From her position on a hill, Luna studded a cave entrance in the valley below. The cave appeared to be unguarded but the Alicorn suspected that it wasn’t the case. As a plan formed in her mind the sound of something approaching drew her attention. As Luna turned, Shrouded Armour stepped out of the undergrowth. “How are the preparations proceeding, Captain?” Luna asked.
“We’ve made camp and the scouts have started their patrol, Princess.” Shrouded Armour answered.
“How long until we are ready to strike?”
“Not until after sunset at least; we pushed hard to get here and now everypony is exhausted.”
“But it is only mid morning!”
“It can’t be helped; we flew as fast as we could to get here.”
“We don’t have time to wait; it’s been four days since he was taken.”
“I understand, Princess. I know that you’re worried about Hunter and what they are doing to him but he is strong and he will be fine.”
“I hope so, Captain, I hope so.”
The last rays from the sun faded as Shrouded Armour and the Lunar Guard moved into position near the three entrances to the cave network they had found. Shrouded counted the seconds down silently, when he hit zero he sent the signal out and charged into the cave.
Angry growls echoed off the cave walls as the diamond dogs met the pony’s sudden intrusion. Shrouded Armour’s horn glowed as an amorphous shadowy blob formed around him and his fellow Guard. The dogs threw their spears at the invading ponies only to have them strike then get pulled into the shadow. One of the dogs charged forwards but quickly found itself caught in the shadow. Howling in rage it struggled in vain against the shadow as it was pulled in.
A second dog jumped over the shadow and landed on one of the guards. The Pegasus let out of shout of pain as the dog’s claws dug into his back. A part of the shadow rose and lashed out at the dog knocking it to the ground before it was engulfed in the shadow. The final dog turned to flee down a tunnel but was caught when the shadow shot out and grabbed him.
“Excellent work.” Luna states as she walked up behind the guards. “Now let us press onward and finish what we came here to do.”
The guards nodded and moved deeper into the tunnel with Luna following them. As the group rounded a sharp bend they entered into an area that widened. Finding steel bars closing off several alcoves the guards looked them over in curiosity. “What is this?” one of the guards asked. “They look like prison cells.”
“They are.” Luna answered. “Diamond dogs are know to kidnap other beings and force them into slavery. What is troubling is that they are empty.”
“How can the dogs not having slaves be troubling?”
“Because it means that something has happened to them.” Shrouded interjected. “Look closely; the locks are undamaged and the bars are unbent and accounted for. There was no escape, they were taken somewhere.”
Luna and Shrouded exchanged a grave look before the captain moved deeper into the tunnel. Once past the cages Shrouded entered a part where the cave split into several different directions. He studied each path for several moments before he picked the one that was furthest on the left. “This one.” he said pointing at it. The remaining guards and Luna started moving towards the tunnel when an explosion and screams could be heard coming from the tunnel on the far right. “Or that one...”
Without breaking stride Luna turned and rushed down towards the source of the sound. Shrouded blinked in surprise then chased after Luna, shouting at the other guards to follow. As they pressed further down the tunnel smoke started to slowly drift in and the screams changed into angry shouts. Rounding the last corner they entered onto a scene of mass chaos. Everywhere ponies were fighting diamond dogs, bucking and striking their would-be slavers, while the dogs used their crude weapons and claws against the ponies. A loud screech was heard as a griffon tackled a dog who was about to stab a young filly. At the far end of the cave Luna spotted Hunter as he fought against a large diamond dog that was covered in strange markings and wielding a staff. Everywhere around them the cave was cracked, threatening to collapse in on itself. Fire clung to anything that would burn, wood from the mine carts, makeshift bedding and clothing, even the fur of the deceased.
Wasting no time Luna entered the fray, her horn glowing as she fired off spell after spell against the diamond dogs. Following his princess, Shrouded summoned the amorphous shadow before entering the battle as well. The two pegasi guards looked at each other then took to the air; performing hit and run strikes against any foe they could find. Luna formed a translucent shield above her as a group of diamond dogs threw their spears at the alicorn. As the bounced harmlessly away, the shadowy blob that was summoned by Shrouded lashed out, grabbing the dogs and dragged them into its dark mass.
Luna unleashed another salvo of beams as she tried to make her way closer to Hunter. The ground beneath her shifted as a dog erupted from it. It swung its claw in and upwards arc, aiming to rip into the alicorn’s neck. Luna dodged to the side, but not completely as the claw dug into her shoulder instead. Luna let out a cry of pain and staggered backwards a few steps. His attention drawn by Luna’s shout, Shrouded Armour used his telekinesis to launch a second diamond dog into the one that had attacked Luna.
Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, Luna refocused on Hunter. The human’s back was turned towards Luna, but she could see that he was holding the dog upright with one of his hands. The diamond dog looked up at Hunter with fear, begging the human for something. Hunter’s reply was quick but inaudible due to the noise of the battle. The human said something then drove the crude blade that was in his other hand into the diamond dog. The two stayed liked that for a moment before Hunter released his grip and the dog crumpled to the floor.
Seeing this, the diamond dogs around Hunter began to falter as the human turned his attention onto them. The closest ones scrambled backwards as they desperately tried to put distance between themselves and Hunter. Seeing the panic in their pack mates, other diamond dogs began to panic and flee as well. Simultaneously, sensing a change in their foe’s resolve the ponies pressed harder as they continued their assault on the diamond dogs.
“Hunter!” Luna yelled, her voice rising over the noise of the battle.
Hunter turned his attention away from the dogs and towards Luna. He opened his mouth to speak when a second explosion tore through the cavern. Luna dropped to the ground, her horn glowing as she covered her had with her forehooves and raised a force field around herself and several nearby ponies. The alicorn strained to keep the shield in place as a ball of fire washed over it. As the fire dissipated, the cavern was left eerily silent.
Dropping the shield as she stood, Luna quickly survived the area around her; Shrouded Armour and the other Lunar Guard had survived the explosion, however two appeared to be severely burned. The majority of the imprisoned ponies had also made it through, but several of them lay unmoving on the ground. The remains of diamond dogs lay spread across the cavern floor, their fur smoldering from the fire.
“Hunter! Are you alright?” Luna called out when she couldn’t see the human. A groan from a newly opened chasm drew the alicorn’s attention. Looking past the chaos, Luna could barely make out a pair of hands clutching to the stone floor. A moment later, Hunter’s head appeared above the chasm’s edge. He looked directly at Luna. “Run.” he told her as the ground he was holding onto gave way and he disappeared. Luna jumped into the air, and dove to the chasm’s edge. “Hunter!” she yelled as she peered down into the hole only seeing an empty black expance beneath her.
“No!” Luna shouted in frustration before jumping into the air again. As she approached the chasm, Luna suddenly felt something pulling her back towards the cavern.
“Princess Luna!” Shrouded Armour shouted, his horn glowing as he used his telekinesis to pull Luna away from the abyss. “We need to leave!”
“We cannot leave! We haven’t finished what we have come here to do!” Luna shouted as she used her magic to break free of Shrouded’s telekinetic grasp.
“You’ll never be able to fly through something that narrow! There is no way to get to him before this place collapses in on itself.” Shrouded informed her. As if to emphasize his point, a third explosion could be heard emanating from somewhere deeper in the tunnels. “Luna, I’m sorry but it’s unlikely that he survived the fall. We need to focus on the ponies we can save!”
Luna stared at the chasm for a few more second before turning towards the others. “You are correct. Quickly, let us escape before we become entombed.”
The ground shook as yet another explosion could be heard. Cracks ran up the walls and across the ceiling, dust then small stones began to fall; then with a loud rumble the ceiling started to collapse. The slave ponies broke into a gallop as they fled the hall. The voices of the Lunar Guard could be heard over the noise as they tried to lead the captives to safety. Using their magic, Luna and Shrouded Armour formed a shield above the fleeing ponies. The group ran back towards the exit, dodge falling rocks as they went.
As Luna rounded the last corner a small pegasi filly tripped and fell in front of her. Without slowing Luna scooped up the small filly with her magic and carried her as she kept running. Seeing the exit ahead, Luna put on one last burst of speed as the ceiling between her and the exit began to give way. Summoning all the magic she could, a blinding flash filled the tunnel as Luna teleported herself and the others out of the cave and to the safety of the small valley.
As the teleport ended, Luna exhaled then collapsed to the grass. “Princess Luna!” Shrouded Armour yelled as he rushed over to the fallen princess. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, Captain.” Luna said weakly. “I am slightly fatigued after using such a large volume of magic. Once I have recovered we shall take these ponies to Canterlot so that they can be reunited with their families.”
“Very well, Princess; I shall instruct the Guard to break camp and bring the chariots.” Shrouded saluted and departed.
The small filly that Luna had carried out of the cave cautiously walked over to the alicorn then sat down so that she was resting on her hind legs alone. Using her front hooves, the filly performed a series of odd gestures. Luna gave the filly a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry child, but I do not understand.”
The filly remained silent for a moment before producing a small object and held it out to Luna. The alicorn lifted it with her magic and brought it close for study; it appeared to be a small doll woven out of hay in the shape that was distinctly human. “How did you come by this?” Luna asked. The filly said nothing, but gave another series of gestures in reply. Luna’s face grew stern, “Well, are you going to answer?” she demanded. The filly gave Luna a helpless look and another series of gestures.
Luna could feel the anger rising inside her when a voice called out to her. “Your highness, the poor filly cannot speak. Please don’t be angry with her.” a female griffon said as she moved up next to the filly.
Luna’s mouth hung open for a moment before she managed to recompose herself. “I am terribly sorry, child. Can thou ever forgive us our anger?” she asked lowering her head in shame. The filly remained still for several seconds then smiled warmly at the princess. “Thank you, child;” Luna smiled at the filly, “your forgiveness fills our heart. However, my question still remains; how did you come by this?”
“It was given to her, by the human.” the griffon replied for the filly. “He made several of them and gave them out to the young fillies and colts. I think he called them worry dolls.”
“Worry doll?” Luna asked, turning the item over as she studied it.
“He said that the doll does the worrying for the owner so that they can sleep at night without fear.” the griffon explained.
“I thought that the dogs had been torturing him. When did he have time to make these?”
“It is a long story, troubling story Princess. Are you sure you want to hear it?”
Luna thought it over for a few moments before answering. “It is not something that I want to hear, but something that I need to hear.” she stated.
“Very well, several days ago...”