[Painted Pinto Desert] In Between a Gem and a Hard Place (Invite only)

[Doc Hoof MD]

A pang of exhaustion rushed through Rain Leaf’s body as he flew high over the vast Painted Pinto Desert. The arid desert was hot, but tolerable. Warm seasonal winds from Aquillia were kicking up dust high up into the air as they crossed the desert. He had gotten used to it over his many visits. Were it not for his flight goggles, the dust would irritate his eyes and make flight impossible. It certainly wasn’t a mistake that he wanted to make again.

Far below, Rain Leaf was able to make out a small hare darting from rock to rock trying to find sanctuary from the coming sandstorm. It was but a small speck of life in an otherwise barren landscape. Occasionally, Rain Leaf would drop down and visit one of the several buffalo herds that migrated through the desert. They were usually always more than willing to trade some of their goods with him. Sadly, not a single one was in sight. Not even the vultures were out, eerily circling the skies for their next meal. No, he was alone in the sky.

A sudden blast of wind nearly tore away the small rag protecting his face from the dust. He quickly rearranged it before climbing higher up into the sky. He was going to have to make this a quick trip. At this rate he only had about an hour before the storm hit. He never understood why the weather-ponies crafted such things. He took in a quick breath through his face guard.[colour=#ff0000] ‘I wonder what Silvermist is up to.’[/colour]

Aside from his usual summer visit to Cloudsdale, his last few months had been very strange and it all started with his odd encounter with the most peculiar of pegasi, Pathfinder. He had met the mare after an accidental ingestion of a poisonous plant that left him down and out for eight days. In the four days they shared a room they had shared all of their travel logs as well as details from their many ventures, quickly establishing common ground. The Daring Doo obsessed mare described herself as an adventuring fortune seeker; something Rain Leaf had discredited as a whimsical outlook on life at first. It wasn’t until the final day of her stay that she had described her prospects for her next adventure as well as her plans to escape from the hospital they were “trapped” in. She tossed the option for him to escape along with her into the open but he declined. Later that night, the mare silently made good her escape leaving Rain Leaf to contemplate his decision to stay.

He hadn’t encountered the mare since and he wasn’t sure if he ever would again. She was probably deep in some ruin unraveling an ancient secret…. or in the looney bin. Rain Leaf chuckled at the thought of the seemingly unbalance mare. Still, he had felt a slight change in his outlook on life and he wasn’t sure if it was all in his mind or not, but Maple’s tasks had been becoming more and more difficult ever since he had gotten out of the hospital. Between his encounter with a feral timberwolf and picking mushrooms in the lair of a sleeping dragon, he had put his own flank on the line multiple times. It felt nice and unsettling at the same time knowing that his current task was as simple as gathering bramble from a location south of Dodge. It was a peculiar spot to send him but he didn’t think much of it. Maple was known to select new foraging spots from time to time. He couldn’t help but to wonder about the timing of it all. A sandstorm was coming. Did she know and send him anyways or was it just by an unfortunate chance. It didn’t matter. The job had to be done and he knew it.

He passed by a low desert peak that he had recognized from previous visits. Usually, one could see Dodge far off in the distance, but now he could barely see anything past a half-mile. He dropped in altitude as he approached his destination. Something below caught his eye. A small figure seemed to be pointing at him, alerting something else to his presence. He was quickly able to identify the shape of the figure as that of a diamond dog but was unable to see whom it was alerting. It wasn’t strange to see diamond dogs running through the desert hills. After all, Gaberott wasn’t that far away. He readjusted his goggles and looked back down at the diamond dog only to see that it was gone. Maybe it was just trying to warn him about the coming storm. Maybe he was just trying to say hello. It didn’t matter.

Rain Leaf set down a good distance away from where he had seen the dog. The dust was much thicker on the ground greatly reducing visibility. He opened up his violet travel pack and pulled out a small map. It paper rustled loudly as he unraveled it. He took a second to look around but there wasn’t a single bramble in sight. It was just barren ground with the exception of a few cacti sticking out of the ground. He was where he needed to be but there wasn’t any bramble. Had Maple given him the wrong marker? It certainly wasn’t something she was known for. She always had an uncanny ability to decipher maps and charts. He wasn’t sure where she had obtained this talent but then again, he never asked. [colour=#ff0000]“Well, nothing to do but to look around I guess.”[/colour] he said to himself as he looked around. He wondered where the diamond dog had wandered off to. It wouldn’t have hurt to ask for information.

He took a few steps forward before noticing something odd off in the distance. A faint blue glow pierced through the thick sand cloud. He rubbed his goggles with his hooves, trying to clear off any sand. It looked like a spell cast by some unicorn. What in Equestria would somepony being doing all the way out here?

[colour=#ff0000]“Hey!”[/colour] he shouted as he trotted over towards the glow. [colour=#ff0000]“What are you doing all the way out here? This storm is going to hit soon. You really shouldn’t be out here. It isn’t safe.”[/colour] The glow didn’t seem to move and Rain Leaf now realized that it was closer to the ground as he approached it.[colour=#ff0000] “Huh?”[/colour] The terrain around him had also changed significantly. What was once rough sand stone was now softer and much smoother. A pattern similar to brickwork now checkered the floor as he approached.

Rain Leaf took a quick step back in surprise as he drew closer. It was a gem! It was unlike any he had ever seen before. The gem gave off a bright blue glow that he couldn’t discern whether it was reflected sunlight or if it came from the gem itself. It was a beautiful and yet odd thing to see in this region. Perhaps this is why he saw the diamond dog earlier. There wasn’t anything on his map. It was just a blank location with a marker set by Maple. He leaned over and inspected the gem further. A small flower was etched into the cracked gem. The socket looked weathered and ancient. He took a step back and looked around again. Such a pattern couldn’t have come naturally. Who put this gem here? Was the Diamond Dog trying to steal it? Dodge wasn’t that far away. Surely somepony there would know something about the thing. Maybe a he could get a pretty little bit for it!

Rain Leaf giggled ecstatically, his eyes beaming with elation at the thought of what the gem might be worth. He once again approached it and tapped it a few times with his front hooves. It was loose! He quickly tossed his violet pack open and removed his trusty old trowel. He thrust the blade into the edge of the socket multiple times with his hooves until it stuck an inch into it. A bright grin formed underneath his cloth face-guard. He pushed on the trowel with both of his front hooves trying to force it out of the socket to no avail. The trowel slipped from the socket causing him to fall flat on his face.

He picked up the trowel and after a short effort, got it back into the socket again. He needed more leverage and the only solution he could think of would be if he were to get it in deeper. He reared up and brought his hooves down repeatedly to minimal success. The trowel went deeper but he still needed more for to get it in as far as he wanted. With a powerful leap he shot a few yards into the air and came down onto the trowel.

The trowel slipped further popping the gem up. [colour=#ff0000]“Yes!”[/colour] he cried. Immediately, the ground quickly started to fall from beneath him as the bricklike pattern split open like a cellar door. Rain Leaf’s wings shot open and desperately flapped trying to gain any sort of lift. It was too late. He slipped into the hole and fell a few feet onto a steep shaft; his momentum still sending him tumbling into the darkness. The last thing he saw before everything went dark was the trap door closing far above him.

Rain Leaf tumbled for what felt like an eternity. His muscles flared with pain every time he bounced against a rock on his decent. The shaft soon started to even out, slowing his tumble to a slide. He readjusted himself into a sitting position as he slid in the darkness as the shaft evened out to a flat plane. The surface changed to rough cobblestone. The friction cause him to go tumbling forward a short way out through a rectangular opening and into a dark room. He lay there moaning for a few seconds only to be interrupted by his pack which came flying down the shaft after him. It bounced to halt right next to him, the contents came clattering out. He heard the splash of liquid as a few of the contents fell into a channel running along the wall near him.

He raised his front hooves as he struggled to get up into a sitting position. His eyes squinted as he tried to make out his surroundings. A dim blue glow illuminated the area around him on the right and a red glow did the same to his left. After a few second he realized that the blue glow was coming from blue gems similar to the one that lured him in in the first place. He was in a vast hallway. Torches met the gems in the middle of the hall and were placed in empty sockets where gems once were. The lit torches were a sign of life. Somepony or something else was there.

He heard an unwanted shrill voice not far off followed by a deeper, almost feral response.[colour=#ff0000] “Not Diamond Dogs!”[/colour] Rain Leaf whispered to himself as he struggled to stand. His body was still aching from his tumble. He flinched as he heard steps approaching. Three figures seem to materialize from the shadows a short distance down the left side of the hallway. One of the dogs was truly massive in stature. He looked more like a wolf with his long muzzle than a diamond dog and had the size of nearly five diamond dogs. His whitish-grey coat was covered in dirt and mud.

The middle one was slightly taller than most diamond dogs yet was dwarfed by the hulking brute beside him. This one was oddly well dress by diamond dog standards. His brownish grey fur was clean and unkempt, his paws trimmed yet powerful looking. He walked with a powerful, confident gait.

The third was a smaller shorter dog with orange fur sticking through full desert garb. His outfit seemed to be formed from many different pieces of cloth, almost all of which had a cream tint, matching the desert terrain far above. This one shared the same hunched over walk as the large one.

[colour=#a52a2a]“It’s a pony, boss!”[/colour] exclaimed the larger hound.

[colour=#2f4f4f]“What’s he doing here?”[/colour] asked the middle one. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Is he here with the other one?”[/colour]

“[colour=#ff8c00]No! He’s gray. He is the one I told you about. I saw him flying over.[/colour][colour=#daa520]”[/colour] The shorter one on the right said in a raspy voice.

“[colour=#2f4f4f]How did he get in here? Someone was supposed to be watching the entrance! What do I pay you buffoons for?”[/colour] yelled the middle one in anger.

Rain Leaf managed to stand up, letting a small grunt of pain escape. The largest of the three stepped forward, his left paw revealing a large net. Rain Leaf took a step back and his eyes widened. “[colour=#ff0000]Who are you guys?”[/colour] he managed to get out.

The middle one chuckled at the inquiry. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Ah, good, he is moving. I would have to have a potential worker spoiled.”[/colour] He took a few steps towards Rain Leaf. The other two followed in suit with the largest one taking his place in front, both paws on the net now. [colour=#2f4f4f]“I’m sorry. How rude of us. I am Rumble Ironpaw!”[/colour] He said, bowing elegantly. [colour=#2f4f4f]“But you shall call me the Gem Prince!”[/colour] the diamond dog finished, raising his paws into the air. He turned his attention towards the large one and touched him on the shoulder. [colour=#2f4f4f]“This is massive beast is Bruticus.”[/colour] He tilted his head back towards the smallest one. [colour=#2f4f4f]“He is Baron.”[/colour] The diamond dog took another step forward folding his paws behind his back. [colour=#2f4f4f]“We are the Ruby Raiders! We collect gems that have been left behind.”[/colour]

Rain Leaf’s eyes narrowed as Rumble introduced the trio.[colour=#2f4f4f] [/colour][colour=#ff0000]“I know what diamond dogs like you do. You’re thieves! You’re defiling these ruins for gems that don’t belong to any of you!”[/colour] yelled Rain Leaf, stamping one of his front hooves into the ground prompting Bruticus to take another step forward.

[colour=#2f4f4f]“Thieves?”[/colour] The middle one started to laugh. [colour=#2f4f4f]“No, we are simply recycling what has been left behind. No one has any need for these gems anymore! Don’t get too worked up, pony. You will be helping us![/colour][colour=#2f4f4f]”[/colour]

[colour=#ff0000]“What?”[/colour] Rain Leaf asked in confusion. He stumbled over his purple pack trying to back up but was quickly able to regain his balance. Bruticus laughed. His low feral growl echoed through blue stone halls. [colour=#ff0000]“Yea, that’s not happening.”[/colour]

Rumble chuckled at the pony’s rebellion. [colour=#2f4f4f]“He thinks he has a choice! Bruticus, grab him!”[/colour]

Bruticus raised the net above his head and lunged at Rain Leaf. Rain Leaf barely managed to roll out of the hound’s way. The hulking brute slid into the wall behind him. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Ahh! Baron, clip his wings!”[/colour] commanded Rumble in a shrill voice.

Baron let out a raspy laugh of pleasure as he pulled out a set of shears. He lowered to all fours and ran at Rain Leaf. The grey Pegasus turned and darted down the sapphire lit hallway, galloping as fast as he could. His muscles screamed with pain as he ran. He rounded a corner. The floor beneath him was now tiled and the tattered remnants of a once regal rug covered the floor.

[colour=#ff8c00]“You’re mine pony!”[/colour] Baron declared from behind. The diamond dog had caught up to him. Rain Leaf turned his head to look back just in time to see the hound jump at him. Baron connected and the two rolled a short distance stopping right next to the edge of one of the canals that ran along the hall with Baron on top.[colour=#ff8c00] “Stop struggling, I’ll make this quick!”[/colour] he laughed as he grabbed one of Rain Leaf’s wings and spread it out. The old shears screeched loudly as they opened. Rain Leaf breathed heavily as he panicked. With all his might he pushed himself up. The surprised diamond dog slipped off of his back and into the liquid of the canal. Rain Leaf saw the other two rounding the corner and started galloping away once again.

Rain Leaf rounded another corner but this time came into a large chamber filled with mold covered statues of soldier ponies. It wasn’t any kind of armor design he had ever seen! It reminded him of pictures in the old history books about the old pegasus kingdom. In the middle canals from every entrance came together, forming the shape of flower; an iris. Sunlight came through a tiny hole far above. The liquid he now identified as water sparkled as the sunlight reflected off of it creating a beautiful display.

Sounds of the approaching dogs behind snapped Rain Leaf out of his trance. He looked around hoping the find any place to hide. The massive statues along the side of the wall appeared to offer a small area for him to slip into. He took a gliding leap over the statue of a mare and slipped into the gap between it and the wall.

The three diamond dogs ran into the room, stopping in the center. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Where did he go!”[/colour] Rumble barked.

Rain Leaf poked his head out just enough to get a peek. The shadows covered him well. Baron raised his nose into the air and sniffed for Rain Leaf’s scent. [colour=#ff8c00]“He came this way. I know it!”[/colour]

[colour=#800000]“Maybe he flew away, boss.”[/colour] Said Bruticus.

[colour=#2f4f4f]“Where do you think he would fly to, you bumbling buffoon!”[/colour] Rumble snapped. He brought his paw to his face and shook his head. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Bruticus, have the others set the nets up at the entrance. They will both have to come out sooner or later.”[/colour]

The hound nodded and ran back the way they came from.

[colour=#ff8c00]“Shall I assist him?”[/colour] asked Baron.

[colour=#2f4f4f]“No, go tell Merlot about our new guest. He isn’t going to like this.”[/colour] Rumble said with a sigh. He took a few steps forward and looked at the symbol on the ground.[colour=#2f4f4f] “Let’s just get the lens and get out of here. I have waited long enough for my prize.”[/colour]

[colour=#ff8c00]“What about Merlot?”[/colour]

“[colour=#2f4f4f]Bah! Find him a shiny token or a statue. That should be good enough for him. Now, go!”[/colour] Rumble commanded.

Baron saluted Rumble in a way that Rain Leaf had seen before. It was a griffon salute. The diamond dog walked off leaving Rumble alone in the chamber. He chuckled again as he looked around the room. [colour=#2f4f4f]“Oh pony. I know you are here somewhere. Come out, come out wherever you are!”[/colour] the diamond dog said playfully. [colour=#2f4f4f]“You can’t stay in here forever. I will find you and your friend, don't you worry!” [/colour]With that he turned and left the room.

Rain Leaf waited for a few moments to make sure they were truly gone. He cautiously crawled out of his hiding spot while keeping close to the wall. Where was he? He noticed the four other entrances to the room which all seemed to lead off in some random direction. Something on the opposite side of the room caught his eye. Two massive golden doors stood closed. A marble manticore stood watch. The statue seemed to be expertly crafted. It’s lifeless eyes watched over the room.

[colour=#ff0000]“Oh, what to do?” [/colour]Rain Leaf said quietly. He thought back to the other pony they mentioned. He couldn’t get out of here alone. He needed help but he didn’t even know where to begin his search. With a long, heavy sigh, he set out on his search down one of the other hallways, unsure what these ruins had in store for him.