//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Equestrian/Griffon War: Season 1 Episode 3 // by BlackFeather //------------------------------// Chapter 1 Rover smiled at the quantity of the gems being brought in by the miners. Ever since the south wall collapsed and a huge gem deposit was found they have been hard at work. The Dimond Dogs had been heavily affected by the Transformation, their stocky body structure was now thin and leaner than before and work was extra hard without their claws and fast reflexes. The Dimond Dogs were still strong and had great vision in the dark thanks to years underground, but tired more easily and production went down hard the first two years after turning into this new form. Rover had a brown shirt with a red unbuttoned button up shirt on. He liked the style as he had worn it for a while. He also wore very dirty jeans and work boots. His fur was now only on his head in a big mass was still dark brown but it was colder since the fur wasn’t on his entire body anymore. Rover held a clipboard and wrote down the quantity of the cart being rolled in on the papers. This discovery was going to increase his profits with the ponies of Ponyville. Fido had gone into the new excavated part of the mine to get a size count and get timetables on how long it would take to empty it. Before he knew it Spot came running up towards him wearing similar cloths except for a black unbuttoned shirt. Upon hearing Spots Voice Rover could tell he feared something. “Rover we need to hide” Spot said. confused Rover asked. “Why, whats going on” Rover started but then eyes widened as he saw a familiar face come into view. “oh no not the whiney one” Rover said as he saw Rarity. “THE WHINEY ONE” nearly three dozen Dimond Dogs yelled at once and scrambled to find either a hiding spot or something to cover their ears. “Goodness what is that horrid stench, don’t you mutts ever bath. Look at the state of this place it is disgusting, you need to clean more. Oh, my there is dirt everywhere don’t you know whats foot mats or carpets are” Rarity began fusing at the state of the mine. “Rarity calm down” Twilight said. “Rover, where are you” Twilight asked. “here, just shut her up” rover said getting up from behind a cart full of gems. Rover walked up to Twilight with some confusion and anger. “our agreement was that she was not allowed to come here, and our trade day isn’t for another month” rover said. “Were not here about the trade day right now. Obviously, you heard of the Griffon war going on right now correct” Twilight asked Rover to witch he nodded several times. “well we are in a predicament and we could use your help fighting them” Twilight told Rover. Rover looked shocked. He had somewhat some respect for Twilight and he knew she would never asked others to put themselves in harm’s way unless she had no choice. “I will send a message to Dimondia and speak with the other leaders of this colony. If we are to fight, we that are here right now won’t be enough. There is a room we have made and kept clean for visits such as this. You are free to use it” Rover said. “Guard show them to the room, Spot go get Fido” Rover said as he turned around and left. The guard had escorted the mane six, spike, Black Feather, Dusk Shine, and Bubble berry into the room prepared for foreign delegates. Rarity seeing the room gave a sigh of relief and said. “well at least these ruffians have set up something considerable correct for once” Black feather hearing this raised an eyebrow and proceeded to ask. “You know these Diamond Dogs personally” “Yes darling, they kidnapped me once before as we told you on the way, but they were so dirty and smelly that my complaining ended up making them go mad for the hour or so I was here. Even still this room doesn’t fit any kind of acceptable living conditions” “What do you mean this room is amazing” Black Feather said praising how colorful and comfortable the room looked to his. “This place in general is a pig sty. I would never want to live in a room so dirty and disastrous. I don’t even understand how you can say this room is nice” Rarity finished with a question. “Well, maybe because Eagle living quarters in the Empire are seventeen times worse than this whole cave” Black Feather said with some emotion. Hearing the condition Black Feather claimed Eagles lived in Rarity stopped talking and just listened. “In courier training we were given a long rundown building with no air, a lot of dust and mold, no light, and not even a restroom. To do business we had to go outside and either use a bush or hope that no Griffons were at the barracks toilets. Civilians had it worse still. Living in wharf's, tents, or even the mines that they worked in. to put it bluntly, to an Eagle this place is luxurious” Black Feather finished. “Oh, darling I am so sorry, I didn’t even think about that” Rarity said. Black Feather just shook his head and said. “Don’t worry about it, you wouldn’t have known” “But I should have. The way your eyes light up when I gave you that handmade blanket I made for your welcome should have told me you were surprised” “Not to mention the look of shock when we showed you your room” Pinkie added. “Or the fact that the next day we had to splash water on your face to wake you up because you were sleeping so well” Rainbow Dash said. “Well anyway, I don’t mind it Rarity, you didn’t know” Black Feather said. Spot had gathered Fido and the other leaders of Diamond Colony and met Rover at the overseer’s room. They had been discussing the reason that Twilight and her friends came to them. “We cannot go to war. we are miners, not warriors” Said one of the leaders. “But if we don’t help defend our country then the Griffons will take all of the gems that we thrive on to survive. The capitol and all colonies would have to move” Said the second leader. “maybe so but can we achieve. To the ponies we are just ruffians and to the Whiny One disgusting and useless” said the third. “Who cares what one pony says about us. Sure, she is annoying as Tartarus but look at us. Diamond Dogs who know the land beneath the surface better than anyone. We can build tunnels faster that a Dragon can blow fire, better than any pony miner, and sturdier than any Minotaur can stand. We are legends in Equestria, we are feared for our roars, our resolve, and our dedication to a cause that serves our intentions. These Griffons would not be able to stand a chance if they set foot inside this colony. Every Dog would pick up a spear, sword, pick ax, or even some rock and smash heads with it. We can do anything in this world if we set our minds to it” Rover finished. His voice left a very determined and commanding tone threw the air. Some of the Dogs present started to agree but the first leader wouldn’t sway that easily. “Morons all of you, we would be slaughtered” “No we wouldn’t” Rover stated. “The Eagle that came with the ponies. He was member of the Rebellion in the Empire. He has fought them, and we would be the fourth race to enter this war and the third in the Equestrian forces. WE. CAN. WIN.” Rover triumphantly shouted. All the Dogs minus the first leader cheered as they to believed that with the Rebellion going on they stood a pretty good chance. “I will tell the Princess our decision” Rover then left to tell his visitors the news. Two hours earlier: Vector Brigade 1st camp, North of the Everfree Forest. Windger had finished congratulating his Ravagers in R2 for a successful attack of the Equestrian force that was lead into the forest earlier. The Hawks were always war hungry and patiently waited for their turn to fight Equestrian soldiers. Their desire for war was what made them an asset to the Empire and its plans. Windger entered his command tent and began setting up preparations for another strike to keep the Equestrians guessing where they were camped. And there was the matter of rescuing Squire Gael from captivity. He could have easily gotten another Squire but they were on short hand and Gael knew too much information to leave him in Twilights hands. Grogan had entered the tent, saluted and handed Windger a report. “Whats this” he asked his lieutenant. “Sir, these are the files we could get on the Diamond Dog colony near Ponyville sir” Gorgan stated. “Excellent” Windger said with a happy expression. “but sir, we also have reports that Princess twilight is going to meet with them, we think she will try to convince them to join in the war against us” Windger looked angry. He stormed out of the tent and went to a hill that was close by and looked down at Ponyville than a little to the right was the area where the supposed Colony was. A smirk came to Windgers face as he faced Gorgan. “We will see if these ‘Diamond Dogs’ will join the Princess after we show them the might of the Griffon Empire” Windger said to Gorgan “Get Assault squads 1 and 2 prepared for an attack on the underground colony” Girvan saluted and left to get said squads ready. Windger turned to face the view again. “Alright your highness, your turn”