Title:           Sir Anon and the Princess 5: Belly of The Whale
Author:          420PraiseHardest
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/LSUTJ095
First Edit:      Sunday 27th of April 2014 07:28:27 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Sunday 29th of November 2015 09:13:33 AM CDT

>Spike clears his throat from the entrance of the room, waking you up.
>Blinking your eyes open, you can tell he looks actually a little annoyed.
>Zecora murmurs, hugging your arm closer where she'd taken hold of it in the night.
> “Come on Anonymous, you shouldn't sleep in when you told me we were going to be waking up early...and good morning Zecora.”
>You remember last night, and have to admit to being a little confused at why Spike looks so faintly pissed.
>But he's right about you getting up, and you get up and out of Zecora's bed.
>Zecora doesn't wake up fully, but settles back in for a few more minutes.
>Technically she doesn't have anywhere to go, and will probably end up staying put in case one or both of you come back hurt.
> You groan when you stretch, regretting ever becoming a Knight.
>Well, that's not true. But you regret not getting enough sleep.
>Spike is still staring at you, arms crossed over his chest and tapping his foot.
>He'd been waiting for you to get up, and doesn't particularly seem to care that you're still naked.
>Since he's naked, and most everyone else is it makes sense.
>You pull your pants and shirt back on anyway.
 
>You yawn again and motion towards where the rest of the stuff in the hut is.
“Come on, lets get me in my armor.”
>You pass by Spike, who has been half glaring at you this whole time still.
>Seriously, did he think you and Celestia were a couple too?
>You're not about to let yourself feel guilty about what you did.
>You're wearing the armor, swinging the sword and putting your life on the line.
>Why shouldn't you get laid once and awhile?
>You'll probably have to talk this out later, and he does follow behind you and then stand in front of all your armor.
>Spike really is getting bigger, now half as tall as you.
>Which is slightly taller than a pony.
>He could probably swing your sword around a bit if he wanted.
>His scales should be better armor than you have, too.
>If fighting the green dragon was anything to go by.
>Provided you don't try and stab his soft points.
>You stretch out your neck, putting all your idle thoughts away and reach for your first bit of armor.
 
“I'll skip breakfast.”
>Zecora had gotten up, and was watching both of you get your armor on from the doorway.
>Then she nods and quietly beings preparing food across the room, while sneaking looks at you.
>She's frowning slightly, but doesn't insist you eat.
>Not that she looks upset with you, just troubled.
>No shit she's troubled, she's probably now even more worried about whether you'll be hurt.
>You really should be focusing more on what you're about to do than...anything else.
>You decide to focus on getting your armor on.
>It isn't as heavy as you remember.
>But it is a lot shinier than when you'd retrieved it after the fight with the dragon.
>Twilight and you had done an excellent job repairing it.
>It feels right, slipping the leg pieces on and then the chest plate.
>Your workout routine had really improved, and you no longer quite feel like you're playing pretend as the armor begins to latch together.
>The second mission is certainly a lot easier to jump on than the first.
>The helm goes on over your face and you remember how hot and stifling it could be.
>But now you are focused, the danger laying in front of you.
>The sword and shield are placed upon your hip and armor respectively, secure.
>Spike had helped you get it all set, and now looked up at you before nodding.
> “Ready to go, Anonymous?”
“Ready as I'll ever be.”
 
>You don't have to stop once on the way towards the tunnel.
>Though you do take some water from a pouch at your side.
>A Twilight suggestion, and a good one.
>Your mouth is still dry when you put it back.
>It'll probably be dry the entire time you're dealing with the Diamond Dogs.
>A lot of possibilities, in dozens of ways; so many things you can see going wrong.
>Spike falls back, as you'd agreed, when you make it to the tunnel.
>You can't tell if the same guards are present as yesterday, since the armored version of the dogs all basically look the same to you.
>You give a dry sort of chuckle at the notion you're racist against Diamond Dogs.
>A joke that nobody is going to appreciate, and certainly not them if even wanted to try and explain it.
>They flinch when you approach, and it helps your confidence.
>You'd started walking as soon as you saw them, not giving yourself a moment to prepare lest you risk losing your nerve.
>Your armor is making a terrific noise, and you let your arms sway naturally.
>Both of the dogs are clearly intimidated, since they've probably never seen anything like you before.
>And you're obviously armed and armored.
>They've stuck holding their spears at half ready when you stop in front of them.
 
>Tension builds, you look from one to the other.
>You've been thinking on what you want to say.
>Now that you realize just how dim these creatures might be, you tailor some of it on the fly.
> “I am the Hu-man, you should remember that name. I am the slayer of the dragon you've been stealing from. The treasure is mine, by right. I will see your leader, one way...or the other.”
>You lace your words with as much strength and authority as you don't feel.
>You can only guess, from what you've heard from your friends and seen yourself, that these dogs behave sort of like regular dogs.
>Their biggest concern about who is in charge.
>They fall all over themselves when you told them you'd killed the dragon.
>And that you might just kill them, too.
>One stammers out, as much as you can understand, that you can see their leader.
 
>They hadn't even seen Spike, and when the two guards scurry into the dark tunnel you turn to look back at him.
>When you motion, he quickly comes up next to you.
>He's not staying behind this time, and when you'd asked him to back you up he hadn't flinched.
>Having Spike with you will definitely help more than him being absent, and they probably wouldn't remember him anyway.
>In both of you walk, you and your new...well, I guess Spike is your bro now.
>Or at least your squire.
>Whatever.
>You're too focused on what's ahead.
>Spike lights up a torch from a stick he'd gathered.
>The guards were too stupid, or afraid of you, to escort you inside.
>They had just ran ahead to grab their leader.
>Which makes for a tense, long walk through the dark corridors of the Diamond Dogs lair.
>One winding tunnel after another, with a few glints of unmined gems sticking out of the stone walls.
>You have the sudden urge to pull your sword free and keep it on guard.
>But that would probably get you attacked, you technically hadn't gotten permission to enter their home.
 
>After what feels like forever you emerge into a huge hollowed out cavern.
>Spike looks very much on edge, and his eyes flash while glancing around.
> “I've been here before. This is the place, Anonymous.”
>You nod, and let your eyes adjust to the dim lit.
>You can tell there are a lot of dogs here, but they're keeping themselves out of sight for the most part.
>Not very well, but they aren't approaching you outright.
>When you take a step forward, they flinch.
>Yup, you've scared the shit out of them.
>Good.
> But it doesn't seem to last, or hasn't worked completely, as three distinct dogs emerge.
> The middle one is wearing a red vest, and looks just slightly smarter than the rest.
> “You...you are the dragon killer? The Hoo-mun that the dogs told me about?”
“I am. It is Hu-Man. Why have you been stealing my gems?”
>The red vest dog flinched, glancing at your sword.
> “Not steal! Dogs mine treasure for dragon! Have to mine, or else dragon -eat- dogs.”
>Shit, that's a pretty good reason.
 
>But you're trying to be a hardass here. You don't think these dogs are inclined to respect you if you tried the 'friend' routine.
“It is still my treasure, as I have killed the dragon for you. What would you offer me if I were to allow you to keep it?”
>The head dog, you decide to name him Max in your head, boggles at your words.
>Shit, you probably used too many.
“I want to know where other dragons are. Before I killed him, the one I fought told me that you knew where his fellow dragons were. I aim to slay many dragons.”
>This gets the entire pack of dogs excited, since you basically just promised to go on a dragon killing spree.
>Max is the most excited, and almost looks like he wants to hug you.
> “We tell! We know where lots of dragons are! Dragons enslave Diamond Dogs everywhere. All packs know other packs, must harvest many gems!”
>A particularly big dog, you call him Rover, nods emphatically.
> “Can't run nowhere. But Hu-Man killing Dragons means dogs are free!”
>That gets a cheer, and the whole group of dogs seem like they're about to start worshiping you as a god at this rate.
“I'm doing it becau-”
>You're stopped when you here a distant feminine whimper in the back of the cavern.
>But you're also stopped because Max had turned to look at his fellow dogs and interrupted you.
 
> “Yes! Hu-Man free Dogs and then Dogs be on top! We can capture more po-nies!”
>You feel your blood turn to ice, instantly.
>Everything slows down very quickly.
“More?”
>A single word, but you can hear just how much quiet anger you're putting into it.
>You don't even look at Spike, but can feel him bristle as well.
>Max turns and nods, grinning wide.
>Clearly he can't pick up your tone, or body language underneath the armor.
>He's also clearly on his own mental track, and made quite a few assumptions about who you must have been.
> “Yes! Capture more ponies to dig gems! We capture one or two, but always lose them when rescued. Except the last one! She gets us lots of gems since we break her in! Now ponies weak because of dragons, and dragons now weak because of you! Dogs will be strong and capture lots of ponies!”
>You can't help but keep focusing on the darkness, just behind the mass of where the armored and armed dogs were waiting.
>Where you heard that very much non-dog sound.
 “What last one?”
>Max must have finally heard your tone of voice, because he suddenly looked very nervous.
 
>But the smallest dog of the trio stepped up and waved his arms.
>Just as oblivious as the big one.
>Because of your rising anger, you decide to name him 'Dead'.
> “We capture a pony in the woods many full moons ago! No pony come to rescue, and we make her into a good bitch! We do that again, capture Rarity and others we have LOTS of gems!”
>Max takes a step back, eyes wide.
>Maybe he was looking at Spike, or he noticed that you'd drawn your sword.
>The other dogs took immediate notice at the sound of your blade being drawn free, and the big armored ones grab for their spears.
>But all you can see is red, and your heart is pumping faster and faster.
>Some pony was here, in bondage. You don't know exactly what the dog suggested when they 'made her into a good bitch.
>But your imagination supplies some ideas.
>And those ideas are mounting on your anger, channeling it as you grip tightly onto the pommel of your weapon.
“Who? Where?”
 
>You don't even know why you bothered to ask that, but you haven't quite propelled yourself into trying to slaughter them all.
>Maybe because none of them have tried to attack you.
>Or you don't know where to start first.
>Spike is growling now, and has already taken a step forward.
>At least you have the same idea.
“Give her to me, now. And leave this forest...leave this continent. Or I will kill you all.”
>It's the only thing you can think. The only way you're not going to end up killing all of them to the best of your ability.
>The dogs flinch, but they don't turn tail and run.
>Apparently they don't fear you as much as you'd hoped.
>Spears are lowered, pointed your way.
>Their mistake.
>The dogs nearest to you both are gearing up for a fight, they glare at you.
>You return the glare, the sword leveled right with your shield.
>Spike follows your next step forward.
>You're almost beyond words now, and things are about to get ugly.
 
>Max, now a dozen feet away, finds his courage.
> “We no give bitch back! You leave instead, Hu-Man!”
> To be honest you haven't even found out where the dragons were.
>A smart person would have quietly noted the allusion to the captured pony.
>Made nice with the dogs.
>Then came back later and tried to free her, if they were so inclined.
>But you jumped on blinding rage, and a desire to get justice.
>There is a much bigger quest to think of, the very fate of Equestria at stake.
>You don't really care at the moment.
>The refusal to return their captured pony was the tipping point for you.
>What was it that Rorschach said in Watchmen?
>'Dogs get put down', that was it.
>You rush forward, drawing your sword back.
>Spike follows, right on your heels and gives a not unimpressive roar of rage.
>You'd be proud of the little guy, if you weren't screaming for battle yourself.
 
 
>The nearest dog bungles the thrust of his spear, half looking like he was about to drop it.
>You knock the point away with your shield, leaving him wide open.
>You don't really see a living creature when you bring your sword down at its throat.
>You do see the blood, and feel it spray onto your armor.
>But there is no time to dwell or even think, there are dozens more like it.
>A spear point slides against your back, effortlessly deflected by the plate.
>There is a strangled yelp of pain, that's Spike jumping onto a dog, clawing and biting all at once.
>He's fighting more like an animal than anything, which seems to work to his advantage.
>The impact of a spear on your chest drives you into your next action.
>You spin, just to build up all your momentum to lash out your blade at the next enemy at your right.
>His armor is a lot less sturdy, you dent right into it when your blade slams into his helmet.
>The dog stumbles, disoriented by the blow.
>You rear back, dipping the point down and thrusting it into the stupid monster's face.
>More blood, and your sword is stuck.
>Another spear slams into your right side.
>Still blocked, but now your ribs twinge.
>Maybe you weren't quite healed.
>You could have been stabbed outright and you wouldn't have really noticed.
>This sort of anger and adrenaline dwarfs the fight with the dragon.
>You had to think more then, this is instinct.
 
>You start to tug the blade back out of the dying, twitching dog you'd stabbed.
>It didn't quite withdraw, and you compromise by just slamming your shield into it to dislodge it.
>Yet another dog appears to abandon the notion of stabbing you and instead tries for a running tackle.
>Bad mistake on his part.
>He does throw you back, but because you let him.
>You crash into the stone with a thud, sword up and impaled into its chest.
>It coughs up blood, whining as it realizes it'd just killed itself pointlessly.
>But it's heavy, possibly one of the leaders.
>Things are too dark and violent now to really take that sort of stock.
>You're even breathing hard, and spears are raining down on you trying to get through.
>Spike is probably just as in trouble, maybe more.
>You throw your weight up to push the dog on top of you over.
>Another spear slams into your chest, and then another into your helmet.
>The stab at your head makes your neck snap back.
>That one managed to hurt.
>But your sword had gotten free, and you parry it up to send the spear flying wide.
 
>You get up into a crouch, your shield up quickly enough to block another spear thrust.
>They're going to just keep trying, and eventually they will get through if you're not quick enough.
>You can barely see through the thin slits of the great helm shielding your head.
>But you stab forward with your sword towards where the last thrust came.
>You don't think you killed whatever had stabbed you, but you hear a sharp and painful cry.
>Good enough.
>You get up onto your feet again, and slash out to your left.
>Just blindly, because you thought you saw a hint of movement.
>You hear a wet slashing sound, and a howl of pain.
>A spear goes wide, into your field of vision.
>More success.
>You're not even tired at the moment, just endlessly angry.
>You catch a glimpse of Spike in his own writhing mass of armored dogs.
>He's got his own pile, too.
>There’s a burst of flame, and heat; green fire fills the cavern.
>That lights up the whole room for a long moment.
>You've still got, as best as you can count, twenty dogs to go.
>You tighten the grip of your sword as a spear crashes uselessly onto your chest.
>A lot of work to do.
 
>It was probably only half an hour, but you feel like you've been fighting for a week.
>You're breathing so hard your lungs ache.
>Your whole body is sore.
>You're covered in blood, not only your armor; but your under clothes are soaked as well.
>Or maybe that's just sweat, you don't really care.
>Not a single spear got through your armor.
>Spike wasn't quite so lucky.
>He's got a nasty gash along his underside along his chest, but he looks even angrier than you at the moment.
>All of the diamond dogs are laying, dead, at both your feet.
>Your sword feels heavy all of a sudden, you let it dip down and scrape the stone floor.
>Spike is holding a claw to his chest, just to stem the bit of purplish blood you can see coming out.
“You alright?”
>Your throat is dry, and you sound raspy even to yourself.
> “Fine.”
>Spike shrugs, and glances purposefully to the far side of the room.
>Where the captured pony the dogs spoke of apparently was.
>Without further words, you both start walking towards the back.
>You dread the coming sight, whatever it would be.
>Whoever it would be.
 
>Your eyes have had plenty of time to adjust, and it's a good thing too as Spike had lost the torch a long time ago.
>If you hadn't already killed the Diamond Dogs you would have for sure once you see her.
>Chained up.
>With a crude spike collar about her neck
>Chained to the wall.
>The battered shell of a pony.
>Pieces of her coat have fallen out, or maybe ripped out from being grabbed roughly.
>Not to mention the visible bruises, both faded and recent.
>The unwashed stench that manages to overwhelm the copper scent of blood behind you tells you she hasn't been bathed at all.
>Along with another smell, one that you wish you couldn't identify immediately.
>Maybe without last night it'd have been more out of your mind.
>But you're shaking with rage all over again.
>You can't help but notice how she won't look up at either of you.
>Despite the sounds of battle, and howls of pain she's curled up against the side of the rock wall.
>If she wasn't in such a terrible state she'd be pretty, too.
>Light blue coat, silvery whitish hair for a mane.
>Of course, you've never seen this pony before and you begin to wipe your gore drenched sword off to return it to its sheath.
>You'll need free hands to carry her.
>Spike gasps, though, staring straight at the beaten down wreck of a pony.
>Apparently he does know her, and supplies a name in simple dumbstruck amazement.
> “Trixie?”
>That gets Trixie to look up, at both of you, and there is the barest hint of fear before she puts her face down before her dirty hooves.
>She simply whimpers, mumbling just audible enough for you to make out  all while looking up at you in trembling fear.
> “Are you my new Alpha? P-please don't hurt me, Tr-Trixie promises to be good.”
 
Part 6: http://pastebin.com/WQQH2SVH