Dash landed next to a mound of dirt with Gilda, Soarin’, and Spitfire. Scootaloo had crashed out here and vanished. It looked like the Diamond Dogs had stolen the filly.
“It’s time to launch a rescue mission,” Dash said. She pulled down her goggles. “I’m going to get the elements, I’ll be back in ten seconds flat.”
Scootaloo had awoken with a splitting headache. She had quickly had a collar and harness slapped on, and been told in no uncertain terms to pull carts of diamonds around. Unfortunately, the dogs seemed unable to comprehend this was a small filly and the cart weighed several hundred pounds.
“Look, it’s not gonna happen! I’m not strong enough!” Scootaloo said.
“Pony will pull the cart, or it gets punished!” the dog said. He was missing his left eye and had been aptly named Scar.
“Oh yeah? Well buck you. Any second Dash is gonna be here and kick your flank!” she replied.
“Nuh-uh!”
“Uh-huh!”
“Nuh-uh!”
“Uh-huh!”
“Shut up you two!” Boss yelled. “I swear, if you want something done right you’ve got to do it yourself.”
Boss came over and unhooked the cart. He grabbed Scootaloo by the wings and carried her out into another chamber.
“Ow! Hey stop, that hurts!” Scootaloo said. She tried not to flail too much as he tightened his grip on her wings.
“Talking chicken is annoying, you’ll be taken to the breaking room where we make annoying chickens behave.”
“Hey, nopony calls me chicken!”
Boss laughed. “I’m not a pony.” He tossed Scootaloo into a small room and slammed the door. Against the wall sat a diamond dog.
“Good morning, pony. I’m Spot. As you’re no doubt aware I’m here to break you, and make you obedient, like a good mutt.”
He stood up and began to circle around her. Scootaloo stood her ground, glaring at him. “The only thing you’re going to get is a flank kicking!”
“Tell me, little pony, how many gems are there on the wall?” Spot asked.
Scootaloo tilted her head to the side in confusion. “Uh, that’s easy, there’s four gems on the wall.”
“Wrong, there are three” Spot said. In a flash, his hoof hit her already sore ribs and sent her sprawling to the floor.
“Ow, what the hay?” Scootaloo said. She stood up and leapt at the diamond dog, trying to kick him in the throat. He grabbed her by the neck with one hand, and threw her against the wall with the gems.
“How many gems are on the wall, pony?”
Scootaloo gasped as she recovered. There was a sharp twinging pain spreading through her lungs, making it hard to breathe. “F-four gems.”
“There are three gems.” She saw his paw swipe at her and curled up, taking the blow on her legs this time. It still sent daggers of pain through her chest.
She lay there in silence for a minute, finally looking up to see him waiting patiently.
“How many gems are there?” he said.
Scootaloo looked at the door behind him. It was a heavy wooden door, likely locked. Also, this diamond dog was easily five times her size and much stronger. Given her injured state, he was no doubt quicker. If what the other prisoners had said, they would not hesitate to kill her.
She thought back to her sister, and asked herself “what would Dash do?” The answer was simple. Dash would never quit, never surrender. She would resist and hang on, knowing her friends would come for her. Scootaloo decided to do the same.
“There are—” Scootaloo cringed,” four lights.”
She opened her eyes after a moment to see Spot shaking his head disapprovingly. He lifted a paw, and Scootaloo cowered back into the corner. “There are three lights.”
Half the town of Ponyville seemed to be out searching for Scootaloo, or at least a way into the Diamond Dog caves. Even if they found an entrance, they’d have to find their way through the maze of caves to find her.
It had come to Dash’s attention that Scootaloo wasn’t the only missing filly. Recently several children, as well as a few adults like Berry Punch, had vanished. At first, they suspected the children had gotten lost playing near Sweet Apple Acres. Now that it had been a few hours, they suspected the Diamond Dogs had the audacity to raid Ponyville.
A letter had been sent to Celestia, but Dash already knew what had to be done. The Diamond Dogs had taken something precious from her, and she was going to beat the snot out of them until she found her sister.