The Tale of Crimson Gaze the Dreaded. (Once, The Story of Red Eye the Bloodshot)
It was some sunny day in Equestria, not that you would know in a tunnel system. The Diamond Dogs dug away as they had been under the new management. It was just that on this day they found something remarkable, over referenced, and not all that. Not that they knew that, the moment they saw something that glowed darkness they ran screaming. While two of them trembled in fear one went for management for help.
“Uh, boss?" Said a big dog named Clifford. "Some scary thing in the tunnel.” Said boss dog’s gaze scared Clifford causing him to instinctively back away.
“What scary ting? Nothing in dat tunnel’s scary.” Said the boss, walking forward with a grimace.
“But, Crimson, this different! It makes air into darkness!” Clifford declared in fear.
“Air to darkness eh?” The boss with the red eye said putting a paw to his chin. “This sounds inter’sting. Lead the way!”
Deep in the tunnels the two dogs were still huddling in fear. “What if it turn all air in tunnel to darkness? What we do then?” The dog named Puppy Boy, the short one, said.
“Quit yer yammering you git!” Said Crimson, his voice had the dogs stand at attention. “Now where’s this dark stone?” Rex, still terrified with a salute, pointed down the tunnel. It was there Crimson Gaze found his destiny. He saw how it could glow dark in darkness and it reminded him of an odd legend or two. And that made it more appealing.
He smashed the rocks around it and was disappointed to find it was little bigger that some finger or pony ear. “How this fing scary?” He said, taking little note of its whispers as he picked it up.
It was then he felt the value of ages in his head. Time beyond, names lost and found, silly bipeds, and most important what he had there. It was the Rainbow of Darkness. Holding within it the power of one being from before him. Kind of like those he and the boyz worship. The rush ended with him kneeling with a strained smile. “Dragons!” He said with a cackle. “We can haz dragons!” His laughter echoed down the tunnels.
"Boss..? Crimson Gaze?" Asked Puppy Boy, looking around the corner. "You beat that dark thing?" Seeing The boss Crimson Gaze the Dreaded with a evil looking smile, holding the dark stone in his paw gave him reason to gulp.
"I'm callin a meetin Puppy. Get the boyz to the main chamber." Said Crimson. "Well be needin some poniez!"
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were enjoying a small picnic in the outskirts of Ponyville. In a nice grass field, the kind you find when no one wanted to put trees or houses in frame. “..and they made that Featherweight pony the new editor. Can you believe that?” Tiara said in anger.
“It is outrageous Tia!” Spoon said with a frown while sipping her tea. “You were running with impeccable efficiency after all.”
As they chatted two diamond dogs approached, cleaver in concealment. Sadly concealment was a stolen sandwich board from a shop in another town and an uprooted tree stump. Tiara’s eyes grew wide in surprise when she saw the sight.
“Spoon, are you seeing this?” Tiara said flabbergasted and pointing a hoof. Spoon looked and had to giggle.
“You’re not fooling anyone!” Spoon yelled, at this the dogs stopped moving and ducked behind there cover. Clearly attempting not to be seen, and failing. Despite the danger, both were now laughing.
“I’m afraid the blank flanks beat you in the stupid awards!” Tiara said mockingly. “Quit when you’re behind!”
And they then enjoyed another laugh. “Dat'z real funny!” Said their third unexpected guest. The duo froze and turned around to see a third dog with a sack. They screamed as he snatched them up. Puppy and Clifford popped back out of concealment as Rex stuffed the pony twosome his sack. "Dat was close!" Rex said with relief as the others two walked up to him. "Day nearly spotted you."
Puppy looked at Clifford with confusion, Clifford just shrugged. "We sure about this?" Cliff asked. "Crimson's been odd on other things. Do we know what he doing?" Rex looked indignant to Clifford's words.
"He knowz what he'z doing Cliff!" Said Rex. "That stone fing he'z got needz poniez to work, so shut up!"
"I don't trust that rock!" Said Puppy. "If it makes air to darkness, what's it make ponies to?" He scratched his head, nervous.
"If it wern't for him, we'd be still under dat Scruffy git!" Rex declared as he hoisted the bag over his shoulder. "He smarter den us, so he smarter den some scary rock!"
"Like how you say the ruby got magic." Said Puppy Boy in a mock tone, earning him a mean look from Rex
Deep in the cave the dread Crimson sat holding the dark stone in his paw. “This fings gonna make me empora.” He said to himself. “Just hope I rembr the instructions.”
“Wez back boss!” Said Rex with triumph, carrying a squirming bag over a shoulder. “We got the ponyz.”
“Dat so?” Red asked as he got up. “Dat’z a small bag.” The bag was emptied before him, revealing two scared fillies. It was then they saw him and clung to each other in fear. Before them was a diamond dog with a ruby in place of his right eye with an angry scowl. “BABIES?!” He yelled in anger. “I ask for ponies and I get babies?!”
Silver wasted no time in burying her face into Diamond's shoulder and trembling. Tiara, however, did not give into her fear. Just anger as she responded in kind. “Who are you calling babies you stupid dog?” She yelled looking him in the face. “Do you know who I am? My dad is going to…”
“Puppy boy! Elp her listen.” Crimson cut her off. Puppy then bopped Tiara in the noggin. “Oi, I said listening not hitting!” He promptly said with surprise.
Puppy scratched his head and backed away as Tiara now held her own head. “What do you want?” She asked with some fear. However seeing Rex throw her tiara and Spoon’s glasses into a pile of looted gems, diamonds, jewels, and assorted valuables she got mad again.
“I needed somepony to elp with some magic trick if found.” Crimson said as he held out the stone in his paw. “I ear its plenty good.” Spoon wasn’t looking at it, as she was covering her eyes in fear, but Tiara was and the stone like thing in front of her hit some form of primal fear center in her mind. She had only heard about some manner of shadow limbs that Nightmare Moon had. This stone the dog held writhed with them, letting out a sound she could feel in her head.
“Pull em apart.” Crimson Gaze said coldly with a smile. “It works betta one at a time.” The two foils cried out in terror for the second time that day.
"OI! Stop that screaming!" Yelled Red, pounding a paw in the ground, he then sighed as the two went back to whimpering. "I gotta concentrate on dis. Puppy, get me the gray one. We'll deal with pinkey later." While Rex held Diamond, Silver was pushed forward. Understandably she was quite scared. "Now hows this go..."
"I call upon you, dark things, things beyond the hoofed lands, beyond the beyond. Using power from the days of old, older than its rocks, older than...now...I alter creation in your name. You, the forgotten Dragon Lord. I use your relic to achieve an end that you would seek. Using the power of this, the rainbow of darkness, the true other side of the rainbow, I seek to make this pony into a dragon. That it may serve me, in your name. May its claws be swords, its teeth spears, its scales shields, and its breath death."
There was a clear pause as everyone held there breath. After that nothing happened. "Dis fing busted?!" Crimson said as he began shaking the black rock. "I forget somefing again?" It was then that something sparked in the stone, the writhing shadow tentacles became frantic as the disquieting scream it made grew loud enough the scare even the dogs. Diamond was bothered with how Rex was now clinging to her in fear. The only one without fear was Crimson, who was more perplexed by it.
Silver now had a circle of black fire around her. "Eep!" She uttered as the ring imploded on her. "It's hot! I'm on fire!" She screamed.
Only Silver was aware of what was happening to her within the flames. Her jaw felt like it was shifting in her mouth as her fur and mane fell out and burned away. Her naked skin looked like it was being dried as cracks formed on it. Said cracks in her new skin became clear in pattern, and lumpy. And as she saw her own hooves crack and break away, revealing claws, she realized that there was no pain. She was burning hot with no pain. It was creepy to her.
The flames cleared revealing a gray dragon pup with a confused look on it's face. "What just...?" Was it's first words.
"It worked boss!" Clifford stated the obvious in surprise. "Lassie know how, but it did!"
"Rex, get the pink one here." Crimson said. "Let'z finish the job for we celebrate." Diamond was not eager to see her turn come up.
Twilight and Spike arrived to find Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, at the crime scene. Spilled tea and an empty basket remained of the picnic. Still, the sandwich board and tree stump was a bit out of place. Seeing Twilight's confusion Rarity shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine dear.” She told her.
“Do you know when this happened?” Twilight asked Rarity.
“Well Sweetie entered the boutique screaming about those dreadful dogs lurking around. So I gathered Applejack and Fluttershy at the market, but by then the cads were long gone. And worse, they have foilnapped Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. What has become of our little town? It isn’t even safe for poor little…”
“Can I stop ya ther rare.” Said Applejack, trying to avoid theatrics. “One they ain’t poor and two what er they gonna do ta them? When they nabbed ya they put you ta work. Nether of em can do any real work like that.”
“It might be for ransom.” Twilight guessed. “They are from rich families. Also, where are Pinkey and Rainbow Dash?
“They went to the wonder bolt show in Cloudsdale.” Said Fluttershy.
“So I guess it’s up to us.” Twilight said. “We should be ready for anything they can throw at us.”
"Why yall pull us in ta this, Twi?" Applejack countered. "Ain't this guard pony work?
"Well, I know they aren't the nicest ponies, but we can't just ignore them getting foilnapped." Twilight defended. Despite this Applejack and Rarity looked at her with a look that didn't believe it. "Fine!" She sighed. "Rich came to my library and begged me to help out, ok? We can at least look for them, right?" A and R looked at each other and shrugged.
"Fare a nuff Twi. Hope the worst ain't happening ta them." Jack said.
“MY FUR, MY MANE, MY HOOVES! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!!!!!” Diamond was screaming in a panic, feeling her new body. She was now a pink dragon with white spines and claws.
“Is this what it like to be Spike?” Spoon asked no one in particular, looking at her claws. She was more curious as to her new form, gray mostly except for her eyes. “This is so weird Tia.”
“It worked boss!” Said Puppy Boy hopping with glee. “We got us dragons.”
“I can see dat ya git.” Crimson Gaze said smiling. “Now you two runts serve me, your dragonlord.”
“As if!” Tiara growled in anger. “Do you know how much time and effort is put in my mane? DO YOU?!” Her last shout came out as a roar. Puppy and Clifford backed away, Rex and Red simply blinked.
Crimson started to laugh. “This is gonna be good. But wiv this rainbow a darkness, youz gonna do as I say. Got it?”
Tiara responded by breathing fire, well a small ball of it that went out before reaching Red’s face.
“Eh boss? That fing workin?” Rex asked more worried than his boss. “Day do’nt seem to aippy. Or coropitive much.” Crimson growled with annoyance.
Thinking it’s safe to do so Clifford picked up the confused Spoon. “Uh, you feel any sub servant at all?” He asked in his own confused tone.
Silver was still scared though. “Well…I have servants at home.” She said nervously. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“Why we hurt you?” Clifford asked cocking his head to the side. “Just need you subservient, then you can help get gems and shiny bits like other dragons do…right?” Silver just blinked. “Wait!” Clifford said in realization. “If you got servants and we make you sub servant, that makes them sub sub servant and…does that work?” Silver giggled at this and patted his face.
“You are a funny one.” She said. She was aware things were bad, but the bizarre nature of it was quite exciting.
“That sound like what Scraps can say.” Clifford giggled to himself as well. Crimson Gaze face pawed.
“Clif!” He yelled. “We sopost to control these dragons, not befriending em!” Clifford smiled sheepishly as Crim turned his attention back to Tiara. “You listen ere ya little runt!” He said pointing a paw at her. “I iz bigga than you, so I’m da boss. Got it?” Tiara responded by chomping into his paw, all in the cave paused. “Eh, you got teef…AAAAAAAHHHHH!”
He shook his arm in a frantic attempt to get the dragon off his paw.
“Tia, what’s gotten into you? Do you even know where he’s been?” Yelled Silver. Finally Crimson managed to pull her off, and held her up to his face.
“There ya add ya fun! Now I…” He looked around himself, finding something was missing. “Where dat rainbow bit go?”
“You dropped it you stupid dog!” Tiara yelled with a snarl. “You don’t even know what you are doing, do you? Furthermore…” It was then DT nose made her look back at that corner of the cave. There she saw that large pile of gem, jewels, and diamonds again in a new light. She licked her lips without knowing it. “Silver.” She said with a drooling smile. “Look over there.” Silver looked and felt a need to lick her own lips.
“This is what it’s like to be spike!” She said with a smile.
“Oi, don’t you be eyeing my hord. Me and the boyz be breaking backs for them shiny bits.” Crimson said. It was then Tiara breathed smoke in his face, causing him to drop her coughing. She then ran to the pile and jumped in. “Hey, get outta there!”
“Just licking them make me feel like a filly in a candy store.” Tiara said with a delighted smile. “It’s like…huh!” She now looked ill.
“Oh no! Tia, do you remember when Spike…” Silver started to say before she was cut off by Tiara new roar. She quickly grew more than several feet tall...and then some!
The sight of the large pink dragon was enough to cause Puppy Boy and Clifford to break into a run, with Clifford still holding Silver. “Wait, put me down! Diamond!” She yelled as she was carried off.
Rex only stood there for a moment before running himself. “Bricks and vinegar! She’ll smash us good lest we run!” He yelled fleeing.
Now it was just a colossal Diamond Tiara and Crimson Gaze. “PATHETIC CREATURES!!!!! NOW WHO IS BIGGER?!!!” She howled. Despite a boast that would have most running Crim held his ground.
“You think you tougher than me?!” He said as he pointed at the ruby in his eye socket. “You got nophing on dat! Show me what ya got!” Diamond obliged him by swatting him a good distance with one claw. A loud crash was heard. “Ya got weight on ya, I’ll give you dat.” He stated from where he impacted.
A considerable distance away, outside of the caves and in some woods, the three dogs and one dragon caught their breath. “This a bad idea, messing with nature. Big pony’s gonna mash us!” Puppy whined, holding his head.
"Calm down Puppy." Reassured Clifford. "Big pony ain't found us yet, sides I'm more worried that dragon we made gonna wreck Crimson. We need plan." Clifford looked at the party, Rex was worse than Puppy Boy with fear and the dragon he was holding was crying. "Uh, little dragon? You doing alright?" Silver didn't answer. Clifford sighed as he put the little dragon on the ground. "Know you scared, but stick with us OK?"
Silver didn't look at him. "Why?" She asked.
"I'm not as mean as the boss. Even then, he get off on things. In this case he want dragons." Clifford. "Scraps not the same for sometime now."
"OI!" Rex shouted. "Ya don't call em dat!" Clifford sighed.
"Scraps?" Silver asked.
"We call him Crimson Gaze the Dreaded now. He's off, but a nice change to things. Said he got Lassie's wisdom and Sam's chaos understanding. Or so he say." Clifford explained. "Anyway, keep close. Woods not safe."
"He wanted to enslave me and Tia, and...and make us sub servant. You said so!" Silver said. "Why do you work for him?"
"He ain't bad like Scruffy." Clifford defended. "And he can make a good plan. I just keep an eye on the boys, and him too." He chuckled. "His crazy has been fun to have around at times. No worry, get him a reason and he do the right thing."
"Cliff." Puppy continued to whine. "Plan, now! I not want to fight a dragon today."
“HEY!” And the heroes arrive, to save the day of course. Their search had brought them to the right place. Seeing two unicorns, an earth pony, a pegaci, and dragon staring daggers caused Puppy to declare the statement. “Who want to go fight the dragon?” Before the other two could agree Twilight interrupted.
“Where are they?!” She said with no humor.
“Boss be in da cave fighting that dragon.” Rex stated without thinking.
“Not them, where the hey did you take them foals?” Applejack said with anger.
Clifford pushed the Silver dragon forward and pointed at her. “Here’s one.” He said with hope to calm things down.
“Is that a baby dragon?” Shy said surprised. “How did you find one?”
“We made um.” Clifford admitted. “Back in the cave.”
Twilight eyes widened, Rarity fainted, and Shy blushed. “How can diamond dog make dragons?” Spike asked. Seeing a gray scaled dragon with grayish furred dogs Twilight could only state. “I’ll tell you when you’re older Spike.”
“But it’s me Twilight.” Silver said. “Silver.”
“Why would you be named silver?” Twilight asked.
“Because I’m Silver Spoon from ponyville, duh.” Silver said with a mocking smile. “They made me like this.”
At first twilight just stood there in shock, then awe, and then blurting gibberish, then fainted.
“That don’t make a lick ah sense.” Applejack said as shocked as most. “If yall are Silver, how did it happen?” In the meantime Shy and Spike were in the process of reviving Rarity and Twilight.
"Diamond dog using magic, what next?" Twilight said holding her head. "How did you even cause this?"
“Boss found this rainbow of darkness thing.” Clifford explained. “He said it make ponies to dragons.”
“Whyz you tellin em that?!” Rex yelled at Clifford. “We got nuff problems.”
“Maybe they help boss? And that stone makes air into darkness. It not healthy.” Clifford replied. Rex face pawed and Puppy shrugged.
“And who is your boss?” Twilight asked.
“I am!” Said a voice out of nowhere.
Crimson Gaze stood there with burnt patches of fur, some bruises, his red eye still in place, and a painful looking grimace. Shy and Twilight screamed, as Rarity and Applejack jaw dropped. “ARE YOU LOOKING AT MY EYE?!” He yelled, cue more screaming. “ARE YOU LOOKING AT MY EYE?!” He yelled again.
Puppy burst out laughing. “It’s like the first day all over again!” He giggled.
“What dreadful taste in humor.” Rarity said aside to Applejack who nodded.
“Why’d you boyz jump ship?!” Crimson Gaze said pointing an accusing paw at the other dogs. “That dragon ain’t no pub crawl.”
“Uh, we though you wuz the biggist baddist boss.” Rex said scratching the back of his head nervously. “How you lose den?”
“Shut yur yap Rex! I didn’t see you do betta!” Crimson said this he sat down. “You magical ponies got any eailing spell on ya? If fink that dragon broke me aorta.”
“And why should we help ya?” Applejack said. “Ya’ll went and ponynapped some foals, made em dragons...Celestra knows how I'm we gonna explain this to their folks...and you come back asking fer help?”
Crimson raised a paw. “Fine, I’m sorry I nabbed yur runts. You appy?” The clear anger he saw clearly gave him a no. He didn't mind. “Sides, seeing a one of dem kicked me out of my cave and took me hoard I’m already loseing. Also I’m finking our goals ain’t mutuaily exclucive.”
"How?" Twilight asked.
"You get that pink git outta my cave, you can have it back." Crimson proposed. "It's what you want back right."
"Don't forget Silver dragon Crim." Clifford added. Red looked annoyed but gave in.
"Fine, and the Silver one. This dragon quest was a waste." Crimson said with a paw on his face.
“Fine.” Twilight agreed. “But you are giving me this rainbow of darkness you found. You aren’t keeping it!”
“Fine, not doing much elp for me anyway.” Crimson said with a shrug. “Heck, I even throw you some gems for da help. Just get that dragon as far out of dair as ya can!”
“Do you know how to reverse the effect?” Twilight asked to which Crimson simply shrugged. Twilight face hoofed and sighed. "I've got an idea. But, I need you to listen and do as I say OK?"
"Fare nuff." Red replied.
Meanwhile Rarity, Shy, and Spike had their attention on Silver. “Goodness, your father would simply die if he saw you like this dear!” Rarity said.
“Actually it’s kind of fun!” Silver said dusting herself off. “But how does Spike deal with these scales? Would spa treatment help with this rough skin?” She said as she scratched her scales.
Spike shrugged. “Have you tried any gems yet?” He asked, Silver shook her head no. “Did it hurt?” Silver frantically nodded yes.
“How can you do this to a poor foal?” Said a sad Shy to the dogs.
“Like we said, we wanted dragon.” Said Puppy with no conscience, earning a stare. “I was boss idea!”
“Hey.” Said Clifford. “Leave Puppy Boy alone. Sure he scrappy, but he have feelings too ya know.” He scratched his head as he added. “Uh, please?” Shy backed off.
“But why would you use them?” Shy asked.
“Rex got runts while Red wanted adults.” Said Puppy looking down. “If we control some dragons we can get gems, lots of em. The dragons can even guard them.”
“Control dragons?!” Spike jumped in surprise. “You found out a way to do that?!” He yelped.
“Boss figured that dark rainbow stone could do these things.” Clifford said with a shrug. “Wouldn’t be first time he do this.”
“First time?” Rarity said with a raised eye brow. “This isn’t the first time that misuse of gem stone has done something like this?”
"He been off since the accident." Clifford said. "Me explain."
A long time ago Clifford was checking on Scraps, the digger they had. Who now was in the process of throwing stones at a cave wall in the hoard room. "Scraps? What you doing?" Clifford asked.
"Make music with rocks!" Said Scraps with glee as he threw another stone. It made a expected clatter on impact. "Scratchy, smashy, cracky, music."
Clifford held his head. Scrap's mom had told him to keep on eye on the zoned out dog. Better him than Scruffy. Scruff and Fido kept a mean schedule with little patience for a digger who keeps asking what day it is, let alone why shiny rocks were worth anything.
"We eat soon?" Scraps asked.
"We had lunch Scraps." Replied Clifford.
"Was it good?" Was Scraps reply. Clifford would have simple conversation if it weren't for Scruffy appearing.
"Why you sitting around?" Scruffy demanded. "Fido needs you to dig. All you screw ups can do."
Scruffy was sent by Fido to keep them in line. Clifford, Scraps, Puppy Boy, and Rex were under Scruffy's management. Just digging with no goal beyond gems, with most shares going to Fido and of course Scruffy.
"It Puppy and Rex shift Scruffy." Clifford said. "Not our turn."
"Shift change, we need more digging." Said Scruffy. "Get to work."
"Rock?" Scruffy looked and annoyance and Scraps who was offering him one of the stones he had been throwing. His reply was taking the stone and throwing it down the tunnel. Scraps looked disappointed, but not for the obvious reason. "Not like that, like this." And with that Scraps picked up another rock the threw it at the wall. This rock ricocheted off the wall back at him, hitting him in the eye. Both Clifford and Scruffy were in shock with Scraps now looking at them with a stone in his eye.
"Why don't I see my eye?" Scraps said with confusion. Scruffy looked at Clifford, then Scraps, then back at Clifford.
"Get a doc!" Clifford yelled. Scruffy ran off as Scraps reached at his eye as it started to leak red.
"Something in my....EYE!!!!!" The delay in his pain reaction ended as he pulled the stone out. The leak was now a flow.
"Don't panic Scraps!" Clifford yelled. "We gotta stop the leaking." Despite this Scraps was indeed panicking, and screaming, and running around.
"Got idea!" Scraps shouted as he grabbed a nearby ruby. Clifford would have tried to stop him, but even he would not have expected such a tactic. Stop a bleeding eye socket by stuffing something in it. It worked as well as expected. "AAAAAAHHHHH! I hurt!" Scraps agony ended with him fainting. Conveniently, Scruffy and Puppy arrived to a unpleasant mess.
"He breaths." Was the most Clifford could say. No dog knew anything better to do then let the poor digger rest. The ruby would have to stay where it was. Much to Scruffy's dislike, it was a ruby after all. By the next day had Scraps still out cold. Still the event was still fresh in their minds, as they chatted at lunch break.
"You think he's gonna be up again?" Rex asked Clifford.
"I hope so." Clifford replied taking a bite out of a roll. "I don't want him buried."
"You should keep that dog on a tighter leash Clifford." Was Scruffy's take on the event. "Now we short a dog and Fido's not happy. He needs you dregs to dig and get more if you want more supply."
"All he does is take the good stuff." Puppy Boy said with a annoyed look, earning him a scowl from Scruffy.
"He keep you dregs fed, Puppy." Was Scruffy's answer. "Now get back to.....what?" What Scruffy didn't know was that there was a red eyed creature behind him. Puppy, Clifford, and Rex were in staring in terror. Scraps was never known to look so...scary. A toothy smile on his face and a few small dried drops under his new eye. When Scruffy looked behind him he screamed.
"ARE YOU LOOKING AT MY EYE!" Scraps yelled, and Scruffy kept screaming.
"What got in you Scraps?" Said a concerned Clifford. Meanwhile Puppy started to chuckle, elbowing Rex who also chuckled.
"I saw da future." Scraps said in a calm voice. "Got somfing better to do then dig up stuff for some runt off somewerz else."
"Why you talk like that." Puppy asked. "No dog talks like that."
"I saw a god of wisdom, and of chaos. Dey told me stuff, lotz of it." Scraps explained. He then looked at Scruffy. "Fido and Scruffy ain't the boss around. I am."
"Hey!" Scruff yelled. "You don't mess with Fido. You not even puppies to his..." He stopped as the once docile, now scary, Scraps looked him in the eye. The red eye wasn't some clean implant, no smooth tubes or metal. It was a rough, uncut, painful to look at rock in that eye. The rough, sharp bits made Scruffy back away. "Fido make you pay." He said before running in panic.
Scruffy ran off, never to return. While this would seem like a reason to rejoice, all but Scraps were now nervous.
"Scraps, what you think you doing?" Clifford asked.
"First step in forgin an empire Cliff." Was Scraps answer. "I gotz some ideas."
And ideas he had, even if they were crazy or even almost amazing. Building a kingdom, trade with other races, even building there own farms were things they found amazing. On the other hand plans for looting monster lairs and looking for artifacts of the gods he had spoken to were when most would get muddled.
To hear Scraps speak of it, these gods were amazing. Lassie the wise spoke of how one finds wisdom and what one can do with it. That a dog can communicate with other creatures as equals and work to common goals. Holding a stone with knowledge engraved upon it before her orange gaze. She had told Scraps of her fear that the dogs had forsaken wisdom, only concerned with blind greed and preferring to steal rather than create.
Then there was Sam the Devourer, a god of friendly chaos. Teller and survivor of tales both silly and profound enjoying the fine flavor of adventures and chocolate. He is also the keeper of the dreaded dark god Max the Destroyer. Both had ink black eyes and a smile. He would call and recalled such tales you have never heard before, things none would think possible. But his friend Max was a scary one, with a toothy maw and a smile. A smile that threatened to eat flesh, to burn all to cinders, and use sarcasm. Despite this Sam enjoys his company.
The two gods had talked to Scraps while he was unconscious. He found Lassie's wisdom interesting, but Sam's adventures more so. Still, she did give him the idea to build a kingdom, or at least how to make a village to a kingdom. It was hard to tell. No other dogs worshiped these gods, and while Puppy and Clifford were skeptical of this Rex embraced it. Even talking like Scraps even. For all they knew it was all in his head.
Scraps wasn't that far different than before, but crazy or not, he had vision. Better vision then they had then.
The name Crimson Gaze the Dreaded was meant to strike fear in Fido's lads, which he had Rex on lookout for on the first week or two as the rest prepared for a siege. Crimson had barricades built of rocks and gave Puppy the dull job of carving wood to reenforce the barricades and make spare armor and sticking sticks. The assault never came however, word was Fido had been beaten by a pony and had written them and there mine off as a loss. Then the four all rejoiced in freedom.
While they still dug and made deals with what creatures they could for supplies and resources. Not much else happened of interest. There was a time they built a ro-monster thing out of wood, metal, and a steam engine. With large sharp claws on the sides and the look of a beast like face crudely made of scrap on the front. All they knew was it made sense while the clouds were pink. It fell over when Clifford sneezed on it latter on. They all agreed it was cool looking though. Red even called a defensive unit, whatever that meant.
It would have been like a mobile suit of armor if it worked.
“Are you sure it was not just his silly mind being overly imaginative?” Rarity asked.
“You kidding, he was just some lowly digger before.” Said Puppy with a smirk. “He couldn’t tell you what day it was. Then he come up, declared himself boss, and said he had great plan.”
“Like beat that night moon mare and take er treasure, get some timber wolf hides to trade, den we try an get gems off ponies.” Rex said with a proud look on his face.
“EXTORSION?!" Her hoof on her cheek. "BLACKMAIL?!" Dramatic back hoof on head. "ROBBERY?!” Dramatic hoof on chest. Rarity gasped as ideas of said concepts came to mind.
“Why mail black?” Clifford asked oblivious. While most others faces palm Applejack and Silver cracked up.
“It was more about trade agreements.” Puppy said looking unsure. “Trade for gems, trade for bits, trade for science bottles…” The last part earned him a look of confusion. “Science is measured in bottles right?”
The chatting ended as a patched up Crimson Gaze stated. “Form up boyz. Wez movin.” As Gaze told his boys the plan, Twilight explained her plan to the others.
“OK, First Silver I need you to talk Diamond down.” She said. “If what happened with Spike happened to her it may be our best bet.” Silver nodded.
“Ya sure you can trust them not ta turn on us.” Applejack asked.
“Well, there not unpredictable. On the contrary, we can rely on them wanting to get there gems back. So they should honor our agreement.” Twilight said with confidence.
“Hope ya right sugar cube.” Applejack replied.
“And what may I ask is stopping them from doing something after Diamond is stopped?” Rarity asked with concern.
“You doubting me white bread?” Crimson Gaze said indignant. “I’m a dog of my word so…” He then stopped and looked at Rarity muddled.
“What are you staring at?” She asked in annoyance.
“Ya got blue gems on ya rump.” Gaze said in a lower than usual voice with a serious look on his face.
“How dare you!” Rarity said in shock. “Staring at a mare’s hide quarters, you should be ashamed!”
“But if yur blue and I’m red…can you be my queen?” He asked looking hopeful.
“I never!” Rarity gasped. “Don’t think you can be sweet hearts with me! And I will warn you I can handle dogs like you single hoofed!”
“You da one who gave Fido a humbling?” Crimson asked with his own shock. Rarity nodded with a tough expression on her face. “Marry me!” He said a now misty eyed Gaze. Rarity own eyes widened as the dog put her in a happy bear hug.
“It’z gonna be grand!” Crimson said happy and spinning, mare in his arms. “You Ruleing as a queen. You, me, n the boyz will be building an empire. Then we can make those fifedums like proper rulaz do for our puppyz. They be stronger than any other dogz too, just like you! And they’ll be tithinnz, and managing town fokz, an building stuff, an…” Crim continued, oblivious to Rarity’s constant struggle to get free.
Applejack was cracking up even more on the verge of outright uncontrolled laughing. “Queen Rarity, now that’s new!” She uttered.
“LET GO OF ME THIS INSTANT!” Rarity yelled. Crim left his happy daydreams and put her down.
“First off no, second take a bath, third you should learn a little chivalry first before even attempting.” Rarity said with a flat, humorless tone.
“Ain’t chivalry about horse riding?” Asked Puppy Boy in a low voice while nudging Rex. “I mean in French.” Clifford and Rex shrugged, Applejack who overheard it burst out laughing.
“How about we talk about this later?” Rarity asked, trying to ignore Applejack laughter. “Perhaps after we return the foals to their homes?”
“Yes mam!” Crim declared and got to work. “Forward you dogz, to victory!” He shouted, as they led the way to the cave. Rarity noted Spike looked down so she pulled on his cheek. “He is better than Blue Blood, but don’t forget you are too.” She said with a smile. Spikes spirits were back in the good zone.
At the cave mouth they came to a halt. The roars of Diamond Tiara bellowed from within. Twilight, with Silver on her back, entered. She found Tiara as large as big was, eating clawfuls of gems. “Hey Tiara!” Silver said with a wave. Twilight almost hated her for it, seeing as the large Diamond dragon was now looking down on them with a smile.
“Hey Silver!” She said in a booming voice. “Do you know where those dogs ran off to? I think we should make them dig us some gems.” She smiled at the prospect. Silver had other ideas.
“So, how does it taste?” Silver asked, earning her a sigh from Twilight. “Oh! But first, we need to get home, and also be ponies again.” She said with a nervous smile. Diamond began to laugh.
“Are you kidding?” She said. “This is the greasiest moment of my life! Why would I want to go back to being a filly again?”
“Well, how are we going to hang out like we used to?” Silver asked. “Sugar rump bump? Tea parties?” She scratched the back of her head. “Make fun of the crusaders?” She said in a quiet voice. Diamond responded by picking Silver up and putting her in the palm of her large claw.
“Well, we could get you some gems of your own.” Diamond said scratching her chin. “Then we’d have no problem. It shouldn’t be too hard, I mean between these dogs and stuff we won’t have a problem getting more.”
“Um, that fine and good Tia but…” Silver was struggling to find the words. “Can’t we just go home? It’s just that…well…I miss being a pony.”
“But it’s much cooler being a dragon!” Diamond roared in shock. “After all, now nothing can take me down!”
It was then that Crimson Gaze walked in.
“Whatz taken so long?” He yelled annoyed. “Thought yur plan was…” He stopped as he beheld a painful sight.
“Hey, stupid dog!” Diamond snarked. “Bring me more gems!” Said hoard was now half its original size.
“That me hoard…THAT’S MY HOARD!!!!!!” Yelled Crimson as he ran forth and leaped high. After dodging a swipe, climbing an arm, he then leaped onto the face.
“Get off you smelly….!” Diamond started but was interrupted by a blow to the nose.
“YOU ATE MY HOARD!” Crim screamed with growl as he pounded the Diamond dragon’s nose again. In the scuffle Silver was dropped and caught by Twilight, who then ran to safe distance. Twilight and Silver looked on as an off screen battle broke out. The other dogs, ponies, and dragon entered as the fight ended. Diamond was holding her nose crying while Crimson Gaze was crying for his own reasons.
“Took us good time ta dig all that! How we do stuff now?!” He hit the ground with a paw, still tearful. “How’z fighn a dragon put you in red?” Puppy and Rex led the sobbing Crim away as Rarity, Silver, and Spike walked up to Diamond.
“You OK Tiara?” Silver asked. Tiara only nodded. “Let’s go home, leave the gems where they lay and head back, OK?” Tiara nodded again, leaving the gems unclaimed by her and reducing her back to normal size.
“That really hurt…” She mumbled as Silver gave her a hug. Meanwhile the other three concerned themselves with the host.
“Where is that stone?” Twilight asked, trying to be somewhat sympathetic. Still they needed to find the cause, before anything bad happens.
“Round here someplace.” Crim said with a groan. “Ya mind, lost much of me hoard and...Eh,what’s the ‘ellow ones problem?” Shy pointed at his arm. Simply put, the angle was off. “Do I just wack it back to place?”
“THAT NOT HOW YOU DO THAT!” Shy yelled before she could stop herself. Applejack face hoofed.
“Why the hey is he the boss of ya?” She asked the other three dogs. “Near I can tell he ain’t too bright neither.”
“Well…” Said Clifford. “He did want to build a kingdom…”
“He even know how?” Applejack asked with a stern look.
“Well, Lassie and Sam told me it waz simple.” Crimson said simply. “Find turf, build stuff on it, people come, buy and sell stuff, keep it ordered and safe…” As Crim said this he was counting paw bumps on the undamaged arm. Applejack hushed him.
“So why ya’ll messing with dragons?” She asked stomping a hoof. “Causing everypony problems like that?”
Crimson shrugged with a sheepish look. “Figure when you got a special vision, you gotta destiny. I’d get ta be some empora with land and stuff.” He scratched his neck. “Fight monsters, take their stuff, all dat stuff. Sam spoke of adventures where a coat hanger and a gun could save the world, then Lassie would say he reckless. Why Lassie so serious? She never fought Charlie Ho Tep...”
“Enough!” Twilight declared. “That doesn’t excuse what you did today!”
“Right, I get dat.” He said scratching his head as he got up. “I got the message. Seems Yur little dragon must a found it.” Twilight turned to see Spike calling them over. While they were brave ponies that dark thing felt like it burnt just looking at it. Crimson Gaze picked it up with no problem. “Don’t see the big deal is. " He said passively. "How’s dis the oppicet of a rainbow?” The shard was put in a saddle bag, with its next location likely Canterlot. “Now how much ya want?” He asked Twilight. “I’m a dog of me word.”
“Excuse me?” Twilight said confused.
“Well ya did help wif things.” Crim said. “As I said I’m a dog of my word. One more fing. How do ya fix an arm?”
“Do you read at all?” Twilight asked tilting her head to the side looking worried. “Books?”
“For the pictures?” Puppy answered with no irony. Twilight face hoofed.
“How can you know so little and try to attempt so much?” Twilight demanded to know.
All for dogs shrugged. “Best we can do. Can’t just dig for gems forever. If it weren’t for Crim, we’d not even have a goal.” Said Clifford. “Ponies have better idea?”
“Fido mentiond dem ponies good at gem findin.” Said Rex. “That why he nabbed dem.”
“That’s why he took Rarity.” Said Spike in a matter of facts tone. “Her magic can find gems.”
“So how we do that without nabbing them?” Asked Puppy Boy.
“We hire dem!” Declared Crimson punching his arm in the air with revelation. “They find, we dig, split the shares! WE’Z GOT A PLAN BOYZ!” A notable crack was heard. “Dat angle looks worse now….AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!”
Nurse Redheart was as confused as anypony to have a diamond dog in her care. As well as surprised how, despite how badly the bone was broken, Crimson was calm. Even asking if the barking patent had spoken to Sam or not. Twilight said it was a long story. Things had more or less calmed down at that point with the others going home for the day.
Of course, Silver and Diamond's parent were shocked to learn what had happened. Just as shocked were the guard ponies meant to help in the search efforts, finding a magically sealed saddlebag in their hooves and being told to deliver it to the princess ASAP.
Twilight could see that Puppy Boy and Rex were not up for intelligent conversation as they waited at the hospital so she asked Clifford as obvious question. "Why do you work for him?" She asked. "I mean, he has ideas but you seem to be...well...more mature then the rest of them."
"Best I do is keep an eye on them." Clifford answered. "If not for him, we wouldn't have courage to break thing off from Fido. Sometime plan work, sometime not. Even when Crimson Gaze boss I keep on eye on him. Hope new plan avoids trouble." Clifford started to chuckle. "Me and Puppy enjoy his dream. Real or not Lassie's got point."
"Now I have plan." Her response gave Clifford a reason to raise an eyebrow. "As you can say." She said with a giggle.
Clifford had a nice laugh. "One more thing, that white pony, is she really that powerful? Fido told it as her and his boys had a big fight. That she had power to rival big pony."
"The truth would surprise you." Twilight said.
Sometime latter in ponieville library.
“But I’z bashed a dragon wif me bare paws.” Crim said in defense, his arm in a cast.
“And broke your arm doing it.” Twilight replied shaking her head. “Your problem is that you aren’t learning anything more than that crazy vision.” She handed him a book. “If you are going to build something, you need to know how.”
“Wif the science flasks?” Crim asked. Twilight shook her head again. “How we do science wifout flasks?”
“You do it by reading. Learning history, reading about structure, that kind of thing.” She pulled out several other books and put them in a saddle bag. “You can read about it while you recover. Got it?” She asked hopeful.
“Got it.” Crim Said as he hoisted the bag over his shoulder.
“One more thing…” Twilight asked. “You seem to be the only dog or pony that didn’t seem bothered by that shard. Why is that?”
“It’s what Sam would say.” Said Crimson Gaze. “Just be too gosh darn ignorant to be afraid.” Twilight sighed and held her head.
“That shouldn’t work.” She said with her head low.
As they were ordered to do so Puppy boy, Clifford, and Rex put up flyers offering jobs for gem hunting. Sadly none of the offers were being taken; Crimson had even named it “Animal Husbandry.” Their stand sitting in the market place was mostly avoided by any number to townsfolk.
“Maybe we need better name?” Asked Clifford, sitting at the makeshift stand.
“Boss said it make sense in context.” Said Puppy Boy with a shrug. “We just need to find it.”
“I understand where ya’ll are coming from with this.” Said Applejack while walking by. “But with a name like that a lot ah
ponies are gonna get the wrong idea.” All were then surprised to see the first customer.
“Excuse me.” Asked Sweetie Bell. “How does this work?”
“You hire one of us, we help wif the diggin while you do the searchin, split the findins 50ish.” Said Rex, who then paused, as if realizing how short this pony was. “Wait, ain’t ya too small to cast magic?”
“I’m still learning!” Bell said with a smile. “Maybe I can get a gem hunting cutie mark!”
“Eh, who are we to judge?” Puppy said to no one. "Which one of us you want dig?"
"Pardon. I'm just curious as to the wording to your stand. Do you have a moment?" Asked the third pony to walk up to the stand.
"Boss said it's something he heard of." Said Clifford. "How I help you miss?"
"Well...." Answers Cherliee in a friendly voice. "Perhaps I can help you instead. If you are free perhaps I could teach you some English...and a few other things if you are interested."
Clifford looked at the mare with some confusion, between the wording and that look on her face he was now nervous. Sweetie, who was still there, jaw dropped as Puppy Boy began to laugh. "Best plan ever!" He said still laughing. Cherliee ,however was not amused.
"I wanted to introduce him to somepony I know. How can you be so juvenile?" She said to a still laughing Puppy.
"English sound nice miss." Clifford said. "Puppy, go dig. Rex, you got stand."
"Right den." Was Rex response.
Puppy face pawed. "Why I baby sit?" He said looking at the smiling child.
"That is Awkward." Said Clifford, having learned a few things from Cherliee at her home.
"Well, it's an honest mistake." Said Cherliee. "It makes sense in a context. But I would recommend renaming it. Twilight said you were a voice of reason in your group so I thought it could help if you learned how to speak properly." There was then a knock at the door, Cherliee answered it. "Ah, come in. Clifford, this is Big Macintosh. Most ponies call him Big Mac for short." Cliff did his best to remember what he had learned of proper wording.
He introduced himself while shaking Mac's hoof. "Hello Big Mac, my name is Clifford. I like your color by the way." Both ponies were confused on that comment. "Red's a good color." Clifford added.
"Eyep." Was Big Mac's word on it.
"This four rocks, you know what you doing short pony?" Puppy said with some anger having unearthed his forth rock, as previously stated.
"Maybe if you dug deeper." Sweetie said not at all discouraged. "I'm sure there are some gems here."
Puppy groaned. "You said last time." He said crossing his arms. "Find new place dig."
Sweetie tried to concentrate on her spell again, but then she came to a realization. "I've got it!" She said with enthusiasm. "You need to break the rocks open!"
"Break what?" Puppy Boy said in surprise.
"The gems must be in the rocks." Sweetie explained. "Just like in my sisters cutie mark story!" She was now excited, clapping her hooves together. Puppy, however, wasn't.
"I not break rock!" He said. "I dig."
"Please?" Sweetie pleaded.
"No." Was Puppy's reply.
"Pretty please?"
"No."
"Pretty please with a cupcake?"
"No."
"Pretty please with a cupcake with a cherry on top?"
"No."
"Pretty please with a cupcake with a cherry on top with chocolate frosting?"
"...I hate chocolate."
"Vanilla? Uh, butterscotch? Maybe caramel?"
Puppy had had enough of this. "I break rock, you stop whining! Got it!" He snapped. Sweetie's prompt and cheerful "Deal!" only made him growl. He decided to smash it by slamming his paw on top of it. The result was as expected, he was now holding his paw and doing his own whining. But it did crack open.
"It's an opal!" Sweetie yelled. "I knew it!" Her excitement continued, not quite paying attention to other events. "Do I have a cutie mark yet?"
"Look at opal." Puppy said annoyed. Sweetie's excitement left as she realized that the rock (roughly the size of an apple) had contained only a small gem. (Roughly the size of a grape.) She felt Puppy's disappointment for a moment. She looked to the three other rock and perked up again. Puppy knew what she was going to say. " No." He was his dry answer.
"There may be bigger gems in them." She said with encouragement.
"No."
"It just three more." To this Puppy stuck out his tongue and crossing his arms again. Sweetie responded by sticking her tongue out as well. And so they continued this, blowing raspberries and making such funny sounds you would find in that Mentally Advanced Series counter curse. (It's on YouTube, look it up, I have faith in you.)
Meanwhile Diamond Tiara was eating a sapphire at home, while Silver enjoyed a ruby. “I do hope Twilight comes up with a way to reverse that effect on you.” Rich said with concern. “I say, did you lose your tiara Diamond? Where has it gone off to?” Tiara looked like she just realized something, and then let out a small burp.
Author's Note
Might seem random, but I kind of like the idea of images of some of my stupid ideas. Any art sorts interested? If you desire commission we can talk. Just something that comes to mind. Well that and depression, and mad hatter quotes, and isolation, and recalling old Daffy cartoons.
