Chapter 9 – Gem Hunting Part 2
"I'm actually surprised Rarity didn't lambaste me about my choice of attire, knowing her personality – or whatever the Equestrian equivalent of that word is. So, either her extreme fashion sense didn't kick in, or my look isn't bad by her standards. In either case, I think I prefer it this way.
"I do like the idea of the virtual ID card, even if it only looks spiffy. Now, I have to make certain that I don't do the black power gesture again. Hmm, I suppose holding it sideways would work better.
“Alright then, for the glory of... glowing gemstones?”
Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Spike and Fred Walsh all proceeded North to a nearby patch of land the dressmaker found aplenty with gemstones of all sorts. Fortunately, the group succeeded in avoiding anypony who would be uneasy around the human's presence.
Rarity began using her gem finding spell, and slowly walked in intricate patterns through the dirt field, protected by her boots. Twilight utilised the same spell, though with a more direct approach.
Every so often, one of the two mares detected a cache of gems, in which Spike then came to their aid in extracting the coloured, translucent stones. The items became engulfed in coloured magic and deposited in a medium-sized wooden cart – The same kind that the Diamond Dogs once used, though slightly modified, pulled by Fred as he was capable of moving larger objects than the small red wagon the librarian's assistant could carry. The gemstones were also inspected for Harmonic properties.
Every time Fred pulled the cart, odd thoughts popped into his mind. 'We must push little kart!' Especially odd considering the Russian accent, and the fact that he was pulling it.
Rarity found another collection of gems via her horn. “Spike! There's another batch of jewels right there!” The faithful dragon dug a hole with his claws. Moments later, they were exposed, glowing from the reflected sunlight, which formed a rather unpleasing vision as the colours mixed together. The alabaster unicorn took the shiny items in her telekinetic hold and lifted them to place in the oncoming cart.
“Any Harmonics in this batch?” Fred dropped the handle to inspect the new arrivals. He pinched a ruby from the mare's telekinetic grip and watched it closely for any magical response. No such thing happened. He tossed the gem into the cart as Rarity carefully placed them inside.
The man looked around the area. The place was fairly barren, apart from a tree line and the occasional rock. He could see Twilight ahead gesturing for him and Spike to help. The two bipeds moved to investigate.
“There's another good few over here,” she noted. Instead of having Spike dig, she ignited her horn with magic and moved the dirt apart, revealing the gems.
'So that's how Moses parted the Red Sea.' Spike and Fred carried the jewels to the cart. The baby dragon had to be lifted by the human to reach the cart to place the items inside.
“I still don't get how these come so grouped together and pre-cut.”
“It's how Equestria's always been, Fred,” the unicorn replied.
“Still nothing interesting?” he asked.
“Unfortunately, no.” She sighed. “I had planned all this time to be in Canterlot, but now I don't know what to do.”
“All your plans have been blown out of the water,” he agreed.
“Until I can come up with another time to plan, I have to do something.”
“Well, that's the deal with the best laid schemes of mice and men,” Fred semi-quoted from the poem, To a Mouse.
Rarity joined the other three. “I know I may regret this, but what about in there?” She pointed past the tree line into a cave mouth.
“The Diamond Dogs' hideout? Rarity, do you really think that's a good idea?” Twilight remembered the last time they entered that place.
“No, but we're not getting anything done up here,” the dressmaker replied.
“Don't worry, Rarity. I'll protect you!” Spike took his crush's side.
“Okay then, creepy cave time.” Fred worked himself into the appropriate mindset. Once he achieved it, the four marched into the cave mouth. The cart remained behind, as the terrain would be too difficult to move it across.
“Wow, this place is abandoned,” the scholar said as she examined the hideout while they descended. They continued in, taking the occasional gem to place in their pockets as they moved along. The cave became illuminated in blue and purple lights from the mares' horns.
Eventually, Spike, Twilight, Rarity and Fred reached a large opening. It looked to be the central room for the cave.
“Ah yes, this place.” Rarity shuddered.
“You've been here before?” Fred asked her.
“Yes, and that experience was completely unpleasant-” Her horn ignited with more ferocity. “Wait a second, this happened last time!” The others moved into a defensive position while she followed the gentle telekinetic tug. It ended in the centre of the room. “I've seen this last time as well.”
The human took a look at what she referenced. “It's a collar with a topaz attached.” He picked it up by the strap. “Well, that's certainly peculiar.” He pocketed the gem.
With no ambushes, so Rarity's surprise, the group left the cave.
Shortly afterward, they exited back into sunlight. Fred took the collar out of his pocket and examined it closer. “Hold on, is this glowing?” Everypony and dragon looked closer.
“What's this?” Twilight questioned, horn glowing as she walked past them.
“I think we may have found a harmonic gemstone.” He smiled and nodded.
“But I've seen this before...” the dressmaker pointed out.
“What do you mean?”
Spike answered for Rarity. “It was on one of the Diamond Dogs.”
“So you mean to tell me that you've directly seen a Harmonic Topaz, long before you knew what they were?” Fred continued to smile. “That's brilliant!”
Rarity, Spike and Fred returned to the cart, just they way they left it. The human picked up the cart handle. “Well, I doubt we're going to find any more harmonic gems, so let's drop these off back at your shop while-” Fred was interrupted by beeping on the Scavenger Watch – Two rapid beeps and a short pause before it continued. In a swift motion, he dropped the handle and unlocked it. It was the neuro-receptor again, picking up a huge spike In the 20-40 Hz range. “...Where's Twilight?”