The SUF- A movement seeking to unify all species of Equestria through the removal of the Monarchy. Dart is a young griffin with good reason to hate the false goddess. As he slips deeper into this militant faction can he stay true to his morals?
The Species Unification Front- An organization dedicated to creating true harmony between all races of Equestria by any means possible. This militant guerrilla group fights for the rights of Equestria's minorities, the species left desolate by the Equestrian superpower. It does so without remorse, and with a single goal in mind: the death of the Princess and complete social revolution.
When Dart's world is shattered by the Monarchy, the young griffin seeks out the organization that fights for the only thing he still believes in. But as the lines between right and wrong blur, Dart's faith in the SUF will waver, as he's tossed head over tail into the political frying pan that is Equestria.
From the Diary of Talwar Nightwind; SUF Canterlot Faction Leader circa 989
From the earliest of days, there has been tension between the species of Equestria. As far as one cares to look back into the annals of history, examples of skirmishes, wars and inter-species rivalries can be found. These conflicts are typically based around the same crucial issues, these being the differences in diet between species, xenophobia stemming from centuries old conflict, and the natural instinct of all species to converge into homogenous groups, packs or herds, shunning outsiders.
In this modern age though, a phenomenon is occurring that may be seen to challenge this centuries old situation. In this age we may observe entire populations consisting of members of numerous species co-existing peacefully and without incident. The question that must be asked then is why this abrupt change in population demographic has occurred.
The first notable observation that must be made when considering these new heterogeneous communities is the distinct lack of Equus Sapiens, or ponies. What phenomenon is causing the creation of multicultural towns and villages lacking in one specific species? When considering this question, the very nature of pony society as it stands now, must be taken into account.
The primary cause of this division lies in the expansive nature of Equestria itself. As more land is cultivated and settled by ponies, more and more species have found themselves in close proximity to pony population centers. Combining this proximity with the natural herding nature, and the tendency for ponies to distrust other species, particularly omnivorous or carnivorous species often leads to conflict, followed by the eventual upheaval of local indigenous communities.
In the past fifty years, the amount of land settled and the numbers of displaced has grown exponentially. Finding refuge in these mixed species communities has simultaneously proved beneficial and detrimental to inter-species relations, with discontent towards pony society rampant in such communities.
In response to outbreaks of violence towards colonialists and settlers, the implementation of species specific legislation by the Monarch has both served to hamper relations and send this discontent underground. Hunting bans placed on what used to be ancestral grounds have rallied the gryphon clans to our cause, the zebras of the plains have been spurred into action by the illegalisation of their alchemies, a weapons ban forbidding non-ponies from carrying knives and swords has brought the weapons trade into our capable hands, a new source of income that funds our cause. All of this legislation meant to disempower us only makes us more resolute in our stand.
But it is not ponies as a whole that I stand against. Were it my choice, the ponies of Equestria would live side-by-side with all other species. No, rather it is the governing framework that is to blame. It is the Monarchy that has plotted the course of a nation, and it is this Monarchy against which I will fight.
For a thousand years, the pony Princess has disregarded the plight of hundreds of thousands of beings, has fed the lies and propaganda, the specism and the stereotypes that plague pony society. And only the removal of the Monarch will bring about the unity of all races in true harmony.
---
“We are a circle of pony friends, a circle of friends we'll be 'til the very end!”
Rakk clicked his beak appreciatively as the young hatchling finished her impromptu dance and song number, memorised by heart from the previous night’s performance. His daughter gave a little bow and a giggle as the gryphon nuzzled her affectionately.
“Very well done Elora!” Rakk exclaimed, sweeping up his daughter and placing her in the small of his back. “Wasn’t that something Dart?”
The Westwing household was typical Canterlot fare, all archways and expansive rooms, an open, airy living area. While the huge rooms would otherwise be freezing in the middle of winter, the huge open fireplaces that occupied most rooms of the house crackled merrily, filling the house with warmth.
“Aye, it sure was” Dart deadpanned with a roll of his eyes, the smile on his face ruining the facade. The young gryphon followed his father back into the dining room, where the most delicious scent, one that had been distracting him all morning, invaded his senses. His curiosity piqued, the fledgling gripped the edge of the table with his foreclaws and, balancing on his two rear paws, stared wide eyed at the feast laid out before him.
Hearts Warming was very much a pony tradition, but living in Canterlot meant that the small avian family of four had learned to adapt to certain things. This would be their second Heart’s Warming, and if there was one thing Dart had loved about the last one, it had been the food.
“Dart Westwing, you keep those claws off the food until it’s done!” A scolding tone interrupted the young gryphon’s train of thought, and he froze, palm outstretched, inches from a bowl of freshly baked bread.
Dart blinked, a sheepish look on his face. “I wasn’t gonna...”
“Eat it all?” his mother finished for him, a gentle smile on her beak. “Go and wash up now, the stew won’t be another five minutes.” Dart grinned and rushed upstairs, earning a soft chuckle from his mother. “That boy will be the death of me yet” she smiled as she returned to the stove.
“He’s got an appetite like his Pa” Rakk remarked as he joined her, little Elora in tow. “Means he’ll grow up big and strong, like me.”
“Just so long as he doesn’t grow outwards like his Pa did” Ida Westwing smirked as she poked her husband’s midriff with her wooden spoon.
“Och, now that’s just a wee bit unfair” Rakk remarked, the burr in his accent more pronounced with his surprise at his wife’s sudden and ruthless betrayal. “There’s naught but muscle on this bird!”
Ida giggled as Dart joined them, the young gryphon’s eyes fixated on the table of food. The variety of food was something else, with meat stew, pasties, potato salad and a whole roasted turkey to cap it off.
The quantity of food was also staggering. While gryphons were permitted to eat meat within the nation of Equestria for health purposes, there was extremely strict legislation regarding the acquisition of animal flesh. After ten years of eating strips of dried venison, the smell of a rich stew was almost mesmerizing the young gryphon. His father leaned in, murmuring into Dart’s ear.
“Best not to go telling your pony friends about this one then, eh Dart?” Rakk winked as his son’s head bobbed up and down obediently.
“Stop teasing Rakk, and come sit down” Ida chided him, and began to dole out the food.
“Hey Pa?” Dart asked after a moment of comfortable silence.
“Aye son?” Rakk’s attention was focused almost exclusively on the meal in front of him. The older gryphon smiled thankfully as his wife handed him a plate of food, and leaned forward to take a deep breath over the plate of turkey. “Now that’s the stuff”
“I was over at Featherflow’s house for lunch yesterday” the youngling started.
“Aye, go on son.” Rakk spooned a large chunk of stew up and went to eat.
“Their whole family thanks Princess Celestia before every meal. Why don’t we ever say grace?”
There was a clatter as the spoon fell from Rakk’s grasp. Staring down at his food with a dark expression, Rakk growled softly.
“Pa?” Dart asked, his eyes widening.
“Eat your lunch son.” Rakk picked his spoon back up, shoving an enormous chunk of venison stew into his beak, making a show of enjoying it.
A combination of self-preservation and hunger had Dart picking up his cutlery and joining the rest of his family. The young gryphon was not distracted enough by the food though to miss the look shared by his parents. Nor was he naive enough to forget his father’s reaction.
Dart kept a steady eye on his parents as they finished the cleaning up. The awkward glances they shared when they though he wasn’t looking were enough to tip him off. Soon enough they were heading upstairs, the same way they always would when they needed to have a private conversation. Slipping outside into the snow, Dart crept along the side of the house until he reached the gutter. With the ease that only comes from practice, the young gryphon leapt up, snagging a small ledge with one claw and the gutter with the other.
After a brief scramble, Dart was on the roof, and making for his parent’s window. For the last couple of years, this had been his method, his means of finding out what his parents were talking about, particularly when school results came out and the end of each semester. When his flight feathers grew out in a year or so, he wouldn’t even need to bother with the climb.
Creeping along the rooftop, he snatched up a small piece of metal, carefully hidden in a notch he’d dug out previously. Using the metal piece to pry open the window a smidgeon, he leaned over, balanced precariously to listen in.
“...Just doesn’t know Rakk” Ida spoke softly, her voice full of concern.
“Aye, ah know. But that pox-ridden Princess has taken enough from this family without my son doting on her like one of her little ponies.” Rakk’s voice was sharp and serious. “Sooner or later he needs to be told, and it might as well be sooner.”
“Rakk, he’s only ten, what good will come of...”
“He’s older than I was when it happened.” Rakk spat out, hatred seeping into his speech.
“Rakk...”
“Do you really think he’s never going to ask about his grandparents? That... whorse... took them from me, and I will not let it happen again. Not to anyone I love.”
“He’s still a fledgling though.” Ida reminded him. “And fledglings get ideas that can lead them astray. Do you really want him joining up with the Species Unification Front? I barely got you back in one piece; I can’t let that happen again.” Sobs were threatening to overcome her, and past the heavy curtains, Dart could picture his mother holding on to her tears as she pleaded.
His father sighed, some of the anger from his previous spiel being let go. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. The Front needs all the able bodied gryphons it can get.”
“No...” gasped Ida. “Please Rakk.”
“I won’t tell Dart about his grandparents” Rakk spoke more softly now, a hint of guilt in his voice as his wife sobbed. “But I’m joining back up. I have to, it’s just who I am.”
“Promise me Rakk. Promise me you’ll come back every day, alive and well.” Ida’s voice grew a little sharper as she went on. “Promise me that you’ll always be there as a father for our children and that you won’t die in the gutter after some botched crusade.”
A pregnant silence filled the air. Rakk sighed. “I can’t” he said. “You know I can’t. But I still need to do this.”
And with that, Dart heard his father leave the room, the only sound remaining was his mother’s muffled sobbing.
That night, Rakk took an extended business trip to Appaloosa. Tucking his son and daughter into bed with a kiss on the head for sweet dreams, that was the last night that Dart ever slept easily.
That was the last night that Dart ever saw his father.
The patrol marched past at a brisk pace, their gilded armor glinting in the light of the fading sunset. This would be their second-to-last pass through this area before their shift ended. When they first stepped out of the barracks in the late morning, their strides had been sure and swift, their coats a glossy white that shone nearly as brightly as their armor. Now though, if one knew where to look, the signs of fatigue were obvious.
Heavier breathing, visibly matted fur, and a very slight droop to their tails. These four ponies were tired.
Dart Westwing peered over the mound of trash and refuse by the side of the road. His choice of hiding place had been made after much careful deliberation. Some fifteen meters from the side of the road, he lay in the shade cast by the retreating sun. The wind was in his favor, though he knew that amongst the heaps of refuse that the advantage was likely unnecessary. Moving slowly, he curled his claw around his weapon, gripping it tightly.
Their attack had to be executed flawlessly. Any less and the results could be disastrous.
As his gaze flitted about, he could barely make out the other stationary forms around him. His brethren were doing a good job of remaining unseen, as each had scouted the area well in advance for the best points of attack. Here and there though, they betrayed their presence to him. A tiny pool of sunlight that revealed a section of black and white fur, a brown paw slightly protruding from behind an overturned rubbish can, the tuft of a lion's tail moving slightly in the breeze.
He was being pedantic though. There was no way that one of the guards could see them from the path, not when he himself, knowing of their presence could barely make them out. He shifted his stare back to the approaching patrol.
Wait until you can see the whites of their eyes
That particular piece of advice, once passed down to young fledglings when they became old enough to begin hunting, now applied doubly to this situation. A botched attempt while hunting meant going hungry. Failing here could cost him his life.
Watch for any sign of weakness
One of the guards, a pegasi, reached into a small pouch on his side, procuring a canteen. Using his prehensile primary feathers, he began to unscrew the lid, focusing intently in his thirst. The unicorn next to him glanced over hopefully, licking his dry lips.
And strike when that moment presents itself
"Skreeeeeee!"
Leaping from behind his cover with a loud cry, Dart heaved the large chunk of rock at the guards. As the projectile flew towards the shell-shocked soldiers, the young griffin heard similar battle cries echo out from around him.
"Pluck the Tyrant!" Another griffin, this one his sister, yelled, hurling a rock of her own.
"For my people!" A flaming bottle of liquid flew towards the patrol as a male zebra stepped from behind his cover.
The result was pure carnage. Dart's chunk of rock glanced off the lead unicorn's horn, putting him out of commission as he fell to the street with a grunt of pain. The second rock was also fairly effective, striking the leg of the thirsty pegasus and sending him tumbling. The improvised firebomb went whizzing past the ear of the second unicorn, and broke on the ground nearby, igniting the contents and scorching the final unlucky earth pony guard.
Perhaps the most effective assault though, was yet to come.
"Yaaaarggh!" A flurry of rocks, sticks and filth was sent flying through the air by a diamond dog, his paws working furiously as he sent an entire pile of refuse hurtling towards the downed patrol.
As the guards struggled to regroup and draw their weapons, the tirade of trash came down upon them like a foul smelling wave. Dirt mud and other questionable substances, as well as sticks and rocks coated their once magnificent personages. Hacking and spluttering, retching and dry-heaving, the two guards left standing grabbed their wounded companions and began to drag them behind cover on the opposite side of the road.
Throwing another rock at the retreating soldiers, Dart yelled to his companions.
"Alright lads, time to go!".
Sure enough, the remaining unicorn's horn lit up, sending a flare of bright light into the sky above. Turning his back to the scene, Dart made off down the windy alleyways of the poor district, ducking, weaving and taking sharp turns until he was certain that he wasn't being followed. Removing the face-mask from his beak, he dropped it on the ground, brushed himself free of dust and began walking leisurely through the alleys of Canterlot, whistling as he went.
---
The old church stood tall amongst the decrepit buildings surrounding it, a testament to the strength and expertise of the diamond dogs who built it. It better times it had been a centerpiece of the community for the small number of dogs living in Southern Canterlot. In the more recent years following the increase in species division however, the mighty structure became disused, it's masonry crumbling, and the pews gathering dust. As more dogs left the city to live away from the ponies, their mighty structures fell into disrepair, and despite the efforts of those that remained, this church was no different.
As the law-abiding citizens mourned the loss of a community though, less-than-legal organizations saw an opportunity.
On the corner of Pawprint Street and Horseshoe Avenue, in the center of the poor district, the church was far enough removed from the eyes of the Princesses that it soon became a hotspot for rebel activity within the city. Guards dared not tread deep enough into this area of town to be a problem, and as such it was the perfect place to meet and discuss illegal activity away from prying eyes.
Even as shadowy cloaked figures prowled the streets around him, Dart allowed a spring to enter his step. In the six years that followed the death of his father and his family's fall from grace at the hooves of the princess he had quickly overcome his fear of these streets. A young griffin was no target for thieves, nor was he easy prey for predators of any other variety.
Pulling the hood of his cowl up, Dart rounded the corner of a low wall surrounding the old church, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that he was not the first one back.
Leaning up against the cold, crumbling stone of the chapel, Elora grinned cheekily at him as he came into view.
"You took your time getting back here." She said, straightening up and approaching him.
"Haha, more like I didn't know it was a race." Dart replied, rolling his eyes as he shared a brief hug with his sister. "Still, I guess you did make impressive time."
"Damn straight I did." She smiled as she pulled back. "And did you see that throw? Got him right in the horn."
"Pretty sure that was my rock. Yours got the pegasus. Though I suppose it was still a good throw."
Before their discussion could devolve into the inevitable argument, they were interrupted by the arrival of two others. Sprinting around the corner at breakneck speeds, a zebra and a diamond dog tumbled into a heap nearby.
"Who won, who won?" the zebra panted.
"It was obviously me" the diamond dog replied with a growl. "And would you mind getting the hell off?"
"Why did no-one tell me it was a race?!" shouted Dart, throwing a claw up into the air in exasperation.
"Call it a draw you two." Elora said, stalking towards the entrance to the church. "Also, get a room after we report in. There's no time for hanky-panky on the job." She chuckled as she pulled the door open and slipped into the disused church.
The zebra who came out on top of the tangle blushed at that comment, while the diamond dog chuckled.
"You know, Akua, maybe we should get a room when this is over." the canine murmered, nuzzling the embarrassed zebra.
"Raaafe" whined the zebra. "Not in front of other people".
Dart faked a gag, smiling a little at the couple's antics. Akua and Rafe were an extreme example of a relationship that would draw the ire of the Monarchy down upon them with the intensity of the sun. Not only were homosexual relationships illegal, interspecies pairings too were punishable by law. Each would be looking at hard prison time and possible castration should they be found guilty. And it was a rare thing indeed for a non-pony to be found innocent in the eyes of the law.
"Come on, both of you." he sighed good naturedly. "If I leave you both out here together, who knows when you'd care to join us inside."
Finally extraditing themselves, the pair grinned back at him.
They were an odd couple, even disregarding the fact that they were of different species. Akua's long mane fell into bangs over his green eyes, soft eyes that disguised his hardy nature earned through seventeen years as a homeless orphan on the city streets. While the zebra was often shy in social situations, he was tough as nails in a fight, this Dart knew. A quiet and reserved individual most of the time, Akua was another zebra entirely if pushed too far.
Rafe, on the other claw, was a diamond dog with an honest heart and a 'what you see is what you get' approach to the world. The tall, brown dog was already grown to his full height, as with most diamond dogs at age sixteen. Rafe was always straightforward with his feelings and opinions, and had a good sense of humor. He was also easily the strongest of the four, his natural diamond dog magic allowing him to lift weights far beyond the capabilities of even an earth pony.
Together, the four of them had been through enough over the past six years to last a lifetime. They had fought together and bled together. A 'bucked up little family' as they like to refer to themselves.
"Alright." Rafe said, walking past Dart and through the open doorway. "Let's go see what the bossdog thinks. "Akua followed him in, the remnants of a blush still adorning his muzzle.
As Dart entered the church and closed the door behind him, a dry chuckle echoed through the musty church.
"Ah, excellent, you're all here. I heard about your success. Very good."
An elderly diamond dog stood off to the west side of the church, his hood pulled all the way up over his eyes. Rosco was a high ranking member of the SUF, in charge of many of the movement's younger members and potential recruits. Not a lot was known about him, but the consensus amongst the young blood was that he was a hard taskmaster who was difficult to please and impossible to impress.
Rosco smirked at them as he raised a paw to his lips. The cherry glow of a spliff illuminated his black and tan muzzle slightly under the hood as he breathed in, then exhaled the pungent smoke.
"How long has it been since the four of you first worked for us?" he asked, taking one last long drag, then tossing the roach to the ground.
"Six years now sir." Dart dared to answer for them. "We all joined up around the same time."
"Six years with us, doing everything from running packages to disturbing the peace." Rosco chuckled. "The four of you are some of our most promising recruits. And yet you are content with merely throwing stones and hurling insults at soldiers? Certainly, throwing stones can be satisfying, but have any of you wanted to do more for our cause?"
He turned towards Dart, who listened intently with Elora by his side. "Young Westwings, your father was a great soldier in his time. He was a great leader, and a personal friend to me. Dart, you show a remarkable talent for leadership that has been a true benefit to your friends. And Elora, you have a drive as strong as your father's. Do you not wish to follow in his stead? To avenge him? The two of you could have that chance."
"Rafe. Your parents fight the good fight even now, smuggling into the city the gems and gold that keep our organization afloat. They work hard towards a future where the ruling class of ponies does not suppress their fellow beings. They fight for a world where we are not discriminated based upon our class, or species, or orientation. Would you fight to protect the ones you care about and end these injustices against them?"
Now, he swiveled to stare at Akua, who fidgeted a little at the sudden attention. "And Akua. You never knew your parents, did you? But you did grow up on the streets of this fair city." He gestured dismissively with a paw as he continued. "You've seen the worst of it all, the morally vacuous guard, the corrupt and greedy preying on the most vulnerable. They grew fat while you struggled to survive beneath their hooves. Wouldn't you like to be in control for once, live your life without the fear of being mugged, or murdered or used?"
Dart stepped forward. "I know my answer. And I get the feeling that we all do. I've been waiting for six years to move up this ladder." He grinned, and couldn't help but let a slight burr of an accent into his reply. "Aye, Ah would like to do more. We all would."
Rosco smiled widely at the enthusiastic youngster before him.
"How much do the four of you know about our organization?" Rosco asked softly as he padded over towards a door on the western side of the church.
The group of four exchanged confused glances.
"Well, we fight for the rights of non-pony races" Akua started hesitantly.
"We do, though there is a little more to it than that." Rosco agreed. "But I was speaking in less general terms. What is it, exactly, you think we do?"
"My folks smuggle gems into the city..." Rafe started. "But I don't actually know where they go or what they're used for..." He trailed off, scratching his head, slightly embarrassed.
"And we like to keep it that way." The older dog nodded amiably as he pulled open the door. Before stepping through the doorway though, he turned to address the group of friends, his voice turning to steel in the blink of an eye. "Now, nothing you see or hear from here on out is mentioned to, or in front of anyone I do not give you permission to talk to. So that we are clear, if any one of you causes our operations to become compromised, I will kill you myself. Do I make myself understood?"
After a round of affirmation, he nodded slowly and turned away again. "Follow me."
Slipping through the small doorway, they followed the Rosco into the Chapel. The smaller room was occupied by a single row of pews set in front of an altar. In comparison to the main hall of the church, the chapel was well kept. There was no dust accumulating on the furniture, and the altar, upon which sat a well read religious text, was immaculate. A small door, similar to the one they had entered from, and locked with a small silver padlock was the only other object of interest.
In modern Equestrian society, for the most part, religion was a non issue. Ponies grew up believing in nothing of higher power than the benevolence and grace of their ruler. After all, when your princess raises the sun each morning and lays it to rest in the evening, there is precious little reason to turn to a higher power for guidance.
Non-equines too recognized the power in Celestia's hooves, though you would be hard pressed to find a griffin or zebra who would willingly prostrate themselves before her as her little ponies did. Perhaps if one were to travel several centuries back in time, one could find an aerie of griffins who worshiped the wind goddess Zephara, or a tribe of zebra who practiced hoodoo. These ways of life though lay well in the past, a casualty to modernization.
The Diamond Dogs though were a proud people who took great pride in their religious beliefs. Attempts by the Monarchy to stamp out the Church of Stone had been met with a flurry of violence, and a backlash against the government that continued to this day. The Church was the single largest financial backer of the SUF, and its network was the sole reason that the movement remained in existence.
Chief amongst their beliefs was their acceptance of the earth as a living force. The Stone Mother was not an entity to be taken lightly. A martially minded religion that considered strength of body and character the ultimate tenet, the Church of Stone remained a very real presence in the surrounding countryside.
Here in Canterlot though, this small chapel was a final bastion of the earth in a city of the sun.
As the group entered and took stock of the small room, Rosco cleared his throat. "Got some new blood here Finch."
Dart frowned slightly. The room was empty, so who was the old dog talking to? A sudden movement caused the griffin to take a step back in surprise as a pile of cloth in the corner shifted. From what the young griffin had taken at first glance to be a stack of habits, a muzzle emerged. Then the pile of cloth stood up.
An enormous Diamond Dog, all of six feet tall and rippling with muscles rose to his feet, towering over each of them. An easy grin on his face clashed with steely eyes as he regarded the four newcomers. "New blood, huh?" he stretched, popping his back several times with a sigh. "Any excuse to give the old legs a workout. Name's Finch."
After giving them a moment to introduce themselves to the monstrous dog, Rosco turned to the group. "Finch here is one of our enforcers. But, after he pissed off one of the higher ups..."
"The bitch was drop dead gorgeous." Finch rolled his eyes. "How was I meant to know who her father was?"
"Uh huh..." Rosco intoned. "Since then he's been relegated to security work."
"Which is far more boring than it sounds." The larger dog grumbled as he withdrew a small silver key from within his bundle of clothes. Fumbling for a moment, Finch slid the key into the padlock. Leaving it there for several seconds without turning it, he withdrew it from the lock as a quiet click echoed through the small room.
The strange ritual didn't go unnoticed as Dart's eyebrows raised in curiosity. Rosco gave the griffin an approving glance.
"An added security measure in case someone overpowers the doordog, as unlikely as that may be" he explained.
"What happens if they turn the key?" Elora asked, edging away from the door.
"We lose our last place of worship in this city." Rosco replied solemnly. "Better blown to bits than desecrated by Her guards." He paused, silent for a moment. "Follow me please."
With a last nod to Fitch, the grizzled dog shepherded them through the doorway and into an even smaller room, this one piled high with disused furniture. A neat stack of pews sat in one corner next to the grand old organ that dominated the room. Occupying almost the entire northern wall, the instrument was truly an impressive specimen. Like the altar in the previous room, it was pristine, and appeared to be in full working order.
Taking a seat upon the short stool that stood before the keys, Rosco grinned at them. "Another security measure. If the wrong key is pressed twice in a row, the same trap is triggered and the roof comes down on us. Let's see if I can't remember how this goes."
Cracking his knuckles, he laid his paws gently down on the keys and began to play. A jarring sound cut through the air, causing all five to flatten their ears against their heads. Rosco scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, I never was good with the chords" he said, chortling. "Let's try that again."
As the diamond dog brought his paws back up for another go, the door behind them swung open, and a manic Fitch stepped into the room. "Wait, Rosco, stop!" he bellowed, paw outstretched in desparation.
"Huh?" The older dog turned. As he did so though, his paw continued its movement, now widely off-mark due to his sudden movement. As it came down on a large number of keys, the four young ones screamed in panic.
An eruption of noise escaped the organ, a harsh, jarring scream. Then nothing.
Dart, Elora, Akua and Rafe's screams died down as laughter filled the room. Rosco wheezed and spluttered as their sheer terror turned into dumbfounded disbelief.
"That one never gets old." He panted, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye as his merriment subsided. Seeing their bewilderment quickly turning to anger, he scoffed at them. "If that old thing was booby trapped, we'd be losing new recruits faster than a dropped gold bit in the marketplace."
Fitch rolled his eyes at his old friend's antics. "I can't believe you convinced me to help you with this, look at the poor newbies, I think you nearly gave that zebra a heart attack."
The young ones anger quickly faded as they began to see the funny side of the prank. Extracting himself from Elora's deathgrip, Dart couldn't help but chuckle at Rafe and Akua, as the pair tried to untangle themselves for the second time that day. As Rosco's paw had come down on the organ, a purely subconscious reflex on the part of Rafe had seen him throwing himself across the room in an attempt to shield Akua from harm. Now, blushing furiously, the young dog was helping the zebra to his hooves, where he received a nuzzle for his trouble.
Placing his paws back onto the keys, Rosco played a short sequence of notes. With a grating sound, a section of wall beside the organ swung back, revealing a concealed room. A little bigger than a wardrobe, the room's only purpose seemed to be as concealment for the trapdoor that took up most of the floorspace.
"You carry on with your guard duties Fitch, I'll show these young ones the ropes." He remarked over his shoulder. With a grunt of acknowledgement and a grin, the enormous dog sidled back out into the chapel, closing the door behind him.
"One moment." Rosco stated, reaching behind the stack of pews and retrieving an oil lantern. Pulling a matchbox from a pocket, he struck a match and lit the lantern. "The road ahead is somewhat dark."
Pulling the trapdoor open, the elderly dog clutched the lantern in one paw and started down the ladder, the light of the flame illuminating the darkness below him. "The ladder is short, but those with hooves should be careful." With that, the old dog disappeared from sight.
Swallowing dryly, Dart glanced at the others. Each of them gave him the same look of nervous excitement back. Today, six years of running errands and petty crime would finally pay off. Today marked the start of something great, he was sure of it.
"To new beginnings." The griffin muttered as he stepped towards the trap door.
The tunnel was narrow, and extremely musty. With so many twists and turns Dart soon lost his bearings. After a full twenty minutes the young griffon realised that by now, the group could be anywhere in lower Canterlot. The single light source was barely enough for the party to see by, more than once Dart's talons would catch on hidden crevices in the uneven stone, and he would trip. Rosco seemed unbothered, leading the stumbling, bewildered teens through the darkness at a brisk pace without a glance backward at the muffled curses and occasional whine.
The path branched off at irregular intervals, the older dog confidently taking lefts and rights seemingly indiscriminately. At last, the group came to a stop as Rosco held the lantern high, illuminating a sturdy looking grate. Thick vertical bars ran from the roof of the tunnel to the ground.
"Um..." Akua began, confused, before being interrupted by stern look from the old dog.
Gripping one of the central two bars, Rosco pulled sideways. Metal squealed against metal as the bars shifted sideways. They were on a runner, Dart realised with fascination. Had he not been shown otherwise, he would have sworn they had come to a dead end.
Smiling wryly, Rosco beckoned them through the new opening, closing the grate behind them.
"The light up ahead improves" he stated. "We won't need the lantern any more. By the time you're done learning, you'll be running these tunnels without one anyway."
With a sharp exhale, Rosco extinguished the small flame. Sure enough, though it was still very dark, the group could still make out their general surroundings.
"Your eyes will adjust. Follow me."
A short walk down the tunnel later, the visibility began to improve noticeably. All of a sudden, the path widened out into a huge expanse of wide empty space. With a start, Dart gazed around him in wonder.
The group was now standing some distance from the edge of what appeared to be an immense underground canyon, from the bottom of which light shone to illuminate the cave. Unable to help himself, the young griffon ran to the edge of the cliff, gazing down in wonder and the fantastic sight.
Built into the side of the canyon in deep alcoves and atop flat rock ledges was a city. Far from anything the group had been expecting, the noise of thousands of beings filtered through to the top of the canyon. This was no simple militia. This was a fully functioning urban area.
"Stones..." Rafe breathed, as he too peered over the edge, far more cautiously than the winged griffon. "This is..."
"Dog work, aye" Rosco nodded, "The Church of Stone will not go quietly into the day like those before us. The work was long and hard, over twenty years to sculpt the canyon into a place suitable for non-canine species, but today it serves as a safe haven for any and all associated with the Church, including the Front."
"But the guard, surely you can't possibly hide this?" Dart asked, agape.
"Oh they know it exists" Rosco smiled. "We've had our fair share of traitors and informants. But the Earth provides, and the Stone hides us away from prying eyes. The ponies are taught that only unicorns can cast spells, that pegasi and earth ponies have their own subtle magics. They know nothing of dogs. This is our own magic at work. Welcome to Quarry."
"Stay close" Rosco said firmly. "The SUF operates openly here, and is respected, but you'll still come across plenty who'll be willing to take advantage of newcomers."
Falling in behind him, the four young recruits began the descent down the side of the cliff face. Stone steps stretched hundreds of meters down and across the gorge. Certainly, it would be an arduous trek back up.
As they neared the bottom of the steps, four diamond dogs positioned at the sides of the path stood, spears resting on their shoulders. Upon recognising Rosco, they stood at attention, saluting briskly. Nodding back, the old dog led the group onwards and into the city proper.
From atop the canyon the city had looked to be fairly small, but as he swept his gaze from side to side, Dart could see that his estimate had been far from the mark. Over half the city had been obscured from view, hidden from sight in an alcove that looked like it stretched back forever. In all, it spanned an area the size of downtown Canterlot.
Most striking though, were the buildings. Each was seemingly carved from the solid stone wall, and reached from cave-top to ground, with several levels. Rope and wood bridges spanned these upper levels, crisscrossing in a spiderweb. The roads were channels, carved into the rock. Overhead, griffins flew between buildings, careful not to come too close to the many torches that burned with magical flames on the rock face. Diamond dogs, zebras and the occasional pony could be seen crossing the many bridges too, going about their day-to-day.
"It's like a city built on a city, built on a city!" Akua exclaimed in awe, before blushing wildly at the grins and laughs of the nearby locals.
"First things first." Rosco said as they wound their way through crowded streets. "You four will be assigned trainers. Expect to work hard. Many recruits who came from similar situations as yourselves held their existing abilities in high regard. They are always shown how wrong they are."
"Our training covers everything from close quarters combat to field medicine and everything in between. You will learn how to stitch your own wounds shut, kill a unicorn at fifty paces and maintain your weapons and equipment. This will take time and commitment. You are young and have time in spades. You are here because you have shown yourselves to be committed. I am not often wrong about recruits, do not prove me wrong about you."
"Never" Elora replied stoically.
"Never...?" Rosco raised a brow at the griffin, whose eyes widened.
"Never sir" Elora corrected.
"Get used to it" advised the old dog. "While I like to remain informal with the young ones, you will be expected to show due respect to your commanding officers in future. Some of them do not take kindly to laziness."
"Yes sir" Dart spoke more firmly.
As the five of them merged from the tall narrow streets into an open less occupied square, Dart's attention was immediately drawn to the huge building that occupied prime position in the center of the plaza. Unlike all the previous buildings they had walked past in this part of the city, this one did not stretch to the ceiling. Instead, the two-story structure was surrounded by a high wall. No bridges spanned the gap from nearby buildings, nor did anyone fly overhead.
"This is the SUF barracks and training facilities. Do not attempt to fly across this square." Rosco said, seemingly reading Dart's thoughts. "The first warning you will receive will come attached to a crossbow bolt."
Striding up to the gate with the young recruits in tow, Rosco was greeted by a pair of zebra guards.
"Captain Beryl here to drop off some new blood." Rosco stated.
The zebras sized the small group up, one of them making a quiet noise of contemplation. "Bit scrawny looking that one" he said, nodding slightly at Akua.
The other hummed in agreement. "Fit looking bird though" he grinned lecherously at Elora, who scowled back.
As Rafe and Dart made a start forward, each felt a paw on their shoulder. "Chaka, Adisa. I would prefer it if you didn't wind up my new recruits, they have had a trying day."
The guards grinned back at him. "Yes sir" they replied in tandem. Each raised a hoof in signal. Seconds later, the gate rumbled open, revealing a fairly plain building, all straight-edged stone slab with very few distinguishing features to speak of. As the group walked through the gate, they paused, realising that their guide was no longer leading them.
"This is where we part ways" Rosco said. "Someone will see to your assignment and training regimen. Follow their instructions and you shall soon be fighting for what you believe in." With that he was gone, striding off into the streets, the gate slamming shut between them.
"Please follow me" an approaching griffin guard requested. He lead them the the front door of the facility, holding it for them to enter.
With one last furtive glance at his friends, Dart took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
