//------------------------------//
// 07 - Under the Mountain 
// Story: The Conversion Bureau: Dogs of Winter 
// by Cloudhammer 
//------------------------------//

Year 6, Week 10, Friday

Rangel’s ears twitched as he stretched, wincing involuntarily as his paws hit the wall of his snow shelter. He’d barely slept the night before, the hunger gnawing at him stronger than ever. He’d thought it was merely the effort of hiking through the driving snow and cold at first, but was now forced to admit that his rations just weren’t what his body wanted. He glanced at the nearly empty bag, down to his last pack after last night's attempt to quiet his hunger. Ferrik had never mentioned this during the month they’d spent training, and his stomach growled irritably as he rolled over.

On top of that, it certainly didn’t help that he and the rest of the Cards had been on slightly less than pleasant terms after the wyvern attack. To be honest, he was ashamed of himself for losing control like that. Spade had said that things were even between them so long as it didn’t happen again, but he could practically feel the distrust lacing their scents.

Gradually, things had soured until they barely spoke, except for giving orders and checking the map the griffon elder had given them. He found himself missing the feeling of learning under Ferrik, the sense of knowing his place in the world on some fundamental level.

“Well, might as well see how the weather is,” he muttered as he pushed free of the snow burrow and shook himself vigorously. Hauling his gear free, he settled the pack into place, then threw the cloak around his shoulders. As it had for the past week, the snow fell in a steady curtain, though he could see patches of blue sky beginning to make its entrance.

“Good morning, Private.” Rangel turned as he saw Spade rise from his own burrow, snow clinging stubbornly to his coat. The earth pony turned and pulled his pack on, the cloak following a second later. “Let’s get moving, I want to reach that mountain range before midday.”

“Yes sir,” Rangel replied dryly as he started to pad forward, the other Cards rising to their hooves. He ignored the looks from Diamond and Heart and pricked his ears forward, his nose already sifting through the myriad smells on the breeze. Ahead of them the mountains loomed over them like silent guardians, their peaks lost above the clouds. If what the griffon elder had told them was right, once they crossed the mountain range they’d be in Scythion proper, and be able to figure out some answers to the deepening mystery they found themselves in.

As the next hour passed, Rangel’s stomach twisted again and he felt a compulsion to dig overcome him. He couldn’t explain how he knew it, but there was food below, and he was going to find it. He was up to his elbows in the dirt before he stopped, the Cards staring incredulously at him

“What’s the matter, boy?” Diamond taunted. “Find a bone?”

“Fuck you, Diamond,” Rangel snapped as he pulled his arms out of the dirt, grimacing as his stomach reminded him how empty it was.

Spade snorted dismissively. “Look Rangel, it’s obvious you’re not okay. Now I want you to tell me-”

The wind shifted and suddenly Rangel’s nose flared, a new smell hitting it like a sledgehammer. “Sir! New scent!” He froze, his tail stiff as a rail as his ears twitched in time with his nose. This smell... it was like him and Ferrik, but different, almost a metallic tang underneath it. Without even thinking about it, he began to power forward through the snow. Whatever else the smell meant, there were diamond dogs here, and he felt compelled to seek it out.

“Damnit Rangel, get back here!” Spade shouted ineffectually. “Alright, let’s follow him, Cards. Diamond, get airborne and keep an eye on him.”

“Roger that Boss,” Diamond replied with a snort as he tossed his cloak to Club. A quick pair of wingbeats later and he was circling skyward. “Figures the mutt would get sucked into chasing something. Ten bucks says it’s just a damn squirrel.”

Rangel loped forward, his eyes, nose, ears, everything focused on following the scent. It led toward a grove of pine trees at the base of the mountain, and he slowed down as he drew near, hackles raised as he entered the trees. He was aware of the ponies coming to a stop behind him, Spade’s scent laced with anger and annoyance.

“Listen Rangel, you have to get yourself under control. I understand it’s hard being in a new body, but we can’t have you running off at every new scent-” Spade stopped as Rangel silently raised his arm, pointing into the center of the grove.

Huddled in a tight circle around a barely smouldering fire lay three forms, clearly canine in shape, though different from Rangel. At first they appeared frozen solid, but it became clear that they were still breathing faintly.

“Okay, Heart, I need you to see about their condition,” Spade ordered sharply, “and Club, start finding some firewood-” he stopped as one of the forms shifted and staggered to its paws.

“P-ponies s-stay back. Rover n-not s-s-scared of you, D-Diamond Dogs s-stronger than p-ponies,” the canine growled weakly, its Equestrian rough and halting.

“Boss, remember what that guard back at the border town said,” Diamond said warningly as the other two canines started to stir. The ponies drew themselves tighter, shooting nervous glances into the woods as the three Diamond Dogs faced them down.

“Relax sir, I know what to do,” Rangel muttered to Spade before he strode toward the one calling himself Rover. The two stared at each other for a few seconds before they each nodded once. Then Rangel punched him in the face.





“Stop, that enough for now,” Ferrik said with a sharp nod.

Rangel pulled his paws out of the stone, staring as it seemed to harden right before his eyes. “So how does that even work?”

“It not important how. You ask more questions than a pony,” Ferrik replied with a soft growl. “Now, sit, it is time for lesson.” The canid glanced down the hole. “And no stoneshaping. Ferrik will know if you do.”

Rangel growled, but wiped the sweat from his eyes and started to climb. It had been two weeks since they’d teleported his ass to Hawaii, two weeks of training that put Basic to shame. At least in Basic they’d let you have some time off every now and then. Ferrik seemed hellbent on showing up at any time, occasionally from any direction. Rangel still keenly remembered sitting down for dinner, only for the floor to give out as Ferrik pulled him underground for a lecture on awareness. He finally reached the top of the tunnel and hauled himself onto the ground, panting heavily.

“Now, do you remember what Ferrik taught you last night?” The canid was sitting a short distance away on a rock, watching the sun make it’s way below the horizon.

“Every diamond dog pack has an alpha. The alpha’s word is law, and without them the pack is lost,” Rangel grumbled as he heaved himself upright.

“And?” Ferrik’s tone was level, but Rangel could smell his mild annoyance.

“And in all matters of speaking to other packs the alphas will speak. Or if demands are made, fight for dominance,” Rangel finished with a sigh.

“And do you know why it is this way?” Ferrik asked.

Rangel blinked. This part hadn’t been talked about. “Well, probably because it’s the only way to make sure who’s the best to lead?”

Ferrik chuffed as he heaved himself to his paws. “An answer typical of a pup, yet not entirely wrong. On the surface, yes, it proves who is strongest. However, it also prevents a return to the Ruin. After the fall of Chaos, the Great Alpha united the packs in a bid to rival the ponies. But this great pack did not last forever. When the long night came, the packs began to fight amongst themselves, and this angered Sirius. He descended upon the packs and we begged for his forgiveness. In his mercy, he sundered the packs and reforged us in the ideals of the Old Way. And a pledge was made, to Sirius, Sun and Moon, that we would never again forget the true way, and it has been kept ever since.” He laughed at Rangel’s confused expression. “When you return, Ferrik will take you to the elder singer, who can tell you more.”





“Rangel! What the hell is wrong with you?” Spade bellowed as the two fell into a biting, clawing melee with each other. He started to move forward, only for the larger of the other two diamond dogs to interpose himself.

“No interfere. This fight between them.” He turned to watching the two with an eerie intensity, the other one shuffling to stand beside him.

“What do we do, Boss?” Diamond asked warily.

Spade sighed in aggravation. “Well, looks like we’re waiting. At least we know they speak Equestrian, so that’s a relief.” He turned his head slightly. “Club, I want you ready for the big one if things go south. Diamond, the smaller one is all yours.”

The big earth pony nodded slightly and rocked forward on his hooves a little. Diamond just flicked an ear as he glared at the two canines. Heart folded his ears nervously and sidled partly behind Club, a healing spell already prepared just in case.

For Rangel, the conversation went unheard, his entire world reduced to the opponent in front of him. They circled each other warily, both bleeding from the minor injuries they’d taken in their initial scuffle. Rangel’s face and arms bore a number of shallow cuts, while Rover held a paw over the side of his head.

Rangel swayed slightly on his feet, his paws slowly clenching open and shut as he snarled . He could smell the weakness in Rover, the diamond dog clearly malnourished and on the brink of collapse. He lunged forward to swipe at Rover, only to yelp in surprise as the diamond dog sank six inches into the ground and swung back, scoring a deep wound across Rangel’s chest.

“You soft like pony. Rover strong,” he growled smugly as he pulled his feet free of the earth and lunged, bowling Rangel over as the canid staggered back. It was a perfect move.

Except Rangel had been expecting it and, instead of attempting to throw Rover off, gripped him tighter and bit into his shoulder. Rover howled in agony and tried to pull back, but Rangel clung to him and shifted his jaws, gripping him by the neck. “Submit,” he mumbled, trying not to gag at the taste of Rover’s fur.

With a pleading whine, Rover finally went limp, and Rangel released him, staggering a few steps back as his chest wound throbbed painfully.





“Now submit,” Ferrik growled as he tightened his grip on Rangel’s throat.

With a sharp whimper Rangel felt his body relax, and after a moment Ferrik nodded and released him. Rangel coughed as he felt air flow back into his lungs. “Damnit, I’m going to beat you one of these days.”

Ferrik laughed harshly as he sat down. “Pup may keep dreaming.” He glanced up at the setting sun. “It has been twenty suns since Ferrik began teaching you. Tell me, do you know why your body submits when your mind doesn’t?”

Rangel shook his head as he sat up. “Because it’s still too soft and needs to be toughened up?”

Ferrik laughed harder. “Pup is right about that. But there is more to it. As is obvious, we are not ponies. Our way is different, passed down to us from Sirius himself. It is not a sign of weakness to submit to a stronger predator, but rather a sign of respect. However, this also demands the alpha know to respect his pack, for without them he is nothing. Do you understand?”

“I think so, for the most part anyway,” Rangel admitted.

Ferrik chuffed in amusement. “Well, don’t worry. Ferrik has plenty of time to teach you.” The canid grinned toothily. “But above all, trust yourself. Your body knows best, even if you do not.”





Rover lay where Rangel had left him, breathing heavily. After a wary glance at Rangel, the other two crept to Rover and helped him sit up.

Heart trotted forward and cast his magic over Rangel, the crimson aura soaking across the cuts and bruises before it sank into them. Rangel shivered as his flesh responded to the spell’s imperative, muscle and skin growing back together, his fur sprouting up almost before the wounds had closed fully. “Thanks Heart.”

“Don’t mention it,” Heart replied with a smile. “I’m just glad neither of you were hurt too badly. Got to admit, I’m still getting used to how much easier it is to cast spells here than it was back on Hawaii. Flare always seemed to downplay just how big a difference it made.” He started to cast his spell on Rover, but retreated as the diamond dog bared his teeth. “Or maybe not.”

“Alright Rover, now that that’s settled, I need to ask you a few questions. I know you speak Equestrian, so it’s not worth pretending you don’t,” Spade said gently.

Rover ignored him, the other two Diamond Dogs helping him to his paws.

“Hey, I’m talking to you-” Spade was cut off as Rangel stepped in front of him.

“What were you three doing out here?” he asked firmly.

“Fleeing,” Rover replied instantly, the other two glancing nervously back at the mountain.

“From what?” Rangel asked, practically feeling Spade’s stare boring into him from behind.

Club trotted forward and put a hoof on Spade’s shoulder. “Calm down.”

Heart stopped on Spade’s other side. “So long as our questions are answered, it’ll be alright.”

“Besides, if they don’t feel like it, we can always smack a little common sense into them,” Diamond added with a snort.

Rover bared his teeth a little at the ponies, but turned his attention back to Rangel. “We were fleeing the griffons, Alpha.”

“Fleeing them? What do you mean?” Rangel asked.

Rover glanced at the other two Diamond Dogs. “It is better if Rover show you, Alpha. Follow us, we have a tunnel!” He pointed toward the mountain with a toothy grin.

“First, let Heart tend to your wounds,” Rangel ordered. Rover growled, but relented as Heart’s magic made short work of his injuries. He poked at where a deep cut had been curiously, even giving it a tentative lick.

Rangel shook his head in amusement. “Gotta appreciate the little things, I guess. Now, show me this tunnel.” He pointed to the other two. “And what are their names?”

“Tall one Fido, and this is Spot!” Rover replied with a wag of his tail. “They members of pack from the beginning!” He began to stride up the slope toward the mountain. “Alpha follow, Rover show the way!”

“Rangel, wait!” Spade scowled as he and the other Cards cantered after the canines. “Is it too much to ask for a nice, simple mission, with clear chains of command?”

“Boss, we’re a bunch of ponies, on a secret deployment into a land of griffons and bipedal dog things. Where would normal even know where to fit in?” Diamond asked rhetorically as they trudged through the snow.

Rover led the group to a small overhang, a crack into the mountain barely visible within. “Tunnel through here! Rover show Alpha!” He gave the ponies a sidelong glance and bared his teeth again. “Alpha really want ponies to follow?”

Rangel nodded. “Just show us the way.”

Rover’s expression soured, but he nodded and plunged into the crack, the other two following.

Spade caught Rangel as he started to enter the tunnel. “Look, I won’t pretend to understand everything about diamond dog customs, but can we trust them?”

“Yes.” Rangel’s voice was ironclad with certainty as he glanced back. “Just relax sir, everything’s under control.” He turned and jogged forward, vanishing into the darkness.

Spade snorted irritably. “I swear, a simple chain of command. Is that really too much to ask for? Going to see about a transfer to a regular unit when we get home.”

“Oh come on, Boss,” Diamond retorted, “you’d be bored out of your skull inside of a week.” He suppressed a shudder as he glanced into the tunnel. “Man, can’t I just fly over?”

“Sorry Diamond, can’t risk the griffons finding us. Tunnel’s the only safe way, I guess.” Spade tossed his head nervously and trotted into the mountain, the other Cards following after.





He hated it here, hated it with such a passion that his muzzle seemed to carry a permanent scowl. He dimly remembered and clung to memories of a time when he was free, with his brothers and sisters under the open sky. But then they had come, and taken him and his siblings because they were too slow. He’d not seen any of his pack in over two winters, and had lost hope that he ever would again.

He scurried around and under the others who worked the line, his only task to gather the scrap and toss it into the smelter for re-use. The tang of the oil made his stomach lurch, but he had long ago learned the penalty for making a mess on the floor and ignored it.

Only one thing kept him going, one simple thing he remembered his mother telling him the day before he was taken.

She’d given him his first name, and he clung to it stubbornly, his only island in the sea of despair that tried to drown him. When it all felt like too much, and he felt like there was nothing left to him, that was the one thing the overseers couldn’t take. It was his.

The overseer in charge of the bell rang it once, signalling the change of duties. Wordlessly, he joined the adults, to be bound together to prevent their escape. As they were led toward the door, he growled softly under his breath.

“My name is Tumble, my name is Tumble...”





“So, you’re sure we’re going the right way, sir?” Heart asked nervously as he picked his way past a stalactite. Patches of glowing fungus provided a faint illumination, and with his light spell they at least had enough light to see.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like we have much of a choice,” Spade muttered. “How much further do we have to go?”

Rover glanced back, but was otherwise silent as he started to climb the next incline. It was as he reached the top that his legs buckled and he slumped against the side of the tunnel. Fido caught him and lowered him to the ground, while Spot looked at Rangel worriedly.

“What’s wrong?” Rangel crouched down beside them, taking his pack off.

“Hungry, haven’t eaten since escape,” Spot replied with a low whine.

Rangel sighed. “I know the feeling.” His stomach rumbled as he dug into his pack for the last of his emergency rations. “Here, give him these, they’ll help. Might as well put em to some use.”

Spot stared at him incredulously. “What alpha not know what is food? Rover not pony, he needs gems!”

Rangel blinked. “Wait, what?”

“Spot show alpha! Follow!” Spot rolled over and began to dig, rapidly vanishing from sight.

“Rangel, you got five. Make ‘em count,” Spade said with a snort as he and the rest of the Cards came to a stop around the canines.

Rangel nodded and followed after Spot, soon out of sight as well.

After he was sure Rover was okay, Fido glanced at the ponies. “Sooo... how long has alpha been alpha to ponies?”

All four Cards just stared back.

Rangel couldn’t see anything, but he could smell Spot ahead of him as the short dog quickly and efficiently burrowed down into the rock. He had to admit, the little guy knew how to dig, and was a lot better than he was. “So, how much farther?” he asked, this time trying out the native diamond dog tongue.

Spot stopped, his scent now laced with surprise. “Alpha know stonetongue? Why alpha no say so?”

“I didn’t even know that’s what it was called,” Rangel muttered as he sniffed. Suddenly, he stiffened as he caught a new scent. “What is that?”

Spot scuffled about until he had turned around. “Spot find gem, see?” He pushed his paw forward until it bumped against Rangel’s nose.

The scent that flooded his lungs was overpowering, and before he even realized it he’d snatched it and bit down. The gemstone shattered under his teeth, flavor washing over his tongue like a cold beer on a summer day. It reminded him almost of mint, and he eagerly crunched down on the rest of the gem. “That was amazing!”

Spot tilted his head in the darkness. “Spot confused. How can alpha not know taste of gems?”

Rangel hesitated. “It’s... complicated. Anyway, let’s find some more and get back to the pack.”

Spot was quiet for a few seconds, before he squirmed around and began to tunnel again. “Spot follow, but want truth from alpha. Pack need truth to live.”

“I...” Rangel took a breath, “I’ll tell you what I can, but you may not like it.”

“It not matter if Spot like it. It truth. Pack work best when secrets exposed.”





Half an hour later, the three Diamond Dogs were looking much healthier as they chowed down on the gemstones Spot and Rangel had managed to find.

The Cards were gathered a short distance away, eating some of their own rations. A small fire burned in the center of the space, providing a small amount of blessed heat.

“Rangel, can I have a word?” Spade called over from his spot next to the edge of the incline. Rangel looked up from where he was sitting between Spot and Rover and started to rise, only for Spot to tug on his arm.

“Alpha want Spot to come with him?” The Diamond Dog’s bulldog features were creased with concern.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll be right back,” Rangel replied absently

Spot grabbed one of his gems, a ruby, and pressed it into Rangel’s paw. “Here, take. Alpha must stay strong too.”

Rangel took a bite and stared, his tongue warming as an inexplicable flavor washed across his tongue. He paused, took another tentative bite, and glanced back at Spot. “Thank you.”

Spot grinned. “Alpha no need to thank Spot. Good diamond dog look out for pack and alpha. Besides, all diamond dogs know how to pick a good gem!”

Taking another bite, Rangel turned and crossed the cavern to stand next to Spade. “So, what’s going on?”

Spade stared for a second as Rangel chewed noisily before he snorted. “Listen, I understand that you’re happy to have found some of your own out here, and I understand that this might help us in the mission. But you need to keep in mind why we’re here. We simply don’t have the time to keep going off-mission. If this doesn’t pan out, we need to get back on track.”

Rangel glowered at Spade, then shook his head. “I can’t just leave them, sir. What if there’s something more going on here than what’s specific to the mission? If the griffons are doing something to the diamond dogs here, then I’ve got to do something about it. How would you feel if it were ponies we’d found instead?”

Spade worked his jaw for a second, but finally tossed his head with a snort. “We’ll see what’s going on once we exit the tunnel. But don’t forget that the entire team’s lives are at risk if we start trying anything further. It’s my responsibility to ensure that everyone comes home safe, you included.”

Rangel met his eyes levelly. “And it’s my job now to look after them. But I’ll keep it in mind, sir.” He crunched the rest of the ruby thoughtfully as he walked back to the diamond dogs. “So, you ready to go? I want to get through the mountain before nightfall.”

Rover pushed himself to his feet. “Rover ready whenever alpha calls, it not much further now.” He started forward into the tunnel ahead, Rangel following him with Spot and Fido. The Cards yet again brought up the rear.

“Boss, are you really sure it’s okay to trust the locals? Joker’s getting awfully tight with them, alpha stuff or not,” Diamond whispered.

“Well, think about it, Diamond,” Heart replied quietly. “This is the first Rangel’s seen of anyone like him since we got here. I mean, yeah, Ferrik was training him and all, but I don’t think they ever really got past the “trainer and learner” stage.”

“Still, it’s kinda weirding me out,” Diamond replied.

“Cut the chatter you two, let’s just focus on getting the job done,” Spade said with finality.

As the group picked their way along the tunnel, the oppressive darkness finally began to lift, a narrow hole in the wall becoming visible. The canines picked up their pace, leaving the ponies lagging behind on the slope.

“Rangel, slow down, let’s not rush into things...” Spade trailed off as the Cards finally emerged into the wan daylight, the sun almost touching the horizon. The tunnel exited onto a small ledge, terminating in a dropoff. Rangel was crouched by the edge with the other diamond dogs, a spyglass already held to his eye. As Spade drew closer, he could see that Rangel’s body was tense, and his ears folded back as he realized that Rangel was shaking slightly. “What is it?”

Wordlessly, Rangel held the spyglass out for Spade, and with a little adjustment he was staring through it at the valley below. A cluster of buildings were tightly grouped at the valley mouth, a wall winding around them. A large building similar to the foundry from the first village stood in the center, and several more that could be dwellings surrounded it. But none of that was what caught his attention and dropped the bottom out of his stomach.

A line of griffons and diamond dogs, bound by what could only be chains, shuffled their way from the foundry towards one of the other buildings. He felt his jaw clench instinctively as one of the figures stumbled, one of the griffons escorting them striking it until it got to its feet and continued the somber march.

The view began to shake, and Spade pulled back in alarm as Rangel dropped the spyglass, his paws flexing as his eyes narrowed. He took a few nervous steps back, the rest of the Cards following suit. “Rangel, I’m as upset as you are by this, but you need to keep calm-”

“Fuck. You.” Rangel’s voice was thick; a low, wet growl bubbling from his throat as he rose to his full height. The air seemed to grow quiet, even the falling snow seemed entirely focused on the enraged diamond dog.

Finally, something broke within Rangel and he threw his head back, his chest puffing out as he inhaled. The howl was deafening, something in it ringing in the minds and hearts of the ponies and diamond dogs. It sang of rage, and despair, and vengeance, and all the retribution that could be brought down upon those who prompted such a cacophony. The rest of the pack threw their heads back and joined in, the sound amplifying and tearing through the air.

Down in the line, Tumble’s ears perked up and he stopped along with the rest as the overseers began to look furtively for that dreadful sound. The older diamond dogs glanced at each other uncertainly, but Tumble felt the howl burn its way through him, and he lifted his own head. His voice was tremulous, and barely reached beyond the walls of the camp, but wove its way into the main howl and added his own anguish to it all the same. He staggered to the ground as an overseer again struck him to the snow, but the adults had come to their senses, and soon the entire valley reverberated with their combined howls.