//------------------------------// // Pony vs. Dogs // Story: Muck and the Mare // by AleximusPrime //------------------------------// CHAPTER 4 - Pony vs. Dogs The three Diamond Dog leaders walked inside the cave the ponies were in and locked the door behind them so they wouldn’t get out while they weren’t looking. They were carrying some bales of hay they stole from a farm on the outskirts of Ponyville to feed the ponies with. “Alright you ungrateful ponies, here are your snacks!” said the leader throwing his bale on the ground in front of him rather rudely. “Yeah, don’t make us go do the hard work again!” said the biggest dog as he threw down the largest bale. Suddenly they stopped talking and looked at the ponies all standing by the wagon with rather sheepish faces. The wagon had barely any gems inside it and Spike had a few in his mouth but took them out and put them behind his back. “W-W-W-WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!?” the leader shouted putting his paws on his head about ready to tear out his ears in anger. He expected more gems than this. “Uh……hey guys…” said Twilight waving nervously. “You’re probably wondering why there aren’t many gems in the wagon, eh?” “Yeah, don’t s’pose ya’ll didn’t notice just how empty the cave is?” Applejack added trying to hold back her sweat. “YOU LET THE DRAGON EAT THE GEMS?!?” the dogs all shouted in unison. “Uh oh…” said Spike dropping his gem. He knew he was in big trouble now. “YOU STUPID LITTLE REPTILE!! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DIG OUT THE GEMS NOT EAT THEM!!!” “But he didn’t eat them!” Pinkie said running her mouth foolishly once again. “Twilight just forgot how to use Rarity’s spell so we couldn’t really-“ “PINKIE!!!” shouted everyone except Twilight. “Oops…” Twilight stepped forward to tell the truth. She knew she had to let them know about her not remembering the spell. It wouldn’t stay a secret any longer and it might make them think they were all useless and throw them out of the fortress. “She’s right, guys, I forgot Rarity’s gem-finding spell. I don’t know why, but I just can’t, so I guess I’m no more use to you, and neither are my friends.” “We ain’t?” Applejack said puzzled. “Of course not, you ponies are all so darn lazy!” said Twilight sarcastically trying to trick the dogs into thinking they were all terrible slaves. “Why, Applejack, you didn’t do anything! And here you call yourself a good farm-pony?!” she took a chance to wink at Applejack and the others to get them to play along. “Uh……oh, right! Um, yeah! Yeah, I am lazy alright!” she joined in. “Lazy cuz……um……I haven’t been out in the warm sunlight at all! I’m in this here cold, dark cave and it ain’t makin things any better for me!” “Oh yes indeed…” said Fluttershy “I can’t do it either, I’m much more used to the great outdoors. This place just frightens me and is ruining my self esteem…” “Yeah, and how can I work with this ridiculous ball and chain tied around my hoof?!” said Rainbow Dash. “Yeah, and it’s too gloomy in here! It needs a bit more pizzazz, like balloons or streamers or something!” said Pinkie while the others looked at her rather hopelessly. “Yeah, and how can I do a job digging out stuff for you dogs when it’s the very thing that I eat!” Spike joined in. “Don’t you see, Diamond Dogs.” Twilight finished while coming forward trying to act all downtrodden and weakened from the work. “We’re not the ideal slaves for you. We weren’t made for this kind of work. Perhaps you should go out and find some cave trolls or something and bribe them with some roast-mutton.” She smiled at them nicely ever-so-certain that this would finally speak to them. “Uh……wow, you really aren’t that great of slaves…” said the little dog. “Yeah, we sure picked the wrong ones!” added the larger dog. “NO NO NO NO NO!!! Don’t you idiots see what they’re doing?!?” shouted the leader angrily to his friends. “They’re trying to get us to feel sorry for them! Just look at them!” he said pointing to them all while they had little halos over their heads. “Well they’re not going to fool me!” He then blew his little whistle and a guard dog came in pushing a large cage in front of him. “All of you get inside that cage right this instant!” “But, we haven’t even had a bite!” said Applejack starting to walk towards the hay bales. But a few other dogs came in with spears and backed them into the cage. Once they were in the cage, the leader slammed the door shut and the big dog took out a key and locked it. All the dogs then crept back into the shadows and inside some holes in the top of the walls where they came from. “If you little brats are going to try playing around with us and defying our authority, than you all deserve a little time out!” the leader shouted to them. Rainbow Dash had spent too much time getting angry and was finally starting to break down about ready to cry. “Twilight……” she said walking over to the rather disgruntled unicorn. “I know what you’re going to ask me to do, Rainbow Dash, and to be honest, I think I’m actually starting to get preeeeetty ticked off here!” she said angrily, the tension rising in her voice. Suddenly the door to the cave swung open and a guard dog came running in with urgent news. “Diamond Dogs, we’ve got trouble!” he said huffing and puffing. “Apparently, some strange pony has infiltrated our fortress and has come to rescue our slaves!” “WHAT?!?” all three of the dogs shouted. “How in Equestria did somepony get in here when it was so heavily guarded?!?” the leader asked. “I don’t know, but they’re on their way up here right now!” “It’s Princess Celestia!” shouted Twilight joyfully. “I knew she would figure out where we were somehow!” “But how could anyone figure out where we are?” said Rainbow Dash. “Rarity was trapped in the forest below; she couldn’t have gone to help this soon!” “Who said Rarity went to get help?” said a toned-down female voice from the entrance of the cave. They all looked and saw a dark silhouette of a pony in the doorway. Whoever it was, she was wearing a hat that looked like Applejack’s hat and had a mane and tail that were so horribly messed up it seemed as though she was a zombie pony. Her voice was too deep at the moment for it to be recognized, but she slowly started to walk in towards the middle of the cave where she could be seen in the light from above. Her voice and the creepy silhouette displayed seemed to frighten the Diamond Dogs at first, but as she made her way into the light, she spoke once again revealing her true identity. “Rarity is right here!” Spike and the ponies all stared at her completely dumfounded with their mouths open and their eyes widened. Rarity no longer looked like herself at all. Her coat was stained with dirt and grime everywhere and her hooves were very muddy. Her mane had lost it’s beautiful shine and the hairs were all out of place and a bit knotted up and it was sticking in every direction. The hat she was wearing was in fact Applejack’s; she must have found it on the way in. She had a somewhat crazed yet determined look on her face, as if she didn’t even care anymore about the effects of mud. She stared at the dogs trying to strike fear into their souls with her new “makeover” and the dogs did seem to appear scared at first. “Missed me, boys?!” “Ra-Ra-Ra-Rarity?!” said the dogs and the ponies and Spike all at the same time. “That’s Rarity?!” said Twilight. “Our Rarity?!” Applejack added. “Rarity, what happened to you?!” Spike asked wondering how this came to be. “What’s wrong, Spike? Did you honestly think that a bunch of mud was going to keep me from saving you all? You’re my friends, I would trot through a thousand miles of the muck and the mire to save you!” she said heroically. Spike then got a look of confidence on his face and turned to the ponies to boast of his insight. “Told you girls she would come to rescue us!” “Wow, and you sure were right about that, Spike!” Twilight said starting to smile. “You…you got past our guards at the entrance?!” asked the leader dog. “Oh yes, and it was not quite as difficult as you might expect! Your guards are some pretty dumb animals if you’d ask me!” she teased. “GRRRRRRR! Well then how about taking on an entire pack of dogs! UNLEASH THE HOUNDS!!!” he then blew his whistle and the guard dogs that Rarity hadn’t run into yet all came out of their holes from the walls and ceiling above and jumped down surrounding Rarity from all sides. “RARITY, NO!!!” Spike shouted from the cage. “Silence, Scaly One! Your Rarity might make a fine slave like you, but her persistence has proven her expendable! DIAMOND DOGS, ATTACK!!!” At first Rarity looked frightened by the multitude of monsters closing in on her, but then she put on a bold face and got ready to fight. This would be her moment to prove she meant business and get the dogs to let her friends go. One dog leaped forward for the kill. Acting quickly, she turned around, pulled her hind legs under her, and with a mighty thrust of her hooves, she bucked the dog square in the stomach sending him falling backwards in agony. The next dog leaped forward and the exact same thing happened. Two more dogs came at her at the same speed so she jumped in the air and they both slammed into each other’s faces and were knocked out. The rest of the dogs realized what was happening and thought maybe they should try different tactics, but they weren’t quick-minded enough to even catch her. She leaped up in the air on top of one’s head and the others tried to jump on her and tackle her, but she jumped over to another head so they ended up tackling each other over and over. The next series of beatings came from a few bucks in the face and some other tricks to get them to hit each other instead. None of the dogs were able to even touch her. Her anger against the Diamond Dogs and the safety of her friends had caused her to accelerate her strength and speed enough to evade the dogs and fight back. Even the dogs that missed grabbing her did eventually end up getting a brutal buck in the face to knock them out. They were dropping like flies. The Diamond Dogs watched in horror, but the leader had had enough. “Alright, that does it! Give me the keys!” he said as the big one handed him the keys to the cage. “But Boss, what are you gonna do? Are you gonna let them go?” he asked. “PSHT! And let her win? What do you think I am, a mouse or a dog?!” “Mouse----er, DOG!” Finally, Rarity bucked the last dog right in the rump because he was running from her and he flew straight into the wall smack-dead like a pancake. Rarity stood panting in the center surrounded by piles of dogs either knocked out or groaning in pain. She had won this round. “Well……That wasn’t so bad at all!” she said starting to get a bit over-confident. “What are you dogs going to do now, throw mud at me until I…” Suddenly she looked back at where the Diamond Dogs and her friends were and the leader had taken Spike out of the cage and was holding him by the spikes on his head with a spear pointing at him. “Give up, Rarity, or your little scaled friend here won’t be so lucky!” “RARITY, DON’T WORRY ABOUT ME, SAVE THE OTHERS!!!” Spike cried. Just then a great rage built up inside Rarity and she gritted her teeth and her pupils shrunk and the hat started glowing from her horn’s magic underneath. How dare they threaten an adorable baby dragon like Spike! They had taken it too far this time and now it was time for Rarity to unleash her secret weapon. “YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU BIG BULLY!!!” Then the spear started to glow and flew out of the leader’s paw and he started floating up in the air. He yelped and let go of Spike and started being dragged forward by Rarity’s magic and grabbed onto the big one’s legs who grabbed onto the little one’s legs who grabbed onto the cage door. But Rarity’s magic was too strong and pulled all three of them off the cage door and the lock broke and the door opened for the ponies. The dogs were brought over Rarity’s head and spun around at great speeds with her magic. “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAW!!!” Rarity shouted in her best cowgirl accent she picked up so quickly and so well. She laughed wildly and galloped around in circles as the dogs spun around flinging slobber everywhere and whimpering like little puppies. “WHAT’S THE MATTER BOYS?!? AFRAID TO TAKE ON A GIRL?!? AHAHAHA!!!” “Spike, are you ok?!” Said Twilight coming over to Spike who was on the ground outside the cage. “I guess………but look at Rarity you guys!” he said pointing to the mighty mare taking on the dogs. “Golly, I just can’t b’lieve what I’m seein!” said Applejack happily. “That Rarity’s sure got some spunk in her after all!” “That’s my girl!” said Spike romantically. “My lovely Rarity, come to rescue us all! I knew you wouldn’t give up on us oh my fair, beautiful…” then he noticed all the ponies staring at him perplexed. He blushed and then tried acting different to hide his feelings for Rarity. “Er…I mean…YEAH RARITY!” “YEAH, YOU GET EM, GIRL!!” shouted Pinkie Pie as everyone else joined in. Finally the punishment was over. Rarity pointed her horn towards a nearby stone wall and the dogs stopped spinning and were thrown right into the wall squashed on top of each other. They stuck to the wall for a few split seconds and then all fell down with their eyes swirling around and little birdies spinning around their heads. They were too dizzy to even see or speak. They couldn’t do anything to fight back anymore, they were completely defeated! “AND DON’T EVER LAY A PAW ON MY FRIENDS AGAIN!!!” she shouted at them. “YAY RARITY!!!” everyone shouted coming forward to congratulate her. “Rarity, that was amazing!” Twilight shouted. “Totally!” said Pinkie. “Yes indeed, Rarity! You rock, woohoo!” said Fluttershy in her signature silent cheering. “Yeah, you were awesome! You were like ‘GRRRRR’ and then the dogs were like ‘WAAAAAH!’ That was just EPIC!!” Rainbow Dash excitedly. She had never expected somepony as feminine as Rarity to do something so brave. She even wondered why she didn’t just try beating the dogs up herself. “Girl, that there was thee most mazin’ thing I’ve ever seen ya do in yer life!” said Applejack coming over to congratulate Rarity. “I toldja ya’d have to face yer fears someday and ya sure as hay did! I am so proud of ya!” “Oh thank you Applejack!” Rarity replied bashfully. “Why wouldn’t I after all? You are my friends and I love you all so much! No amount of mud can outshine that! Oh, and by the way, here is your hat.” she said using her magic to lift the hat and put it back on Applejack’s head. “Why thanks!” said Applejack looking at her hat. “Good ta have ya back ol’ friend!” “Rarity, you saved my life!” Spike said rushing over and hugging her not caring about all the dirt and mud covering her body. “Oh you’re welcome, Spike!” “AAAAAAAW!” said everypony at the adorable sight of Rarity and Spike. Just then one of the Diamond Dogs groaned a little without actually getting up. They were still in pain on the ground. They had bruises and scratches everywhere and their eyes were spinning around. The ponies all looked over a bit worried, but Rarity took care of things. “Oh, what about the Diamond Dogs?” asked Fluttershy. “Don’t worry, everyone, I will take care of them!” said Rarity as everyone else walked towards the entrance and she walked over to the dogs. They then started waking up and saw Rarity coming towards them. They got scared and shimmied up against the wall in horror. “STAY BACK, STAY BACK YOU WILD BEAST!!!” shouted the leader “YEAH, DON’T HURT US PLEASE!” the little one whimpered. “I just hope you boys have learned your lesson! Don’t you ever come near me or my friends again! Do you understand me?!?” she said staring at them angrily “YES, YES, WE PROMISE, NOW LEAVE US BE!!” they all screamed moving closer into the wall behind them. “That’s much better! I’ll be on my way then!” Rarity turned around and walked towards the entrance and then noticed the wagon the ponies were using and saw some gems in there she could use. “Oh, and I hope you boys don’t mind we take these gems. We did find them after all…” “What? No, those are our gems!” the leader said. “Yeah, they belong to us, pony!” said the big dog as they all started getting defensive again. Rarity then gritted her teeth at them and her horn started to glow. “ALRIGHT, FINE, TAKE THEM, TAKE THEM ALL!!” they cried getting scared again. “Thank you, boys! It’s been a pleasure!” she said trotting off carelessly with her friends as they helped her pull the wagon along. “I can’t believe this has happened to us!” the leader growled. “ I hate ponies! I HATE THEM! I never want to see another pony again! NEVER! Oh I should have just listened to my mother and become a lawyer or a doctor or something!” For a minute they all sat on the ground about to cry until they got angry at each other instead. “This is all your fault, you big lug!” said the little dog pointing at the big one. “Why didn’t you just fight back? You’re the strongest dog around!” “Me? But she was lifting us in the air! I couldn’t get to her up there! I don’t see you doing it either!” “Well I’m too small for that!” “Yeah, exactly! Small, and wimpy!” “Oooooh, so that’s how it’s gonna be huh?!” “OH WILL YOU TWO JUST SHUTUP!!!!!!!!!” the leader screamed loudly covering his ears. “YOU’RE STARTING TO SOUND WORSE THAN RARITY’S WHINING!!!” TO BE CONTINUED...