//------------------------------// // A new day. // Story: I will live on // by Miner //------------------------------// Spot leads us deeper into the mines. During our walk, I got a good look and smell of this place. Just one sniff of this place I can smell it is litter with of all kind of gems. The dogs here also look well fed which is a good change of pace. They also have guard dogs here, which I am going to have to see how well trained they are later. That’s if they won’t mind letting us stay here, but we will just have to wait and see now won’t we Max. I thought to myself as I rub a small piece of red cloth wrap around my right arm. But then I started to smell something odd and yet familiar coming from deep in the cave. My nose has to be playing tricks on me because I refuse to believe that one of them in hiding in these mines. I will have to look around for it later, right now I need to keep my mate safe. “And here is where we used to store all the gems we got from the mine,” Spot said gesturing to an empty room to our left. Looking inside I can tell It is a very big room and looks recently used. “What happened to the gems?" I asked Spot. "Is there a shortage of gems coming in?” “Well, no, you see there was this pony who could find gems and then we tried to get her to find more gems for us-” He started saying before I cut him off. “Wait! Are you saying there is a pony who can find gems?” I said staring at him with a glare. “Yes.” He said looking a little nervous at his answer. “So instead of asking her to help you. You tried to force her into finding more gems!” I exclaim to him scaring him into a frightening pose. “How did you know we did that?!” he said “You just told me. And not to mention a pony would never help us. It would have been easier for you to capture her and force her to work instead. And by the size of this room, she wouldn’t have been able to take all of the gems on her own without the help of her friends.” I said looking on the ground where the gems used to be. “Huh! How did you know there was more than one pony?” Spot said pointing a finger at me. “Easy. I know for a fact one earth pony wouldn’t be strong enough to carry all these gems on her own. Same thing for a Pegues pony, which only leaves a unicorn pony. But not even one unicorn mare has enough magic to pull this off without help.” I said making my way out of the room. Spot is looking at me with a wide-eyed expression of amazement. Trying to pick up on my method of how I figured all of that just by looking at the room. Melody than closes his mouth with a paw before patting him on his back. “You’ll get used to it.” She told him. "Aren't you going to ask what happened after we got her?" Fido asked "Does it really matter anymore?" I asked him. "The gems are gone. End of story. So now then Spot, where were we?” I said him snapping Spot out of his little trans. “Oh, right. This way to your rooms.” He said smiling. After making a few more turns we found ourselves in a carved out hole in the wall. It was well lit, has a bed and even a place to clean up. “Sorry for the lack of space Ed. We don’t get that many visitors here, let alone ones that want to stick around here. If I would have known…” Rover was saying before I interrupted him. “It’s perfect Rover,” Melody said made her way to the bed. “I would have… really?” Rover looks at me confused. “Yes, it is,” I said before I turned to look at him. “Rover you have to understand. Melody and I have been homeless for the past two months. Going place to place never steading down. Only stopping for food, water and a safe place to sleep.” I then turn back to Melody who was now laying down on the bed. “What you have given us is more than any other living creature has done for us, ever since we lost our home and pack. Trust me before we leave here I will make this up to you Rover.” I said making my way to Melody but stop when Rover spoke to me. “Leaving! Why would you two be leaving from here?” he said with a coinsured look on his face. “Well for starters. You never said we could live here. When we first arrived here we were just looking for a place to stay for the night.” I said look back at him. “Oh! Right. Well, then Ed. You and Melody can consider yourselves part of the pack. Once you two have rested up, I can show you more of what we do around here.” “Thank you, Rover. I will do my best to make this up to you and your pack.” I said “Hay it our pack now Ed. Also, it is the least I can do for you Alpha.” Rover said giving me a thumbs up, which only makes me laugh a little. “Rover I am no longer your Alpha or any dogs alpha. I am just a homeless Diamond Dog you have taken into your pack. You are the Alpha Now Rover.” I said turning away from him leaving him with a wide-eyed look on his face realizing I am correct. “Well then. I guess that is the case now isn’t Ed. Get some sleep them you dogs you need it.” He said making his way out of the room. I then went to join Melody on the bed and I sat on the edge facing the entrance of the room covered by a cloth. Then Melody leans against my back resting her head on me. “It looks like things are finally looking up for us for once Ed.” She said rubbing my shoulder. “It sure does. Doesn’t it Melody?” I said looking at the ground. This made Melody coinsured about me. “What wrong Ed? Is something the matter?” she asked looking at me from the side. “I just Afraid Melody. Afraid that when I wake up tomorrow; this was just all a dream and we are still out there. On the run form manticores. This just seems too good to be true to be happening to us.” I said rubbing the cloth on my arm. Melody then takes notice of what I am doing. As she stops my paw. “Ed, you know that wasn’t your fault. There wasn’t anything you could have done about it. Sometimes these things happen, and there is nothing we could have done about it.” She said squeezing my paw. “But if I have come back sooner.” “Then you would have been helpless to help, as you were when you weren’t there Ed.” I then bring her into a hug as I stork her back. “I am sorry Melody. You are right I just wished things would have turn out differently for us.” I said as I continue to hold her. “Now is there anything I can get for you, Melody?” “No, I am fine for now. I just want to rest for now.” She said as she began to get ready for bed, but then I pick up the scent from earlier. It is nearby. “Ok then. I will be with you in a minute I need to use the bathroom.” I said getting up to leave to room. “See you later than my mate.” She said closing her eyes “Likewise Melody,” I said pushing the cloth to the side and leaving the room. I walked for a couple of minutes away from the room before stopping in the middle of the hallway. “Now then, why don’t we talk like civilized dogs.” I said looking at one of the dark halls nearby before I heard some clapping. “Well, then good job mutt. I must ask, how did you know I was here.” Said a voice in the darkened hallway. “I smelled you when I first entered the mines here. I thought I was just smelling things, but then I smelled you again Bug.” I said “Oh, you have a good nose on you.” The changeling said coming into view so I can see it. “By the looks of it. You aren’t like the others D.D. here. You are different, smarter. So, tell me, why come out and talk to me like this mutt?” the changeling said looking at me. “To tell you to leave and never brother this pack again. This is your last warning Bug.” I said which only made the bug laugh at me. “Oh, wow and what will you do if I don't mutt. You only have one good arm and I am a changeling. I can take you out and take your place and no one would be the wiser. In fact, why don’t I just do that right now.” He said charging at me. When he was going to punch me in the face, but he stops in mid punch. Confuse as to why his attack stops he then cough out some blood and feels a sharp pain coming from his chest. Looking down he can see a glowing light blue blade coming out of my left paw, and into his chest. “Wha..at.” He tried to say but I interrupted him. “Never underestimate your opponent bug,” I said as I pulled out my blade letting him fall to the ground. He struggles to get back on his hooves but I kick him back on the ground. He struggles for a few more moments before he lay there still before his body started to glow. Shined bright green before disappearing into small stardust and then concentering into a small green gem on the floor. I then lend down to pick up the gem inspecting it. I can see the small figure of the bug inside frozen like a statue. "You know bug, a very long time ago. There was a reason why my kind was called ‘Diamond Dogs’ and we were something you didn't mess with.” I said heading back to my room to sleep this off putting the gem in my pocket.