//------------------------------// // The beginning // Story: I will live on // by Miner //------------------------------// My name is Ed, I was the leader of the Diamond Dog from the West Mountains. Three days ago, I lost my pack to a dragon that decided to make his nest in our cave. He destroyed everything we worked so hard to make. I lost everything to that fiend, my family, my friends, and my mate. In order to give my family a chance to flee. I had to face the dragon with two of my best comrades. We fought valiantly trading blows with the beast, but it pointless. None of us had the means to kill a dragon of his size without getting killed ourselves. Our only hope was to keep fending it off long enough for everyone to retreat. As the fight continues on, I was heavily wounded by the creature. With a swing of its tail, I was sent flying out of the cave crashing into the forest below. I lost concise with the last thing I remember was water. When I awoke I found myself in a bed with bandages across my body. It hurt to move my right arm at the time, but I didn't give it much thought. I didn't know where I was and my pack needed me. Slowly I got out of bed to have a look out a window nearby to see a village of ponies, but something about the way they acted gave me a bad vibe (not to mention all of their butt marks looked the same). I may not be the expert on ponies, but I don't ever remember their marks matching another's one. Soon a pony name Starlight came into my room and welcome me to her town. She said one of her ponies found me in the river floating on a broken tree, and I have been asleep for two days. I thank her for helping me and asked her if she saw or knew of another pack of Dogs nearby. Unfortunately, she didn't, but she did say I was welcome to stay as long as I like, so long as I remember this one thing. I owe her now. Once night had fallen, I made my way outside the town to have a look around. The town was very isolated and I could see the river of which Starlight told me about. But more than that I could see my home. Fires still a blazed and scorching the mountainside sending pillars of smoke into the air as a proud dragon sleeps on his victory. I knew I couldn't stay here. Not with facing the pain of my home in such a condition. The next morning I bid the towns ponies farewell as I left to search for my pack. I knew it was hopeless trying to find them, but what else could I do. I began my journey south towards some smaller dens of dogs. I thought that if my pack had survived, they would have done the same. Once I have found one, they were less than helpful to me than the ponies. Not only did they failed to give me any knowledge of my packs well been, but have turned me away the same day. For they said that didn't want to waste time with a wounded dog. I tried telling them that my arm would heal and I could be a use for them. But when one of the healers look at my arm, he said that I could never dig like I true Diamond Dog ever again. My arm didn't hurt because of broken bones, but rather it hurt for the muscles in it. My right arm was rendered useless. Before I left the den, one dog came to me and told me about a pack of dogs passing by here not too long ago and head west towards the border of the forest. Thanking the dog. I made hast towards the forest knowing that they won't stay there for much longer. For a whole day, I ran as fast as I can stopping only to sneak around predators. By nightfall, I was reunited with my pack and my mated. They wanted to rebuild their lives outside the lands of Equestria before I came. If they left one day earlier, I would have never found them. Two weeks later, I learned I was going to be a father, however, before a celebrate could be held we were attacked. A hoard of starving changeling came falling out of the sky. Most of the pack weren't fighters and the ones that could fight were out number seven to one. I don't know how we fend them off, but we survived. However, we lost half of what remained of our pack that day. We decide to rest in near a river to heal our wounds. But peace would not find us soon. For two days later my pack was attacked again. This time by a hydra. We lost ten more dogs that day. As we journey to leaves these lands we ask help from dogs that we find. However, we would receive no help from them. Because the food was too low that they could share any of it. We could have tried to fight them for it but my dogs were in no shape for a fight. Our pack has only three warriors, three diggers, and four wounded and the rest were workers. We tried to find more dogs to help us, however, as the days grew longer and dangers keep coming every day. Soon it became a cycle of death for us, for every dog we gain, we lose two. We were attacked every two days by every known creature in these lands. Before long it was just me and my mate left. We were camped in an old cave eating what remains of our supplies. As I put my mate to sleep for the night, I was beginning to lose hope of finding a new life. But as I stand guard outside the cave then I remember about a pack in the mines nearby the Everfree. From what I have could remember they are better off than we were. With no record of attacks there in years, and there was I dog there that I know. It has been so long ago since I had the last talk to him. I don't know if he is still there. I believe his name was Rover. I decided to tell my mate about it. She agreed and we headed off to the mines. It took three days to reach the mines. Once there, I could see evidence of Diamond Dogs here. I could only hope that they were still here. After looking at the piles of dirt we found an entrance to the mines above ground unguarded with struck me as odd. Regardless I and my mate enter the mines looking for them. We were soon greeted with the sound of fast digging before two Diamond Dogs guards came from the ceiling before they point their spears at us. “Halt Dogs! What are you doing here?” one of them said “We are just looking for a home. We lost our pack to a dragon and to the creatures of these land. We have been on the road surviving by moving from place to place. We are what is left of my pack. My name is Ed, and this is Melody.” I said “Wait... Ed! As in Ed of the West Mountain Dogs?” he said “Yes, he is.” Said Melody “Lairs! Ed is dead. He was killed by the dragon that attacked their cave months ago, there is no way you can be him! He couldn’t have survived!” said the other guard “It doesn't matter whether or not if I am him. That name has no more meaning now.” I said. my statement seemed to have hurt my mate as she lowered her head knowing what I have said is true. As for the guards, they looked offended. “You take that back! You dumb dog! Ed of the West Mountain Dogs was the Smartest and the Strongest Diamond Dog in all of Equestria. You have no right to talk about him like that mutt.” Said one of the guards. Before more could be said another dog came into view revealing a dog I have not seen in a long time. “What is going on he-... ED!” Rover shouted as he recognizes me. He rushes over towards me. “ED! You are alive!" Rover then pocks me a few times to make sure that I was real. "How?” “Well, alive for now at least.” “Wait... Rover, he is Ed?” said one of the guards “Yes, he is. So put those spears down and show him some respect.” Rover said as the guards comply. “Thank you, Rover," I said to him. "Is there any way you can help us? It has been a long time since we had a peaceful moment to ourselves.” I said. “Of course.” He said before he turns around and shouted into the cave “HAY Fido! Spot! Get over here.” Soon two more dogs showed up. “What’s going Rover," said the tall one. "Who is the mutt?” “This dog Fido is Ed of the West Mountains and his mate…. uh?” Rover said as Fido looks like he just came face to face with the jaws of a hydra. “Melody.” My mate said. “Melody got it. So, can you two take them someplace to get some sleep boys.” “On it. This way you two.” Spot said as he leads us deeper into the cave. But for some reason, Fido hasn’t moved since he heard my name. “Hay! Fido! get a move on already.” Said Rover as Fido snaps out of it to join us.