Jewel Feather was humming a sweet tune as she made her way through Ponyville, and on towards Rarity’s boutique, and even for a mare that’s blind Jewel was very easily capable of traversing the town, without so much tripping on her own hooves or bumping into anything. The trick to the mare’s seemingly ability to avoid such incidents is because she’s not fully blind, she is still able to see things…so long as they’re a few feet in front of her, but even so the mare isn’t able to see things perfectly, instead, everything is like a vague shadow that she can just barely make the shapes out of things.
Continuing on with her trot through the town, the middle-aged mare reached her intended destination, where upon reaching the door Jewel gave a few rhythmic knocks. In tune with the little melody she was humming. A moment goes by before somepony eventually answered the door, but instead of the pony that Jewel was expecting, there was instead a small little white coated unicorn filly, on that Jewel has meet on occasion.
“Hello miss. Jewel Feather.” Sweetie Belle said in a polite tone.
“Hello there Sweetie Belle.” Jewel said as she used a wing to pat the filly on the head, getting a small giggle in response. “Is your sister around? She said she would have some gems for me today?” Sweetie Belle nodded in response to the mares statement.
“Rarity and Spike just got back from the gem cave. I can take you up to Rarity’s work room, if you want.”
Jewel Feather agreed to the fillies request, and allowed herself to be guided through the interior of the boutique, and up the stairs to where Rarity’s main work room was. Reaching the top most floor, the pair approached Rarity’s work room, where the mare was separating each gem by its type and placing it in their own chest’s. while the mare was doing this, the little dragon was either ogling Rarity, or drooling over the gems in the slowly depleting wagon. Sweetie Belle then knocked on the door, getting the pair’s attention.
“Oh Jewel, your earlier than I expected today. Just give me a sec darling.” Rarity said as she finished sorting, and cataloging her newly refilled gem chests before locking them up.
“So Jewel, I assume you’re here for the opals and aquamarines I promised, yes?” Jewel Feather nodded in response while giving a small smile, but the small frown on Rarity’s muzzle showed that she wasn’t able to deliver what she promised.
“Unfortunately darling, I couldn’t find any at the gem cave, but don’t worry, I was just about to head off to the rock quarry. I usually find those gems out there more often.” Rarity said to the mare with a disappointed tone of voice, who just nodded in response, knowing how hard it is to finding some type of gems.
“That’s fine dear, I’ll just come by later then. Or you could come to my house if you find the gems I need.” Jewel said to the fashionista who smiled and nodded. But before Jewel left the room, she heard Rarity speak out her thoughts.
“Although tracking down some opals and aquamarines is going to be pretty hard, and then harvesting them would also be pretty time consuming.” That’s when Spike pipped up.
“Don’t worry Rarity, I can take care of the gem harvesting.” Spike said as he slid in front of the mare, flexing his little arms, and tail.
“And I’m grateful for that Spike, but even with your help it’s going to be pretty difficult.” Rarity said before thinking of how to gather the gems efficiently. That’s when Jewel spun on her hooves to look back at the mare, a small smile on her muzzle.
“If you need some help in gem harvesting Rarity, I’m certain that if we ask him, Tenor would be happy to help.”
Rarity seemed to think the prospect over, while Sweetie asked Jewel who Tenor was, and Spike trying to convince Rarity that he’s all the ‘muscle’ she needed. However Rarity said that she would love to have some extra help, as she also has to get to work on some orders in the afternoon, so with the decision made, the mare followed Jewel with Spike in tow to go and fetch Tenor.
~~~~~
Some time later Rarity was now trotting about the quarry, horn glowing and guiding her all over the place in search of gems. Trailing behind her was Spike, looking a little dejected while hauling the empty wagon behind him, with Tenor just slightly ahead of him and merely taking in the sights of the quarry. It wasn’t to hard to ask Tenor for help, as he was drilled to help those that have need of him, but in more simpler terms, he was more than happy to help out a new friend.
“I appreciate you helping me out with gathering these gems Tenor.” Rarity said as the light on her horn gotten a bit brighter, and tugging her into a different direction.
“Not at all Rarity, I’m happy to give you a helping hoof.” Tenor then looked over his shoulder at Spike, who still looked a little upset. Trotting up closer to the mare Tenor whispered something to the mare. “Is something wrong with Spike, he looks like somepony took his favorite comic book and gems away from him.” Rarity made a quick glance at Spike, before looking back to Tenor.
“I’m not sure. He seemed fine before we left to ask for your help.” Rarity said with an air of uncertainty.
Rarity was then pulled out of the conversation by her horn, the light emanating from it growing even more brighter as she trotted about, the mare then came to an abrupt halt and had her head angled down at the ground. Tenor then watched as a small circle was illuminated onto the ground, where the outline of a small cluster of gems. Spike immediately went to work, his sour mood seemingly vanishing as he quickly digs at the ground, his claws shoveling dirt as he creates a hole. The little dragon then emerged with an arm full of gems, although none of the ones Tenor’s mom needs. The group went about this gem escapade for about twenty or so minutes now, and the wagon was starting to get full, but Tenor did not simply let Spike do all the work. whenever Rarity found another cluster of gems while Spike digs up a previously lit up batch, Tenor used his magic like a shovel to dig up the gems before piling them into the wagon. Another ten or so minutes go by, and the wagon was now fully loaded, and by good fortune they managed to find a good haul of the gems Tenor’s mom needs.
“You two have been an extraordinary help.” Rarity said as she looked up at the sky, seeing the sun reaching its zenith. “And we made very good time.” Rarity then plucked out a big sapphire gem from the pile, and levitated it to Spike.
“Well I know mom would like to have the gems she needs for the mural piece she’s working on.” Tenor said as he placed the satchel of gems into his saddlebags. “Thanks for helping my mother in her project Rarity.”
“Think nothing of it darling, I’m always glad to help—WOO!” Rarity was cut off when her suddenly sparked with magic, and began guiding the mare away. Spike and Tenor followed behind the mare as her horn guided her. “Well that’s strange, it appears there’s a gem in the tree.”
“That is strange.” Tenor said as Rarity approached a tree.
The mare then propped herself up on a jutting root, the mares horn just brushed a few bushels of leaves, before they all saw a sparkling orange gem. But then from the same tree something came jumping down. The critter was as tall as Tenor, and was basically an over sized dog that walked on its hind legs, while wearing a jacket. The critter introduced himself as a diamond dog, and approached Rarity in a menacing way while she backs away. Tenor however stood in front of Rarity and Spike, chest slightly puffed out, and horn emitting a soft blue glow.
“I think that’s far enough buddy.” Tenor said in an authoritative tone, the diamond dog standing a few feet from him.
“Male pony move out way, we don’t need you.” the three seemed confused by what the diamond dog meant by, ‘We’.
But before they could ponder on the dogs words, Rarity gave a small shriek, causing Tenor to look behind him and saw two more diamond dogs jump out of the ground. using his magic, Tenor quickly created a dome force field around Rarity and Spike, causing the two dogs to bounce off. Tenor was then tackled by the first dog, trying to wrestle him to the ground but Tenor was bucking all over the place, and managed to get the dog off his back by jumping into the air and crashing into the ground, crushing the dog under his own weight. Quickly rolling onto his hooves, Tenor used his magic to bind the dogs limbs in light blue shackles made out of magic.
The other two dogs then decided to gang up on Tenor, the larger one of the two grappled Tenor, the two trying to wrestle each other to the ground, while the smallest of the two leapt onto the stallions back. Rarity and Spike could only watch from their protective force field, and marvel that Tenor was holding his own against the diamond dog, they were even surprised how strong he was as he was able to grapple and wrestle with the large diamond dog like it was nothing. The stallion then used his magic to end this little scuffle.
Dealing with the small dog first, who was pulling on Tenor’s mane, the stallion used his magic to create a copy of the dog. The clone then prodded the dog on the back, causing it to stop and look at the copy, where the clone tackled the dog off Tenor. Now without the little dog tangling with his clone, Tenor was able to focus on his wrestling match with the large dog, but the large diamond dog was able to heave the stallion over his head, and chucked him across the quarry! Rarity and Spike gasped in shock as they saw Tenor be thrown for about ten feet, and skidding across the ground for three additional feet.
“Tenor!” both Rarity and Spike called out to the stallion as they watched him gets back onto his hooves.
“Bigger pony better stay down, or get thrashed.” The big diamond dog said as she smacked his meaty paws. Tenor just shook off the dirt that coated his coat, before looking back at the diamond dog, and none looking to happy.
“Sorry pal, but you and your friends seemed to want to cause trouble for my friend there—” Tenor nodded towards the force field. “—and as a member of the royal guard, no harm will come to them so long as I’m around.”
“Then big pony get a right good thumping!”
The large diamond dog charged at Tenor, thundering towards the stallion…but Tenor seemed perfectly calm, as a small smile graced his muzzle. Rarity and Spike then watched as Tenor’s horn sparked with magic for a split second, before watching the diamond dog was vaulted dozens of feet through the air…and watching him crash into a bundle of bushes. Once the diamond dog was dispatched, and the little one getting knocked out by the clone, Tenor deactivated the force field.
“I think we’ve over stayed our welcome, so I’d suggest we make ourselves scare.”
“Agreed!”
both Rarity and Spike said, the little dragon running to the wagon, and began running with the two unicorns by his sides. The group continued to run from the quarry till they reached the town, where they took a moment to catch their breathes.
“Well…that was defiantly a bit more excitement than I thought gem harvesting would be.” Tenor said as he stretched out his body, cracking a few joints in his back and neck.
“Indeed darling, but I must say Tenor, you were simply incredible!” Rarity praised once she managed to steady her breath. Spike then added his two bits to the events that just transpired.
“Yeah! I mean, I knew you were tough being a lieutenant and all, but wow! You were wrestling those diamond dogs like they were nothing.”
“I wouldn’t say they were nothing.” Tenor said as he started to stretch his limbs out. “Those two bigger dogs were pretty strong, especially that huge one. His claws nearly dug into my skin.”
“Oh my goodness! Are you hurt or injured Tenor?” Rarity said as she began looking Tenor over, defiantly seeing some red marks under his white coat.
Not wasting any time, Rarity guided the two males to the boutique, where as Spike and Sweetie organized the gems they harvested. Rarity used some special ointment on Tenors more bruised areas, which stung a little, but if Tenor could tangle with some foul-tempered dogs, he can handle a little stinging. Once the stallion was treated, and left on the couch to rest up, Rarity joined the two youngsters to finish sort the gems. Some time later Jewel Feather arrived at the boutique, and when she heard what happened she immediately started to fret over her son, who despite being fairly sore said he was fine. A few minutes of resting up, Tenor and his mother bid Rarity farewell before making their way home, where Tenor couldn’t wait to just collapse on his bed, and just sleep the soreness of his body away.