Diamond Dog Days of old
Equestria, one thousand years ago...
"Oh dear, this place looks absolutely terrible." The stallion said aloud, looking around at the sleazy dive he had just trotted into. "I certainly hope he has a good reason for coming here."
Ever since he and his friends had returned from Tambelon, Slick Styles had been trying to rebuild his career here in Manehatten, Equestria's fashion capital. It had been months since he and his friends had parted ways, so when he had received a message from a fellow unicorn, the fussy stallion was surprised, to say the least. As he took a seat in a booth in the back, his eyes scanned the place for any sign of the pony he was supposed to meet.
"Hello, Slick. Good to see you again." A scarred blue unicorn snorted, trotting up and sitting down beside the other pony. "I actually didn't expect you to come here to meet me."
"Hey, I wouldn't miss a chance to catch up with an old friend." The fancy stallion smiled, as the unicorn waitress levitated them a water. "So, what've you been up to since...since we got back?"
"Eh, wandered around for awhile, lived off the land." Booker adjusted his cracked glasses. "I eventually hooked up with a show pony, and have been traveling with her around Equestria ever since."
"Yeah, I kinda wondered how you'd been since you found out Princess Twilight had dumped you." Styles replied with a sigh. "I can't believe how distant she was to you after we got back."
"I though all of us had lifebonded with the harmony bearers... I guess that just wasn't the case." The blue unicorn replied with a sigh. "How have you and the others handled-"
"She didn't even recognize me, Booker." Slick looked away, hiding his face in the booth's shadows. "Rarity acted like I was just another stallion. Did you hear about how she was chasing that stallion Tenderhoof? And don't even get me started on what happened to the others."
"It almost would've been better if we had never come back from the Dark Dimension." Booker sighed, burying his face in his hooves.
"But I have a feeling that's about to change." Slick replied, trying to cheer his friend up. "I mean, that's what you indicated in your letter, right?"
"I've made a deal that'll change our lives, old friend." Booker nodded. "When I get done. you'll have enough diamonds to decorate a thousand of those fancy outfits you so like to make."
"Diamonds? An endless supply?" Slick asked, shaking his mane in disbelief. "How on in Celestia's mane did you manage to strike a deal like that?"
"The diamond dogs, Styles. I made with one of the packs that we'd help them find diamonds with our magic, in exchange for digging the jewels out." Booker cracked a smile. "They agreed to split the gemstones fifty-fifty, we'll make a freaking fortune!"
"Wait, you got the dogs to agree to let go of that many gemstones?" Slick asked skeptically. "Booker, there has to be more to the deal than that!"
"Welll, I sort of did promise them that the first earth pony born with clairvoyant powers would be given to them as a slave." The stallion rolled his eyes. "Something about some ancient Diamond Dog prophecy."
"You sold another pony into slavery?!?" Styles asked in shock. "Booker, have you lost your mind!?!"
"Relax, Slick. No earth pony has ever been born that has full-on visions of the future, earth pony sense notwithstanding." Booker replied. "We have nothing to worry about from those dumb mutts."
"Booker, you realize that Diamond Dogs never forget a debt?" The other stallion asked, taking a sip of his water. "They'll pass your deal down through the generations, until a pony is born that fits your description is born."
"That's some future pony generation's problem." The blue stallion offered a toast. "Though I do feel sorry for whatever poor pony the dogs decide to take."