> Diamond Dog Days > by Verve Vision > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > New Hope > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Isn't this fresh air lovely, Biggy? It's so nice to come to the cabin once in a while, away from Canterlot." Social Justice said to her husband, currently sitting in a large arm chair reading a book held in his yellow magic aura. He looked at her with half closed, yellow eyes. His deep blue mane, and green coat perfectly groomed despite being in the middle of nowhere outside a small town called Ponyville. "I must admit, the peace and quiet has been enjoyable, but we are leaving tomorrow, nothing to do about that. I need to take care of the company and you must return to the court house eventually." Big Business said to Social, now standing by the window, her wide, bright pink eyes complemented by her peach coat. Her curly blonde and pink mane shined in the light coming through window pane. "Oh I know but It's certainly lovely today, no clouds, warm sun... I know! I shall take a walk before dusk! That should be a nice end to this trip." Social Justice said grabbing her sunhat in a pink aura. "Are you sure, Justice? It may get dark quicker than you think." "Oh, I'll be fine! A simple light spell would take care of that problem. I have a feeling this will be a memorable walk!" Social said putting on her hat about to go out the door. "Alright, stay safe." Big Business said knowing he can't talk his wife out of anything. "Goodbye, Darling!" Social Justice shutting the door and starting off on her walk "This was a splendid idea!" The unicorn said to herself, looking at the scenery around her. " It's such a shame to leave so soon..." *whimper* "Hmm? What was that noise?" Social said beginning to look around carefully. Afraid that some helpless creature was in danger pushed her to keep looking even after it had gotten quiet. Searching bush after bush and looking behind every tree, Social feared she wouldn't find whatever made that sound, when she saw it. A small, frail looking puppy. It's thin red body shocked Social to her core. Social quickly ran over to the small thing and gently picked it up in her hooves. The puppy was limp and cold. Social ran as fast as she could carrying the dying creature back to the cabin to grab her husband and head into town. She was going to save this baby if it was the last thing she did. Social Justice and Big Business ran into the Ponyville vet clinic and scrambled to the front desk. "This is and emergency! This animal is dying!" Social cried desperately, clutching the pup in her hooves. The pony at the desk quickly called for the staff, doctors and nurses swiftly swept the weak puppy into intensive care. Social and Big Business could only stay behind and wait for news. Sometime later as Business was comforting his wife a nurse came out and waved for them to come in. Social practically ran to see the puppy while Business and the nurse quickly followed. They arrived in the room where their patient was being treated. The small pup was in an incubator hooked up to IV's and breathing equipment. "Is it going to be okay?" Social asked putting her hooves on the glass casing, not taking her eyes off the puppy. "We finally got her stable a few minutes ago. She has dehydration, malnutrition, and is only a few days old. If you had got her to us any later I don't think she would have made it." The nurse explained. "I have suspicion for how this happened but I need to know where you found her." Social told her what happened and the nurse sighed and shook his head. " I was afraid of that. You see, our patient isn't an ordinary dog, she is a Diamond Dog." "What is a Diamond Dog?" Asked Big Business. "They are creatures much like dogs with an intellect similar to that of a pony, and I believe this one has been abandoned." "Abandoned?! Why would they do such a thing?" Social said aghast. "Well this pup is much smaller than what is normal from my understanding and would likely not grow to be very large even with proper care. I think they just didn't want to care for something that wouldn't be useful to them." He said sadly. "It's really a shame but that's just how some cultures operate." "At least we saved her..." Social said sadly. "I'm afraid there is another problem. The patient, is much like a pony foal and needs to be raised as such. We're simply not sure what to do with her." The worried nurse explained. "We shall take her in of course!" Spouted Social. "We will? He said she needs to be raised like a normal foal." Big Business said a little shocked. "I will not leave a helpless creature to some unknown fate! You know that!" "Sigh, yes I know that. Please bring the required papers for the medical treatment and any other needed certification." Business said defeated, knowing he can't fight his wife. "Alright, but first we need a name for the chart, legal reasons. Do you have any ideas?" The nurse said holding a clipboard. "...Ruby, Ruby Gorget. For beauty and strength." Social Justice said looking at her new daughter. Social wants nothing more in life than to right wrongs and for everycreature to have a fair chance at life. She's glad that one life is better because of her. > Home > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The front door of the mansion Social Justice and Big Business called home swung open to reveal the head butler, Ship Shape, standing there, waiting for their return. Ship Shape was an orange earth pony with a light blue mane, blue eyes, and a bit of jokester attitude. "Welcome home, Master Business, Mistress Justice. How was your trip?" He said taking their belongings from the carriage. "Uneventful for the most part. The ending was a bit much though" Big Business said hanging up his coat. "What was the ending?" Ship asked, carrying a large load of luggage with his Earth Pony strength. "Social decided to adopt a reclusive, sentient creature she found dying in the forest." Business said gesturing to the small form, wrapped in Social's hooves. Ruby was doing much better after treatment, her bright red coat was shiny and clean, along with her floppy red ears covered in wavy hair. A tiny tuft of deep red hair on her drooped near her still closed eyes. "Then we should prepare a room, shouldn't we?" Ship Shape replied with a playful grin. Big gave his old friend an annoyed look but knew he didn't intimidate the orange stallion and soon gave up. "Where are Spick and Span? I love their company and I must go shopping for dear Ruby here! We're practically missing all of the essentials." Social Justice asked Ship, who was about to take the luggage up the grand staircase. "I believe they're dusting the chandelier in the ballroom. They are the only pegasai on the maid staff." "I'll go fetch them, this is a bit more important than a spotless chandelier." After a little looking Social found the pair, they were right where Ship said. The two pegasus twins had white coats, light brown eyes, and pale red manes. Spick had a short bob while Span preferred a tight bun. "Spick! Span! I'm going on important shopping trip and would love your assistance!" "Yes, Ms.Social!" "We'll Be right down!" The sisters called down eagerly. They always loved shopping, even if they had to pull the cart. The first stop on their little expedition was furniture and more importantly a stroller. The three stopped by an extravagant baby store, they picked up a crib made of Rosewood, a stroller in an antique motif, some essentials and a few toys. Ruby, now in the stroller is fast asleep and probably wouldn't wake up for a while. Social, Spick, and Span were now at the farmer's market discussing which milk formula would be best and decided the one with the most protein would be best. The last stop was to pick up books, books on anything containing Diamond Dogs, pony care and even regular dog care. Social didn't know what she would need so she got everything she thought she might need. After the cart was practically full it was decided they had enough. The trip home was quiet except for a few whispers about what the Social Justice was doing with so many baby supplies and who was in the stroller she was pushing. "We're back!" Social called out, trotting through the front doors as the twins brought the furniture. "Welcome back, Mistress Justice. I have taken the liberty of clearing out the guest room two doors down from the master bedroom for our new resident." Ship Shape said, helping Spick carry the crib she was struggling with. "Oh that's perfect! Thank you, Ship Shape." "Think nothing of it. Tis my job after all." Ship said directing Spick and Span on how carry the furniture up the stairs. "Well your quite good at it. I have a feeling this will be quite a new experience for all of us." Social said looking at Ruby still sleeping in her stroller, calm and peaceful. Throughout the next week it was a bit louder than usual. Ruby would cry almost every two hours when she was hungry and then would just sleep. Social spent almost all her time caring for her and read every book she bought trying to understand if she was doing everything right. She was most glad that Equestria didn't have many criminals, it made her job as a judge a bit laid back with a lot of days off. Big Business wanted to help but his job kept him very busy, he did manage to read a few of the books Social bought in his free time. The maids often found her asleep near the crib slumped over a book. "Dear, you have to get rest." Big Business said a little worried, walking into Ruby's room. Social Justice was in a rocking chair feeding Ruby who was cradled in her hooves. "I have make sure that she's happy..." Social said, half asleep. "Sigh... I took a couple days off so you could rest a bit, its not much but you need to take care of yourself as well." Big Business said putting a hoof on her shoulder. "Oh Biggy, your so sweet. Well you are her father, you have as much right to get no rest as I do." Social chuckled softly. They looked down at Ruby as she fussed a little in her mother's lap. Just then she opened her eyes, they were completely lavender with small dots of dark purple for her pupils. She looked at them and waved her tiny paws with small smile. "Such a sweet little thing... are you sure I can't skip on sleep?" Social said looking to her husband with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry but sleep is a must, even for you." "Yawn, alright I suppose you can take over." Social said handing Ruby over to Big Business carefully while Ruby giggled from being held in magic. Big smiled shyly at Ruby, never holding her much before this he was a little worried he would break her. All she did was wave her little legs and look back at him with a smile. "You two have fun, remember to feed her, change her, and give her lots of love! Now I'm going to sleep..." Social Justice mumbled wandering to bed. "I certainly hope I get this right, wouldn't want your mother blaming me for you being unhappy. Maybe I should have read more of those books." Big said more to himself then to his daughter. Ruby just grasped her little paws towards his muzzle, still floating in the air. "What is it do you want down or-" Big Business moved her a little closer and she latched on to his face in a tight hug, snuggling up to him about to go to sleep again. "No no, we don't sleep on others faces we sleep in a bed-" pulling Ruby off she starts to cry, "or you can sleep on my face, that's fine as well, please no crying." Big said in a hushed, panicked voice. Ruby calmed down as Big put her back and slowly laid down on the floor, she fell asleep again. "Perhaps this won't be so bad." Big Business realized he fell asleep when he was awoken by crying. It was time to feed little Ruby again, Big Business got up carefully for the fourth time that day to feed her. He was warming a bottle in his magic and thought 'Why do you need food and sleep all day? You don't do anything.' Ruby was wiggling in his hooves grabbing for the bottle as he lowered it near her face. Ruby eagerly drank her bottle while Big gently stroked her head. "Yawn, well you are happy, that's good. I would like you to stop needing so much attention though." Big said removing the empty bottle while pat Ruby on the head. Ruby grabbed his hoof and gave it a firm hug with her tiny paws. Big gave her a happy smirk and decided it was time for bed again, for the both of them. "Biggy, I feel much better now and can take ove- awww." Social said coming into the room and seeing the heartwarming scene of her daughter sleeping on her husbands stomach. > Growing > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ruby! Ruby Gorget! Where did you run off to? Your still in diapers and yet you run faster than I can!" Social Justice said running around the house trying to find her daughter who developed a tendency to run and hide for the fun of it. Social was checking a closet when she heard a giggle from in the pantry. "Oh my where could Ruby be? I fear she may be gone forever!" Social said playfully and hearing another giggle. "It's just a guess but I think she might be... Here!" Social said swinging open the pantry door to find a laughing Ruby in a cute yellow sundress. She picks her up and give her a snuggle much to Ruby's delight. "Oh I just love, love, love you!" Social said rubbing her face into Ruby's hair. "Love you!" Ruby said copying her mother in her baby babble, Canterlot accent and all. "Ohhh your sooo cuuute!" Social said squeezing her daughter. " Alright now Ruby, mother has to go to work today but Ship Shape has promised to watch over you and I'm sure you both will have lots of fun." Social said sitting Ruby down on the floor. "Stay!" Ruby yelled grabbing onto her mother's leg firmly. "Now Ruby, Mother's job is very important. I make sure ponies get the right punishment for the bad things they did. If I stayed here, those ponies will get away with what they did. You don't want that, do you?" Social Justice said gently, lifting Ruby's chin to look at her. "Bad?" "Remember there's no such thing as bad ponies, only ponies who do bad things. I make sure they learn their lesson so they don't do bad things anymore. That's why I have to go, but I'll be back tonight to read you a story. I promise." Social said hugging her daughter. "Back soon!" Ruby said with a hug, walking with her mother to the front door. Ruby waved goodbye as Social left. Ship Shape was standing by to close the door, after he shut it he noticed Ruby was already flopped on the ground. "Don't tell me you miss your mother already? She hasn't even been gone a second." Ship said walking over to Ruby. Ruby grumbled in protest, rolling on the floor. "Come on now, we can have fun together can't we?" Ship Shape said as Ruby continued to roll around. "I heard your mother bought a few more picture books yesterday." Ship said with a smile, trotting to the parlor bookshelf. Ruby immediately got up and ran over to her favorite spot to be read to. "...the knight saved the prince from the mean queen and they lived happily ever after." Ship Shape said closing the book as Ruby's eyes sparkled with delight at the story. "Love! Love!" Ruby said looking to Ship. "It really is impressive that you can communicate so well for being -that's right! Your birthday's coming up soon. I'm sure it's going to be exciting." Ship said putting the book back on the shelf while Ruby looked at him. "Oh, and you may have to start your classes sooner because of your fast development." Ship said turning back to a confused Ruby who returned to rolling around. "Classes?" Ruby said somehow still maintaining eye contact while rolling. "Lessons to improve yourself. Learning proper speech, posture, perhaps even learning an instrument or talent." Ship shape explained looking away during his monologue only to return to startled looking puppy who was now laying on her back. "Your Mother and Father went through the same thing when they were both young. I know it sounds like a lot of work but I promise it's worth it in the end and why am I unloading this onto somepony less than one." Ship said facehoofing. "Don't worry, your classes are for your sake to become a great member of society." Ruby Gorget was still very small and didn't think about the future very much. In fact she didn't think very much at all. But for the rest of that day Ruby thought a lot. Even after her mother came home, read her a story, tucked her into bed, and turned off the light. Ruby thought about what the future might hold.