my greatest masterpiece!" Rarity said pulling back the curtain to reveal it to her fellow fashionable unicorn.

Twinkleshine's mouth fell open as she beheld it through the small opening.

"Wow, its amazing Rarity!" Twinkleshine praised. "You know I think you are the most talented dressmaker in all of Equestria."

"Thank you Twinkleshine," Rarity said. "And thank you for the help as well. Ever since my fashion show I've just been getting so many orders I don't think I could have finished the orders for you and your friends if you hadn't lent a hoof."

"Well, you did have Prince Fire in it," Twinkleshine reminded her. "Having a royal partake in it boosts views like you wouldn't believe. I'm just happy to help. Mane might be my main focus but dresses are probably an even bigger part of fashion. I have a few back home in Canterlot myself."

Rarity smiled. "Well since you helped me, we can probably arrive in time to join the others for their magic practice. Though I doubt I'll be able to keep up with all of you since you all studied at the School for Gifted Unicorns."

Twinkleshine put a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "You're still very gifted in your own way. How did you learn to use magic?"

"From books and my parents, though it was mainly a book on everyday task use for magic," Rarity said. "Nothing special."

Twinkleshine smiled. "You've obviously learned enough with how you make your dresses."

Rarity smiled back. "I wouldn't mind learning a little more though."

Suddenly the door opened and the bell above it rung, signaling a customer had arrived.

"Coming!" Rarity called as she turned to face her customer and walked elegantly forward with her eyes closed. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique."

She opened her eyes and gasped as she saw who her customer was. An Earth Pony in a white frilly outfit trimmed in purple, gold buttons on the collar, crown like ends, and a puffy cloudlike structure above her tail. She also wore a matching hat upon her blue mane, and purple shoes.

"Sapphire Shores! The pony of pop!" Rarity exclaimed.

Twinkleshine's mouth fell open at this as well.

"Good afternoon, Miss Rarity!" Sapphire said as she walked past the unicorn into the shop.

"You yah…" Rarity stammered to speak. "Y-y-you know my name?"

"Well, of course I do, darling," Sapphire said. "I make it a point to know all of the up-and-coming designers and Clothes Horse magazine simply raved about you."

She pointed at Rarity who brightened up.

"Oh, my stars," she turned to Twinkleshine who coincidentally had a star cutie mark. "If I'm dreaming, do not wake me up."

"Its real Rarity," Twinkleshine assured her.

Rarity then turned back to her latest customer. "How may I help you, Miss Shores?"

"Oh please, call me Sapphire," the pop pony said as she inspected the available outfits, pulling out copies of the dresses Rarity had made for her friends to wear to the Grand Galloping Gala.

Rarity giggled. "How may I help you, Sapphire?"

Sapphire turned to her and spoke dramatically as she declared. "Well, as I'm sure you know, I'll be touring all of Equestria with my latest concert, Sapphire Shores' Ziegfilly Follies, so I need to look seeensational! Ow!"

She added the 'ow' for extra drama.

"I have just what you need," Rarity said as she walked back to the curtain she'd closed a moment ago. "Sapphire Shores, prepare yourself for the pièce de résistance de la haute couture."

Sapphire looked bored as she heard the title. But then as Rarity opened the curtain to reveal her latest creation, her best work in fact… Sapphire's eyes sparkled. The outfit was white and completely covered in gems of various shades.

"I used every last diamond I found on this one garment!" Rarity told her proudly.

Sapphire Shores gasped. "And it is spectacular! I'll take it."

"Really?" Rarity asked excitedly.

"Oh yes, and five more, each done up in a different jewel," Sapphire replied.

Rarity suddenly lost her excitement. "Beg pardon?

"Costume changes," Sapphire informed her.

Rarity and Twinkleshine looked into the diamond box they'd gotten all their jewels for the dress from. It was completely empty. Rarity fainted.

Sapphire Shores chuckled. "Yes, I do have that effect on ponies."

Twinkleshine patted Rarity out of her stupor.

"You really have your work cut out for you now!" she said.

"Yes, I do," Rarity replied. "I'm going to need help to get all those gems."

"I can come with you," Twinkleshine told her.

"But you have magic practice with Fire, Twilight, Moondancer and all the others you went to the school of magic with," Rarity reminded her.

Twinkleshine put a hoof on her. "They'll understand I'm helping a friend. If you're okay with me calling you that and not simply a friend of a few friends."

Rarity smiled. "Twinkle, I feel we are kindred spirits you and I! A mane stylist and a dress maker!"

"Those two do kind of go together," Twinkleshine said. "Maybe we can join our businesses together someday? Oh and if you don't mind could I get some gems for a new mane band or two while we're out there?"

"Certainly," Rarity obliged. "But we would probably get dirty if we had to dig for the gems ourselves."

"No worries, it will come right off after a wash," Twinkleshine reasoned.

"A lady should never get her hooves dirty if she can help it," Rarity insisted.

"I suppose if we can help it."

"We need somepony to assist us," Rarity said. "Fire is out of the question as he is a prince and should never have to get his hooves dirty for this kind of work. But I think I know some dragon that would be perfect for the job."

They went and got Spike, as well as a wagon. Rarity then led them to the outskirts of Ponyville in a rocky formation.

Rarity then lit up her horn and Twinkleshine did the same. Coincidentally, both of them had the same color magic. Bright blue.

"Wow, we're like two peas in a pod huh, Rarity?" Twinkleshine said as she noticed this. "Fashion, manes, white shaded coats… well… ivory in my case… but close enough. And we both have blue magic!"

"Yes indeed," Rarity agreed. "Where did you learn the gem finding spell though?"

"Well, it wasn't really taught at the school of magic but I found it in a spellbook and practiced it a bit. Never had the chance to really employ it till now though."

"So why are doing this anyway?" Spike asked.
"I have an order from Sapphire Shores," Rarity told the dragon.

"Oh my gosh!" Spike exclaimed when he heard that. "Sapphire Shores! The pony of pop! She is awesome! I mean, she's gorgeous and talented and-"

Rarity glared over her shoulder at him.

He chuckled nervously. "Heh... and not even half the pony you are, Rarity. I mean, you're ten times more gorgeous and talented and-"

"Spike, a lady is never jealous," she told him with her nose in the air.

Twinkleshine frowned. Spike had made such a big deal out of Rarity and not her.

"What do you think of me?" Twinkleshine asked the little dragon, putting on a small smile.

"You? Uh, well… you're great!"

The pink maned unicorn rolled her eyes and muttered to herself. "Just great? Nothing else?"

Spike didn't hear her mutter and simply turned back to Rarity about Sapphire Shores. "But were you totally flipping out or what?!

"Ladies do not "flip out", Spike," Rarity told him.

"You fainted," Twinkleshine reminded her.

"That is not the same as flipping out," Rarity stated. "However, I was quite in awe."

She increased the power to her spell and began to pace around the dirty and rock covered terrain.

"Oh, I need to find more jewels than ever before to decorate her costumes."

"Well, let's see who can the most jewels first and make this a contest Rarity!" Twinkleshine suggested playfully.

"I suppose," Rarity said before her horn led her to a few gems right in front of her. "Oh, aha!

Spike jumped over. "Did you find some?"

"Yes, Spike! Right there!" Rarity pointed.

Spike dug his claws in rapidly and soon the gems appeared for all of them to see. There were several, and different colors too.

"Ooooo!" Spike said as his eyes lit up and he licked his lips as drool leaked out. "You look so delicious!"

He leapt in and grabbed the jewels, opening his mouth wide.

"Spike!" Rarity called, interrupting him. "I promised I'd give you gems to snack on, but we need to collect more first or I'll never be able to make these outfits for Sapphire."

Spike glumly carried the gems over to the wage. "Hm... I will miss you, my sweets."

"Don't worry Spike," Twinkleshine said. "You'll get some at the end when we're done. Just be patient."

"Yes. Come my friends! We have many jewels to find!"

Spike bowed. "At your service, milady."

Twinkleshine frowned again. "Hey I've known you for a long time and I've never gotten that sort of special treatment from you!"

"Well… you're uh…"

"Not the pony you have a crush on," Twinkleshine guessed.

Spike grit his teeth. "How'd you know?"

"Its totally obvious," she said. "I wouldn't be surprised if half of Ponyville knew."

"Just don't tell anypony!" Spike begged, fearing his 'secret' would get out.

"Alright," Twinkleshine rolled her eyes before walking off. "But you should know she's too old for you!"

Spike frowned and muttered. "I'm not gonna give up!"

He looked over his shoulder. "At least Fire seems to have. He thinks she's in love with Blueblood. But I can see that look in her eyes when she looks at him! I'll have her look at me that way! Somehow! Someday!"

But his confidence faded as he recalled Fire's past heroics. Protecting Fluttershy and the fillies, fighting the hydra, and stopping Gold Steel. How was he supposed to compare with that hero?

Spike sighed. "If only I were a big strong knight like Fire."

"Spike!" Rarity called.

They found many more gems, with Spike digging and the two unicorns using their gem finder spells. After a while they had a large pile in their wagon. Spike eyed it hungrily as Rarity patted his head scales.

"You've been very patient today, Spike," she told him. "And for that you get the finest reward."

She levitated a large blue sapphire from the pile over his waiting mouth. "This is from me to you."

Spike suddenly closed his mouth and caught it in his hands.

"Is something wrong, Spike?" Rarity asked.

Spike looked at her. She shined in his vision like a goddess. "No. It's perfect."

Just like her in his eyes. Rarity smiled and turned away, her horn still glowing.

"There are more here!" Twinkleshine called. "I think I'm getting better at this spell!"

"Oh, Twinkleshine I almost forgot!" Rarity said "You should have a few gems as well."

"That's okay Rarity I don't have anything to put them in at the moment," Twinkleshine said.

Spike meanwhile, stayed behind, looking at the gem. "For me. From Rarity."

He looked after her as she walked with Twinkleshine following. Then he looked back at the gem.

"Eh, she intended for me to eat it!" he said as he took a bite and chewed slowly. "Mmm! I'll savor it!"

He ate slowly as he dragged the wagon with his other hand. Little did he and the two unicorns know though, they were being watched from the bushes nearby.

…

A large paw moved the bushes to allow eyes to peek out and look. A canine named Rover saw the cart full of…

"Yesss, gemsss. Gemsss!" Rover said.

"Where?" one of his companions asked.

"Preciousss gemsss Fido!" Rover said before looking back at the little dragon. "He is the gem hunter. With him we can have all those gems... and more! Let's get the dragon."

He was about to lead them to do so when-

"Spike! Where are you?" they heard a voice call.

"Wait! Who is that?" Rover asked and took another look.

He saw a pair of ponies who had their horns lit up. They appeared to be leading the dragon. Their horns lit up an area and the dragon dug out more gems.

"Oh, it's not the dragon we want," Rover said. "It's the ponies!"

"The ponies!" he and his and fellows said together as they moved in.

…

Rarity watched as Spike put the many new gems from their last find in the wagon. "Well, Twinkleshine, Spike, I think that's all we can do for today."

"Good," Twinkleshine said as she looked back at town. "I think I'll still have some time to join the others for magic practice."

"And these will certainly get me well on my way with Sapphire's outfits," Rarity continued. "Why don't we start headi... oh!"

Her horn had lit up on its own and dragged her off like a magnet. "What's this? Another jewel."

She was led toward the trees. "Oh... oh, strange. It's in the trees."

Her horn led her to a bright yellow diamond. "Oooo!" she exclaimed in delight.

Then a large and ugly dog rose from out of the trees. He had gay fur, greedy green eyes and wore a black color lined with diamonds.

"Eww!" Rarity exclaimed as she backed up and nervously greeted their unexpected visitor. "Uh... uh... good day, gentle... uh, fellow. Uh, I am Rarity and these are my friends Spike and Twinkleshine."

Spike waved nervously.

"Hello," Twinkleshine said in a similar tone.

"And you are?" Rarity asked in repulsion.

"Rover, a Diamond Dog," he told them, the greed in his eyes evident as he advanced on them with extended arms.

"Oh really? Rarity asked as she and the others backed up. "Oh well, that explains your fine taste in jewelry."

"You could probably use a makeover though," Twinkleshine remarked fearfully.

"I mean I-I-I know that diamonds are a girl's best friend and now I know that they're a dog's best friend too," Rarity said with a nervous laugh. So, um, you're out hunting for gems as well?"

"Yes. We hunt," Rover replied as he continued advancing.

"Uh... we?" Rarity repeated.

"We hunt for gems," Rover said as he held out the citrine on his color then gestured at the two unicorns. "But you are better hunters. So now we hunt... for you!"

Two more dogs sprung out of the ground behind them, knocking over Spike who was right on top of one of the holes. One dog was big and bluish gray one while the other was smaller and light brown. The mares screamed as the big dog grabbed for them. Rarity dodged but Twinkleshine wasn't so lucky. The pink haired mare struggled but the dog was too strong.

"Get off me!" Twinkleshine screamed as she tried to hit him with her hooves in vain.

Spike tried to help them, he used the point of his tail like a drill, causing the tan dog to leap and cry out in pain. He then pushed back the big dog, who dropped Twinkleshine. The ivory shaded unicorn got to her hooves and ran for Rarity.

"Come on we have to get out of here!" she said.

Spike had been pushed into the dirt.

"Run Rarity!" he called.

"Hey I'm here too!" Twinkleshine scolded, not liking that she was being ignored by him ever since they began their expedition.

Spike ignored her as he grabbed the big dog and tripped him.

Then Rover came from a hole behind them. "Gotcha!"

The two mares screamed and grabbed Rarity.

Twinkleshine made to run. "I'll get Prince Fire!"

But then a fourth dog appeared, one that was large and black with a diamond crown on his head and an elaborate gold handled spear in his paws as well as whip at his hip. He blocked Twinkleshine's way and pointed the spear at her.

"Well, well, found some ponies, did you?" he asked his fellows.

"Oh Brutus!" the tan dog exclaimed in fear. "They can find gems!"

"Can they now?" Brutus asked. "Well, we can put those talents to good use."

He then grabbed Twinkleshine and they made their way to a hole as Rarity scolded them.

"Unhand me this instant, you ruffians. Stop! Put me down, you thugs! You brutes!" she screamed.

"Let me go!" Twinkleshine begged with tears of fear appearing in her eyes. "I don't wanna work for you!"

Spike managed to free himself from the tree his head had gotten stuck in while fighting the dogs.

"Rarity! Twinkleshine!" Spike exclaimed running to help.

Rarity had managed to cling to the top of the hole.

"Spike!" she called before realizing she was touching dirt. "Aah! Dirt!"

She was dragged under as Spike reached the whole.

"Rarity? Twinkleshine?"

"Help!" Twinkleshine screamed.

"Save us!" Rarity screamed as well.

"Nooo!" Spike screamed dramatically.

…

Fire was in front of the Golden Oaks library with Twilight, their friends from Ponyville and Canterlot (minus Twinkleshine and Rarity but plus Bon Bon). Fire wondered where the two white shaded unicorns were. Last he heard she was visiting Rarity and the two of them had stopped by the library to borrow Spike before Fire arrived.

But as they were preparing to try and cast the butterfly wing spells, Spike came running up looking frantic!

"Aaaah! Rarity... Twinkleshine… jewels... dogs... hole... taken... save them!"

Then he gasped heavily for breath.

"What happened?" Twilight asked, confused.

"Sounds like Rarity and Twinkleshine are in trouble!" Fire exclaimed. "Come on!"

They ran toward the outskirts of town where they knew Rarity went for gems Spike breathed into a bag on Twilight's back.

"Spike, can you breathe now?" she asked him after a while.

Spike panted and then spoke clearly. "Yes. I think so."

"Good," Twilight said. "Now tell us what you know."

"Yeah. Cause all you said earlier was Rarity, Twinkleshine, and a bunch of different words we couldn't figure out," Rainbow Dash said.

"Not a whole lot to go on there, sport," Applejack said.

"Sorry," Spike apologized. "Rarity, Twinkleshine and I were in the woods looking for jewels when these creepy guys showed up.

"Creepy guys?" Twilight inquired.

"They called themselves the Diamond Dogs. They grabbed Rarity and Twinkleshine then disappeared down a hole in the ground."

Applejack smirked. "Well, this sounds mighty easy. Just take us to that there hole and we'll save those two."

"Yeah, no problem!" Minuette agreed in her upbeat manner.

But they gasped as they came to the spot where the abduction had taken place had many holes in the ground.

"Holy moly, that's a lotta holeys," Pinkie exclaimed.

"Come on! Let's get started!" Twilight said moving forward only to have somepony grab her tail. "Ow!"

She looked and saw Bon Bon holding her back. The Earth Pony narrowed her eyes.

"We can't just go charging in!" the pink and black maned mare said. "We need a plan!"

"What makes you think you know any better?" Twilight asked.

"I uh…" Bon Bon stammered. "I've read a few books on subjects like infiltration and spying."

Fire took a breath. "Alright mares, Spike. Two of our friends have been taken. Spike how many dogs did you see?"

"Four!" Spike said. "There were only three at first but then a big black one showed up."

"There might be more down there," Fire noted looking at the holes. "Okay, we need every advantage we can get."

He turned to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow, you're the fastest! Go and get my guards around town and at Warm Heart Tower! We'll need their help for this."

"On it!" she saluted and flew off.

Fire looked around. "This is gonna be dangerous girls. If anyone has second thoughts, I'd advise you to leave now."

They all thought for a moment but shook their heads.

"No way!" Lemon Hearts said. "We're gonna help rescue Twinkleshine! And Rarity! I've been missing out on a lot of the adventure and I don't want to miss out on anymore!"

They all nodded. Fire smiled at the bright yellow unicorn. She'd always been the crazy adventurous one in class at Canterlot. Fire remembered when she'd gotten her head stuck in a beaker, among other things.

"Alright, lets see."

He looked around, four of his friends from Ponyville were here (five if he counted Spike). Rainbow Dash would be back soon with reinforcements hopefully. Then there were the four unicorns from Canterlot present and Bon Bon. With Fire that gave a total of eleven right now with another seven on the way, so-

"We'll have eighteen on our side total," Fire said. "But right now there's only eleven of us. Alright, lets divide into groups and each go down a hole. If we find Rarity and Twinkeshine we'll cast alarm spells. Hopefully we'll be able to hear them down there."

"So who goes with who?" Applejack asked.

Fire thought for a moment. "We need at least one capable fighter per group. Bon Bon, Twilight, Applejack, you three are probably our best fighters here along with me. Let's see… okay… our Earth Ponies will need magic protection for backup. Lyra, go with Bonbon!"

The green unicorn nodded with a smile and joined her marefriend.

"Fluttershy…" Fire looked at her. "You're probably not a fighter, so I want you to stay with me so I can keep you safe. As best I can at least."

Fluttershy smiled and blushed. "Thank you, Fire."

She walked over and stood by his side.

"Alright, Lemon Hearts you go with Applejack. Minuette, Pinkie!"

The lemon coated unicorn joined the orange apple Earth Pony. Minuette and Pinkie both giggled as they stood next to each other.

"Then Twilight and Spike. And Moondancer, you can join Fluttershy and me!"

Moondancer nodded and came beside her crush.

"You're a real leader Fire," she said.

Fire smiled at the praise. "I have worked the royal guard after all. Alright lets all pick and a hole and go in!"

They all did so, four groups of two and one group of three. The five teams dove into the holes, ready to save their friends.

…

Rarity and Twinkleshine were both backed into a corner of the underground caves.

"Oh please, Diamond Dogs. Please let us go!" Rarity said fearfully.

"Yeah, we're scared," Twinkleshine agreed next to her.

"No!" the short tan dog, Spot said.

The big dog, Fido, spoke next as he raised his large fist. "You're our precious little ponies!"

"Forever!" Rover declared with a wicked laugh.

"Forever?" Twinkleshine repeated.

"But whatever do you want from me?" Rarity asked with drooped ears.

Twinkleshine shivered. "Please tell me you don't want to… marry us?"

Rover shook his head. "No no! We don't want to marry you! Leh! Whoever heard of a pony marrying a dog?"

Twinkleshine sighed in relief.

"We just want gemsss!"

"Yes!" Spot agreed greedily. "The gems. The jewels."

"Find them!" Fido ordered. "Find them all!"

Rarity managed a smile at that. "Oh! Is that all?"

She walked about the cave, hoping cooperation would allow her and Twinkleshine to be let go. She lit up her horn and activated her gem detecting spell. Soon she located a small batch of gems underground and took some nearby sticks in the tunnel to mark the location. "There. A lovely pocket of jewels are right there. Now, if you'd be so kind as to show us the exit?"

But Rarity was interrupted as an armored dog raised a spear at her.

"Good!" Rover shook in delight and laughed. "Now, dig them up, pony."

Rarity turned to him in disgust. "What? But you said you wanted me to find the gems."

"Yes! Find and then dig." Spot elaborated.

"Dig?" Rarity repeated.

"Do what they say Rarity," Twinkleshine told her.

Rover turned to her. "This pony seems to know her place. You dig pony!"

Twinkleshine stepped toward the marked spot and began to dig with her hooves. But Rarity stopped her.

"Twinkleshine! You must not lower yourself to helping these ruffians!" Rarity told her. "They oh so rudely dragged us underground. We should not chip our hooves digging for them."

"But they might hurt us!" Twinkleshine replied.

"Or they might give into our demands," Rarity whispered. "Follow my lead."

She then spoke loud enough for the dogs to hear. "Uh, I suppose you're right. Best to cooperate, but I am such a slow digger I fear it will be an hour before I reach those gems!"

She dug at an extremely slow pace that got the dogs impatient.

"Oh, for goodness- Fine! Just stop! Stop!" Rover barked then looked up. "Dig, dogs! Dig! And fast."

Another few armored dogs appeared from above and leapt dog from the top of the tunnel. They quickly dog the gems out. Rarity then smirked at Twinkleshine who grinned in relief. The dogs then tried to get them to pull a cart instead. They were harnessed up with rusty chains and felt the dogs long claws dig into their bright coats.

"Well, somebody certainly needs proper nail care. When was the last time you two had a manicure? You're scratching up our coats with those jagged things!" Rarity pointed out.

"Please be quiet!" Rover told her.

Twinkleshine was quiet, but Rarity wrinkled her nose and asked, "Good heavens, what is that smell?"

Rover looked at her and asked in a long-drawn-out breath. "Smeeeeeell?"

Rarity got a whiff of his open mouth. "Ah, mystery solved. It's your breath."

Rover breathed into his hand and his eyes widened as he smelled. "Enough! Search, pony!"

"Well, since you insist," Rarity said as she and Twinkleshine began to pull their carts while casting their detection spells and marking the areas gems were. "But I must say the working conditions in here are simply dreadful."

"Oh yes!" Twinkleshine agreed, following her fellow unicorn's lead. "Musty and damp, my mane is my most treasured part of myself! It will be frizzled before long!"

"And this air in here is stifling," Rarity added. "Suffocating. And when I try to take a deep breath, the stench of all you dogs makes me nauseated. You look and smell like you haven't bathed in weeks. Have you never heard of soap?"

Two dogs heard this and smelled themselves, quickly finding their own scent repulsive.

Twinkleshine then had an idea. "Tell me, do you wear diamonds to look attractive?"

"Well, uh… yeah. And to get rich," Rover said.

"Diamonds can only take you so far!" Twinkleshine said. "I bet you would get lots of lady dogs if you improved your hygiene! Bathed, trimmed those nails and brushed your teeth! I mean who wants a stinky dirty dog as a boyfriend?"

They hesitated, then the black scary dog appeared.

"What's going here? I'm hearing a lot of talking from these two ponies!" Brutus said.

"The one with purple mane was complaining nonstop Brutus!" Rover said.

"Excuse but I'm terribly thirsty. Could I please have some water?" Rarity asked.

Spot grabbed his ears. "Good gracious, I can't take this anymore. Be quiet, pony!"

"And that's another thing. I would appreciate if you stopped calling me "pony". I am a lady and I wish to be addressed as such," Rarity said proudly and without fear. "So you may call me "Miss" or "Rarity" or "Miss Rarity". And the same goes for Twinkleshine here."

Brutus growled. "That's it! Since you three!" He pointed at the three main dogs. "Can't control a pathetic little pony, I'll discipline her myself!"

He drew out a whip. Rarity and Twinkleshine both froze now.

"You ponies pull, find the gems… and pull!" Brutus ordered as he whipped Rarity first.

She yelped in pain.

"And for everytime you talk, I or one of my little omegas here will whip you!" Brutus said before whipping Twinkleshine as well. "You are both slaves now! And you are our property. We own you just as we own the gems in this mine!"

"Oh, my plan was working until he came along," Rarity whispered then said loud enough for them to hear. "Please sirs, I'm very very thirsty! You can hardly expect me to work if I collapse from thirst?"

Brutus growled. "I suppose you're right. Get her and the other one water a glass of water! Let them drink at least once an hour! But no food until nightfall!"

Rarity clenched her teeth. She felt real fear now for an instant, but then there was the sound scrambling hooves and two ponies appeared.

"Well howdy there little doggies!" Applejack greeted.

Lemon Hearts glared at them. "We're here for our friends! Let them go!"

"Another couple ponies!" Fido said.

"Get them!" Brutus ordered. "We can either keep them as worker horses or sell them to my pony business partner in Manehattan."

"Lemon Hearts, do the signal!" Applejack ordered.

"Right!" the yellow pony said as she lit up her horn, which emitted a loud alarm that echoed through the tunnels.

…

Fire, Fluttershy, and Moondancer made their way through the tunnels. They ran for what felt like forever when they suddenly ran into Twilight and Spike.

"No luck?" Fire asked.

"No," Twilight said. "We just don't know where they are keeping them and this place is such a maze!"

But then a sound filled their ears. A loud ringing.

"One of our teams found them!" Fire exclaimed. "Follow the ring!"

They did so. The rings became louder and louder as they followed the sound. Hopefully they or one of the other teams would reach it before-

It faded. Fortunately, there were some distant sounds of battle. They continued following those and soon saw… Pinkie Pie, Minuette, Lyra, and Bonbon, all with an armored dog on their back.

"We got more work horses!" one of the dogs said. "Lord Brutus will reward us!"

"Maybe we'll get some good bones tonight!" another suggested.

"Get off of me!" Bonbon said as she bucked the dog on her back off.

The others followed her example and threw the dogs off. The canines retreated further into the tunnels.

"Well, that's everypony here!" Fire said looking around. "Except for Applejack and Lemon Hearts! They must have found Rarity and Twinkleshine! Come on let's follow those dogs!"

He ran after them.

Spike frowned. "Hurry up Twilight! Or Fire's gonna beat me to saving Rarity!"

"What does it matter?" Twilight asked as she ran after Fire.

"Then he could win her instead!" Spike said before looking ahead. "I will save you first Rarity! I swear it! Giddy up Twilight!"

He kicked her side, causing her to grit her teeth. Still, she ran forward with all haste to save her friend.

They soon came upon the sight of Lemon Hearts and Applejack fighting the three main Diamond Dogs. Lemon Hearts used her magic to put up a shield that was the same shade of lavender as Twilight's. It blocked the big dog's strikes while Applejack kicked the smaller one away. He yelped as he hit the ground but then the middle sized knocked the Earth Pony off her hooves.

"Take this!" Lemon Hearts said with determination as she lowered her shield to attack.

But the big dog smacked her away and she grunted as she landed next to Applejack.

The two dogs still standing advanced on the ponies on the ground who looked up in fright.

"Hey!" Fire called as he shot a beam of magic at them.

His red colored attack hit the big one and he moved it to the medium one as well. Both of them yelped as they received mild burns on their fur. That gave Applejack and Lemon Hearts the chance to get back up and kick with their hooves or shoot magic from their horn. That took them down.

At that moment, the others caught up.

"Ah man! Fire beat me to it!" Spike lamented.

"The battle's not over yet Spike!" Twilight informed him as her eyes widened in fear at what lay ahead. "Or maybe it is!"

The black diamond dog, Brutus, had Rarity and Twinkleshine both held on chains that were around their necks and he held the tip of his spear to Rarity's throat.

"All of you puny ponies surrender!" Brutus demanded. "Or I end your friends right now!"

Fire gritted his teeth. The others were likewise worried as well as they saw their two friends being held at weapon point. Twinkleshine shook in a fragile manner while Rarity eyed the spear. There was fear in her eyes but it was quickly replaced with resolve and she used her magic to redirect the weapon away from her face. Then she aimed a kick… right between Brutus' legs.

A loud howl of pain filled the tunnels and Brutus dropped the chains.

"Run Twinkleshine!" Rarity said to her fellow captive.

They both ran to their friends who put themselves in front of the two. The other dogs got up and more scurried in. Fire counted a total of eighteen against their eleven.

"Uh… that's a lot of ponies," Fido said fearfully. "And a little dragon!"

Brutus growled. "Shut up Fido! We still have more and we're bigger than them!"

"Bigger yes!" another voice suddenly sounded. "You have more? No!"

Rainbow Dash had finally arrived with Fire's six guards. That brought the pony numbers up to eighteen as well. Now it was an even fight. Fire looked at the dogs who all shook.

"Okay, looks like they have a few more and…" Brutus looked around. "Its just as many as us! Uh… dig!"

The dogs all burrowed underground and vanished from sight.

"We'll be back ponies!" Brutus' voice called.

Fire glared down into the holes, not seeing any sign of them. He thought for a moment then decided it was best to let them go. They'd face the dogs if they came back. Fire looked over his shoulder at Rarity and Twinkleshine.

"Are you two okay?" he asked in concern.

"Yes," Rarity assured him.

Twinkleshine nodded. "I was really scared by the whole thing. But Rarity kept me together for a while! She practically had them wrapped around her hoof until the big leader stepped in!"

"Well, I'll be! And here I thought you might be super scared and helpless!" Applejack said to Rarity.

"I was scared," Rarity admitted. "But I didn't let it get to me!"

"Oh Rarity!" Spike said as he ran over and hugged her. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

Rarity smiled at him and returned the hug. "Thank you Spike."

Spike then looked at Twinkleshine who was glaring at him. "Oh and I'm glad you're okay too Twinkle!"

Her gaze softened at that. "Thank you."

Rarity then looked around and saw something intriguing. "Well, the dogs left behind all the gems Twinkleshine and I found! Mind helping me move them?"

Fire's guards were able to handle that while they made their way out of the tunnel.

"You did pretty good Rarity," Fire said.

"Yeah, I think we all thought that you would probably be helpless," Twilight said. "I think I have a letter to write to the Princess. Just because somepony is ladylike doesn't mean she's helpless."

"Like I was," Twinkleshine lamented.

"That's okay Twinkleshine!" Minuette put a hoof on her friend to comfort her. "We all have room to grow."

"And I think we'll have a shot to grow!" Lemon Hearts said.

"Provided someone doesn't forget about you guys!" Pinkie whispered as she winked ahead at the fourth wall. "So write this story good won't you?"

The others didn't hear or just ignored her.

"And now you have plenty of gems for Sapphire Shores!" Spike said as he nibbled on a ruby.

"Not if you eat them all Spike!" Rarity said as she took the ruby from him.

They laughed at that as they made their way back to Ponyville.