August 12th, 995
Kole peeks in the tent; Rarity and Doug are both fast asleep. Rarity is not wearing her tunic or boots to bed, and Kole likes how she looks without the fabric covering her body. He thinks Doug likes it too, how his hand strokes her bare chest, slowly making circles in the soft fur of her belly. She has a nice belly too, he can only barely tell that she foaled. Maybe if she took more strenuous walks or jogs, like they are doing here, her tone would improve. Kole likes Diamond Dog with more meat on bones. Diamond Dog like Shavronne, but she has not show interest in him this season. There is still hope though, maybe if Kole keeps digging, maybe she would let him have a turn after Doug.
The digging has gone very well; yesterday, Brutus fought ten angry golems and three hate-filled ones. Kole is not far behind with eight angry and four hateful golems. Rarity is happy when they found angry golems, but still smiles when they find hatefuls. Kole has done a good job, and Rarity gave him a large crystal shard she found. She made a grip on the sharp crystal so Kole wouldn't hurt his paws, and the big crystal makes easy work of the small golems. Even Shavronne took a crystal shard and put it on the end of her polearm; Kole thinks it is good for bitch to be far back, safer that way. She just fought one golem. Rarity said the golem was both angry and hateful, and it took several hard hits to destroy. 'Shavronne strong and quick,' Kole thinks to himself, 'she not let golem hit her with rock or with shiny blue and red balls.'
Kole looks outside the tent at the surrounding area; this will be their fourth and second to last day of finding gems. They already have boxes and boxes of gems, more gems than Kole has ever seen in one place. Other than Boss dog gem room. Kole salivates as he steals a glance at the wagon; that many gems would go a long way to making Kole a stronger dog. Get better vest, shiny collar, then maybe Shav like him more.
Kole moves to the wagon as the first rays of dawn shine above the mountains. The high peaks block the sun from being seen this early, and today will be the first day they really strike out away from the snow capped mountains. They had gone slowly, a few miles east, a quarter mile south, then a few miles west, carefully making their way along and trying to get as many gems in the relatively safe area. Kole looks over to the west; the further they had gone, the more likely they were to find the gem golems. When Shavronne had found her golem, she stopped their progress west, instead heading back towards the mountains, though it wasn't the only dual golem they fought.
When she saw how happy the gem made Rarity, though, Shavronne reconsidered. For today, and maybe tomorrow, they will head closer to the center of the Badlands. Kole knows that most dogs that venture to the center of the Badlands, those hoping for the greatest riches, those are the dogs least likely to return. Also most dogs return with nothing in paws, but when Boss return with largest load of gems, it make other dogs keep trying.
Kole removes the food, making a little more noise than he would like. He makes a plate for Rarity and Doug before replacing the food, noting how light the bag is. It's a good thing they are starting back, they probably won't have food for too many more days out in the desert.
Doug makes his way out of the tent, looking around at the dawn. Kole moves over, giving him both of the plates. Doug thanks him with a smile before sitting down, placing the other plate inside the tent. He looks over at Kole, saying, "Kole, you seem like a nice enough Diamond Dog. Hard working, follow orders well, good and strong." He takes a bite of his apple, chewing as he mulls over his thoughts, "I guess, what I'm trying to ask is, why is Shav so intent on me?"
Kole shrugs, looking off at the mountains, "Well, you big. Maybe not strong as Diamond Dog, but make up with smarts. You not have what other Diamond Dog look for in mate, but maybe she think that problem. Problem with how Diamond Dog think only of self. Also, you mate with pony, and no dog mate with pony." Kole scratches his head with a hind paw; are those things that he should try to copy? Then Shav would like him more? He continues, "But Shav not just thinking about future litter. She knows how other Diamond Dogs think. That part of why she want leave."
Doug tentatively asks, "What do the other Diamond Dogs think? Would they do something?" Rarity pokes her head out of the tent, a worried look on her face. She looks at Kole while taking a slow bite of her breakfast.
Kole laughs, "This wagon, hold all gems you want bring home? Every Diamond Dog in warren come looking for you. They know you head out and where you going. I not only scout that spot you, just first to get to you." He looks pointedly at Doug, "She know if she take your seed, if you sire with her, then dog leave you alone. You one of them." He looks over at Rarity, giving her a hard stare, "If you take Diamond Dog seed, even if not take, not sire, then they leave you alone. She just looking out for you."
Rarity says, "Well, that would have been good to know, I was worried sick about this! I'm still not very happy about it."
Kole shrugs, "Well, it is as is." He falls silent, the three staring off into the distance as Rarity and Doug slowly eat their breakfast.
After a time Doug responds, "I think that's the most profound I've heard you, Kole." The Diamond Dog shrugs, Doug continuing, "And I think you sell yourself short. Besides, Shav will need someone to help look after those pups. I think you'd make a fine candidate." Kole gives him a wry smile as Doug stands up, preparing the wagon for the upcoming journey. Rarity excuses herself, going back into the tent and packing up the belongings inside.
Rarity steps out of the tent, levitating a few items into the wagon before quickly packing up the tent. Kole takes a long sniff, smiling at Rarity, "You leave his scent on. You not ashamed any more?"
Rarity frowns, shaking her head, "I was never, well, ashamed of him. I just... Let's just say, I realized how my actions could have been taken, in regards to Doug, and I wanted to show my support and love for him. Even if it does get a little painful to be shown that love so frequently."
Kole laughs as Shav and Brutus come out from the wagon, rubbing their eyes as the morning sun crests the Badland Mountains. Kole brings the two their breakfast before taking some food for himself. The three quickly finish their meal as Doug comes over to Rarity, holding a small box. She glances at it and then back to his face as he says, "So, I know we packed this for emergencies, but I think Princess Celestia will want to know and observe. Who knows? It might help her in their research, even if a pony isn't strictly being involved." Rarity looks at the paper, it stating the time and intentions between Doug and Shav. Doug asks, "You still okay with this?"
Rarity pauses, thinking to herself. She knows Princess Celestia will help them if they need to escape their current predicament, but Rarity will be unhappy with herself that it is necessary. She looks up at Doug, giving him a nod. He takes a bit of the dust inside, sprinkling it over the paper before lighting it with the green match. The paper quickly ignites, swirling into the air as it disintegrates to dust and blows away.
Doug straps himself in, preparing for the journey west. Brutus gives his new club a few test swings, slapping the flat side into his other paw. Doug had helped him fashion it from the biggest piece of the prison one of the dual golems had broken free from and the dog looks eager to put it to good use. Rarity idly twirls one of her javelins as Shav tests the point on her spear. Doug smiles as Kole juggles his two clubs with one hand, glancing back at the shield he had made for himself, the tower shield composed of long, wide pieces of crystal. He hopes the frame sticks together, the pieces of crystal essentially impaled on each other to hold it in place with a rounded off area for him to hold on to. Next to it lay a few of the longer javelins that Rarity had been using but found a little cumbersome; he'll make a proper champion one of these days!
They make good time, Rarity opting to skip a few of the very small caches in order to continue their faster pace. The first golem they encounter is a third type, the wrath apparent on its crystal face as it unleashes a torrent of lightning towards them. Brutus and Kole stay out of range as Rarity hurls a few javelins, quickly dispatching the small golem. The orange gem it leaves behind looks different from the ones they had found previously; Kole places it in the stash for special gems while Brutus digs out the cache.
The five continue their way west, the dogs growing bolder at facing the wrath-filled golems, even facing several combinations of wrath, anger, and hateful golems before Rarity pauses. Doug unstraps himself as the group huddles close, Shav asking, "What is it?"
Rarity slowly shrugs her head, "It's the largest cache we've come across. By far. I can feel the anger in this one, and hate, but there is something else." She gulps before continuing, "It's afraid. I think. Or that's me, it can be hard to tell, sometimes."
Brutus laughs, "We break it, show it right to afraid!" He swings his club back and forth before advancing, everypony readying their armaments.
The ground shakes as Brutus walks in range, the dog quickly retreating as the purple golem bursts forth. It stands nearly ten feet tall and half as wide, bright red orbs spinning madly around. The pieces of crystal clash together as it moves, a cacophony of sounds filling each of them with dread. Three spectral crystals eject themselves from the main body, slowly making their way towards the group.
The golem charges forward at Brutus while three of the red orbs fling themselves into the air. Shav and Kole dodge to the sides, the orbs impacting the ground and leaving a dark red taint on the sand. Brutus swings his club, striking the golem with a heavy blow that barely seems to impede its progress. The golem returns a flailing strike, swinging the upper half of its body towards Brutus as the dog yelps and dodges backwards.
The three spectral crystals creep towards Rarity, the unicorn screaming as she stabs at one with a javelin. The weapon passes through the crystal, doing nothing to halt its slow strides towards her. She turns and gallops away, fear plain on her face, as Shav moves towards the golem and strikes it with her spear. Kole advances as well but steps onto the red taint. The ground underneath him erupts, catapulting the burning dog into the air before he lands with a pathetic whimper.
Doug advances, moving in front of Kole as a barrage of blue and red orbs blast out of the golem. Doug blocks two that are aimed at Kole with his shield as Shav and Brutus dodge out of the way. Rarity seems to have recovered as well; she screams, "IT! IS! ON!" advancing and loosing several javelins at the golem. The javelins pierce into the lower section of the golem, maiming it and slowing its advance on Kole as the crystal shards dig into the ground.
Brutus and Shav flank from opposite sides, Brutus relentlessly slamming the back while Shav lands a brutal double strike. The golem staggers, trying to decide which of the threats to go for as a second volley of red orbs erupt from its body. The two dogs and Rarity advance, the orbs landing behind them and cutting off their retreat while Doug pulls Kole away from an impact, the dog howling in pain. The three mercilessly beat the crystal, dodging its dying gasp as it gives out with a loud screech.
The spectral crystals and taint on the ground dissipate as the golem is defeated, leaving behind the smell of burnt ozone. The group moves over to Kole, the dog weakly smiling up at them. The fur on one of his legs is badly burned, the pad oozing blood. The rest of the fire that had spread over his body seems superficial, merely charring the ends of his fur and going no further. Doug sets his shield and javelin down before picking Kole up, the dog whimpering at the movement as Doug carries him to the wagon. Doug helps him clean the wound as Shav, Rarity, and Brutus look over the remains.
Shav remarks, "Well, if that is three essences, I don't know if I want to fight anything stronger."
Rarity shakes her head, "I think it was four. Maybe five. Anger, hatred, rage, and fear. Maybe dread, it was hard to tell."
Shav holds up the crystal, light emanating from within. "So, rage was the fire bombs? And fear the spectral crystals?" Rarity nods and Shav shudders, "Well, I hope we don't fight anything more that powerful. I just hope it was worth it."
Rarity nods, "No crystal is worth the loss of a friend." She smiles at Shav, who smiles back before embracing the pony in a warm hug.
The moment over, Rarity directs Brutus on where to start digging out the very large cache. Doug returns with the wagon and Kole, the dog sporting a bandage around his foot and a limp, the burn on his leg merely taking his fur off but going no deeper. Kole starts packing the gems into boxes as they are unearthed, quickly filling several with the large gems. Brutus admires a particularly large diamond before placing it reverently into one of the boxes.
Shav looks at the number of boxes they have filled with gems, clearly conflicted between putting them in more danger and the tantalizing rewards of doing so. Rarity puts a hoof on her shoulder, saying, "While I think we can handle three essences without endangering ourselves, I think I will steer clear of ones with four." She gives the dog a smile and receives one in return.
The path they follow takes them only slightly more west before heading north and then back to the east. They meticulously make their way back and forth, keeping tighter lines than when they were traveling on the eastern section of the Badlands. They don't encounter any more quad essence golems, though a combination of fear, doubt, and sorrow throws the group for a loop with the number of extra enemies they have to face, and nopony notices the green eyes that follow them as they continue their path south.