"Tanner, time to go." A motherly voice said, as I grumbled turning away from the source of It.

"Don't wanna." I mumbled tiredly as I heard an exasperated huff behind me before it went quiet.

Thinking I had won, I smiled to myself and settled in for more sleep until I was suddenly hoisted up, causing me to flail in panic as I opened my eyes only to have my vision filled with a brown Labrador-like head, with one black spot surrounding it's left eye, as she looked at me in amusement before setting me back down on the ground.

"Now you're up." She said smugly ruffling the top of my head as I tried to playfully swat It away only for her to pull It away just In time.

"Glad to see you having fun." I said jokingly as she giggled In response.

"Always." She said smiling before It dropped Into a slight frown.

"Are you ready now?" She asked causing me to drop my smile as I looked at her more seriously.

"Yes, I'll be fine, even after when you're not there with me." I said as she shook her head amused.

"It's not your job to reassure me that you'll be fine while I'm gone." She said kneeling as she grabbed my hands with her larger ones before giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"Though I appreciate that you're trying to," She said causing us both to smile before she stood up and nodded to herself before offering her hand out allowing me to take It.

Holding on I started to get pulled by her as she started walking out of our 'home' with me In tow which was nothing more than a room and a doorway that had dirt carved out of It as we left.

'I guess It's finally time, 9 years though huh, seems like It was such a long time ago now,' I think to myself as I look up focusing on the back of my mother's head as I'm lost In thought.

You know It's funny, when I died and came here I thought that I would be miserable, kicking and screaming for me to return, but honestly as soon as I figured out where I was and where I wasn't anymore, I couldn't be happier.

Although the 'nurses' or the closest thing we have to one thought otherwise, I was crying tears of joy as soon as I ca-

Actually, you know what, on second thought how about I don't relieve that specific memory that I for some reason have perfect clarity of.

'Just thinking about It gives me the shivers,' I thought to myself involuntary shivering despite the fur all over me.

Anyways back to what I was saying, I couldn't help but be happy, why you ask?

Well because I no longer had to live In that shithole used call home, and besides, not only did I not have to live there anymore but guess what world this Is?

That's right My Little Pony, and what's In My Little Pony?

Exactly, Magic, Doesn't matter who or what you are because as long as there's a method, and you try hard enough, then you can make magic bend the knee for you and command It to your whims.

Not to mention while there are still conflicts from other groups or species altogether, It's nothing like how back 'home' was.

At least here If a fight broke out between species, If the show was anything to go by, then most problems could probably be solved with a talk, allowing said species to take the time to actually figure out what the problem was instead of just jumping to conclusions.

Besides as much as It pains me to admit It's not like I had much going on for me back 'home' either, not after Mom passed anyway, leaving me with a nonexistent father who was probably on the other side of the planet getting someone else pregnant and planning on leaving them too.

Other than that I had no friends, certainly no significant other and seeing as how everytime someone did, It usually only ended up with someone else getting hurt In the process.

Yeah no, I'll take my chances being alone for the rest of my life.

Plus like all jobs It wasn't fun to work at either, and everyone there made It less enjoyable to be there ranging from the lazy workers, to the annoying customers, to the irritating bosses, If I'm being honest I'm surprised at myself for not snapping sooner.

All just to barely pay for a house that Mom had left me In her will because I felt like It was the last thing I had left of her, and I couldn't help but want to keep It, no matter what.

'Huh, now that I think about It I wonder what happened to the house, haven't thought about that In a while.' I pondered to myself for a second until I decided It was better not to worry about it.

'Probably has been sold off to some other couple who was looking for a house like that.' I concluded to myself.

I won't lie, getting over Mom dying was hard, I mean of course It was, why wouldn't It be? The best woman In my life died.

But being able to just keep something that she used to own made the pain a little bit more bearable.

Realizing that after I was no longer there to protect It from being defiled while the robbers went through whatever they went through or have everything that made It hers stripped and broken down to make It seem more attractive for others to buy.

That, sucked for a good year, when I realized that after crying for joy I started actually crying to myself.

But, then, after constantly seeing my other mother trying so hard to care for me and constantly fuss over me whenever I didn't react how a newborn was supposed to It started to wear on me to the point that I realized that It wouldn't be fair If I kept rejecting to accept her as my new mom In an attempt to keep some sort of made up position that I've held my previous mother In.

So, I moved on, one night when I woke up my mom due to my final grieving of my precious previous mother, I did feel slightly guilty for waking her up and worrying her but at the same time, I'm glad I was able to move on.

Now I can live this life as free as I want with no regrets.
.
.
.
.
Wow rambled on a bit there, but either way, my point stands, even being born down here where there are not a lot of other Diamond Dogs who are doing their best to survive and live together Is still a lot better than surviving and not living, alone, like I used to.

When I was 6 was when I started noticing how dire things truly were down here.

We couldn't grow anything due to the lack of sun and water, and not only that but we couldn't properly wash ourselves unless we went out of the area with a Guard dog to bathe In some nearby river.

Then anytime someone got hurt mining, digging, or any other way, because of how limited our 'medical supplies and knowledge' were some diamond dogs had to go without getting cleaned or bandaged up If someone else's injury was worse, even leading to them getting sick because with the lack of proper care administered to them.

What's concerning about this is the fact that if the conclusion I've reached Is right then we can't bring to much attention to ourselves because we're hiding from someone that we used to serve which is why we can't bring to much attention to ourselves.

Right now that's not important though, what Is important though Is that today I'm getting my very own jacket and collar.

'Speaking of which mom's slowing down which means we are here,' I thought as my suspicions were proven correct by how she gently guided me to be placed In front of her as I was faced with an elderly-looking Spaniel who was overall white with brown splashes covering certain parts of her stomach while completely covering her eyes and ears.

Now interestingly enough when a female diamond dog gets a jacket they are required to close It when In public since apparently having It open to anyone besides your...mate, Is basically telling everyone that you are available to do whatever no matter what so, yeah, you get the point.

"Is this your son River?" The elder asked with a somewhat scratchy voice.

"Yes, Elder it's his-"

"9th Creation Day yes, an honor that one so young can reach that age when others have, not been as lucky." She finished solemnly ending the conversation In a somewhat saddened and slightly awkward mood.

"But we are not here to remind ourselves of an unavoidable past." She suddenly said directing her attention to me as she gestured to the three collars on probably the only table In this entire place.

"We are here to celebrate a future that will hopefully not only help our community flourish further but also help himself flourish into something better than he already Is," She finished as I walked up to the three choices presented to me while my mom walked out giving us privacy.

Now to other people this wouldn't be this important just choosing a collar and receiving a jacket but to diamond dogs, It's almost a sort of rite of passage for them.

Since when diamond dogs go through the 9th year of being born to those In the community you are now responsible enough to start helping out with whatever work Is needed to provide for our small community since there are like 40 diamond dogs altogether living In this small underground area.

Then, before you get your jacket and collar you have to specifically choose which collar you want to wear since different collars are paired with different jobs altogether.

Kinda like what that one episode about the diamond dogs hinted to when uh whatever his name was pointed out that he and his two lackeys hunted for gems.

Surprisingly, that wasn't just him talking out of his ass as that Is an actual job that comes with the collar assigned to It with the orange sapphire gem hanging from and all as the Elder went over which position each collar was assigned to.

There was also another collar that had a ruby-shaped gem hanging from It that apparently once you picked would be trained on how to dig and how to fight.

That way you could help out to dig when needed for the Gem Seekers but would ultimately be able to stand guard near the entrance of the tunnel leading out and In here while also being able to defend all the other diamond dogs who lie beyond the entrance.

Finally, there was the last one with an amethyst-colored gem hanging from the bottom.

"Ah, and last but not least while not many diamonds pick this position It's still one of importance," She said before sighing.

"Picking this one will allow you to travel to a place the ponies call Canterlot to learn more difficult things than just digging or protecting," She said as I unconsciously started reaching for It.

"Actually, I've been wondering, If we're In hiding then why are we trying to get one of us to Canterlot If we're trying to avoid attention?" I asked slightly pausing as I hoped for a concrete answer not made by barely heard sentences combined with my guesses.

"As much as diamond dogs want to stay hidden I think you can see for yourself why we've been trying to have one of our own reach towards the pony city so that we may learn their ways and use them to help our own." She explained as I absently nodded not really satisfied but still listening to her.

"Lately though most dogs would rather have the security of home rather than explore, though I can hardly blame them for doing so." She finished before looking up at me as I stared back absently reaching for the collar again.

"I will warn you though." She said raising her voice slightly causing me to freeze.

"Some dogs have chosen this option before but they had given up on the opportunity due to It being beyond what they were capable of or wanted to learn, If you feel like this sounds like you as well then I advise you to choose something easier." She finished as I paused thinking about It for a couple more seconds before grabbing the collar finalizing the decision.

"I want to be capable of changing things for the better, for us." I said as she gave me a smile In response.

"Then I hope you'll be able to fulfill your goals, and make It our reality," She said facing away before turning back around to hand me a black jacket as I quickly put It on as she grabbed the collar and attached It around my neck.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Is what I said In response as I began to prepare myself for whatever would happen In the future as I would do my best to do something with my life this time.

Author's Note

Fine, I'll do It myself.

I was kinda inspired by the writer called Baroque I think? When he released his new story talking about how he just had an idea and decided to release so I thought to myself.

"Why don't I also do that?"

So here we are, I doubt many people will be interested In this but It'll still be fun to write from time to time.

Other than that comment If you liked or hated something about this I always appreciate either one as long as you comment.

See ya next time!