As the Dogs charge towards you, the prisoners hurry to defend themselves; those who are near pickaxes grab them, while others begin to stretch their legs. Their bravery is admirable, but you all know that you won't be able stand for long against your more heavily armed and armoured enemy.
Within seconds, the Dogs have closed the gap and started swinging wildly at anypony within range, but most of them – goaded on by Slasher – seem more interested in trying to fight you. You summon up everything you've ever seen in video games and movies, praying to whatever deity will listen that you don't die too fast.
The snarling of the Dogs is joined by the cries of the prisoners, who try desperately to defend themselves. Bon Bon and Lyra are standing side by side, the former using her legs to trip the foe and allow Lyra to slam her pickaxe into their helmets. Given how crap the picks are, though, this only serves to piss the Dogs off, and it's not long before both mares are overpowered.
Haywick, being a doctor, seems more preoccupied with trying to help the prisoners who have been injured, though his efforts are being hampered by the dampener he's wearing. He weaves through the area, grabbing ponies with his teeth and dragging them as far back as he can; you admire the sight for a moment before he too is taken down by a group of Dogs, who kick him in the gut and send him crashing to the ground, before proceeding to surround and beat him to within an inch of his life.
As for you, you are doing as much dodging as you can, but it's not enough to stop some of the Dogs from getting a few hits in. Within minutes of the battle starting, you have gained at least five new potential scars and one mother of a headache. You dodge yet another blow, but get sucker punched by Slasher, who pins you to the ground and gets in your face; you can see blood dripping from his teeth as he lets out a long and low growl.
"I'm not gonna kill you, Anon," he snarls. "Instead, I'm gonna keep you right here and make you watch as we finish off the ponies you so desperately – and stupidly – tried to rescue." He grabs your head and forces you to look to your left. "Startin' with them."
You look on in silent horror at the sight of Vinyl and Octavia pinned down by none other than Dicer and Crusher. Dicer has his axe at Vinyl's throat, and Crusher has his made held above Octavia's head. The two mares look at you in silent acknowledgement of what is about to happen, tears streaming down their faces.
"At least..." Vinyl coughs. "At least we can take solace in the fact that we tried our best to save everypony. Right, Octy?"
Octavia nods. "We sure can, Vinyl" she replies. "We sure can."
Slasher forces your head to the right so that you're looking at the rest of the slaves in the pit; many have given up, and the injured are trying to crawl away from the Dogs who are following them as a predator would follow its prey.
Slow clapping heralds the arrival of Overseer Rockpaw; he stands beside you and signals for Slasher to force you to look at him.
"Do you see how the ponies beg for mercy?" he asks. "Do you see how they fall so easily before us?" He laughs. "Of course, that is but a taste of what is to come once my master plan comes to fruition. The dragon will see to it that Equestria will be ours, and we will live like kings for the rest of time itself!" He grins malevolently at you but, to his surprise, you suddenly burst out laughing. "I'm so glad you find your impending doom amusing, Anonymous, but it's not going to make it any less painful. So, with that said, do you have any last words before I have Slasher tear your throat out?"
It takes you a few moments to stop laughing long enough to regain your composure. "You do realise..." you snicker again. "You do realise that the dragon is still here, right? I'm pretty sure he just heard you admitting that you were setting us up."
A look of horror crosses Rockpaw's face; he slowly turns to find himself face to face with Xaroneth, who grins a grin showing off a multitude of razor sharp teeth. The Overseer swallows nervously, then suddenly turns to his bodyguards and raises his voice.
"KILL THOSE MARES!"
Your eyes widen. "No!"
The elite Dogs raise their weapons, ready to carry out the order, only to then suddenly disappear as a massive claw scoops them up. You and Rockpaw both watch as Xaroneth tosses them into his mouth, their screams of terror being quickly silenced.
The dragon chews for a few seconds then swallows, screwing his face up in disgust. "I forgot how bad your kind tasted, Dog," he says. "Especially when they haven't bathed in some time."
Rockpaw is sweating bullets, and even Slasher is beginning to look extremely nervous; nervous enough for him to loosen his grip on you. You are quick to take advantage, driving your knee between his legs as hard as you can. Slasher lets out a yelp, then drops to the ground with a groan, cupping his paws over the affected area.
Thank you, Master Dave.
You drag yourself to your feet and hurry over to help Vinyl and Octavia get back on their hooves, the former kissing you as you do so. The three of you look over at Xaroneth, who has the Overseer pinched between two claws; the sight is enough to make the Dogs forget about the prisoners and come to the aid of their boss. They surround the dragon, their weapons at the ready.
Idiots.
"Pathetic, disgusting mongrels," Xarnoneth says. "If it is death you seek, I will be more than happy to oblige."
"DON'T LISTEN TO THAT CRAP!" Rockpaw shouts. "KILL HIM!"
The Dogs let out another war cry and charge, to which Xaroneth cackles with glee, flames erupting from his mouth.
"SO BE IT!" he shouts. "COME FORTH, LITTLE PUPPIES, AND WITNESS THE FURY OF HE WHO RULES THE SKIES!"
As the Dogs charge, the dragon takes a deep breath and unleashes a torrent of flame from deep within, turning most of them to ash in the blink of an eye. The survivors look at what is left of their friends, then drop their weapons and start running for the exit. But before they can make it, the prisoners intercept them and start delivering some much deserved payback. It is certainly unlike these ponies to open up a can of whoop-ass, but given what they've been through, you can't exactly blame them for wanting revenge.
Xaroneth drops Rockpaw to the ground; he quickly gets up, but you walk over and force him to his knees. Slasher – having recovered from your attack on his boys – tries to grab you again, but Bon Bon tackles him and punches him in the face. She looks up at you and smiles, a gesture you return before addressing Rockpaw.
"Your plan has failed, Overseer," you say smugly. "Your army is nothing more than a glorified neighbourhood watch group, and the very ponies you persecuted now hold all the cards. It's over; if you surrender now, you may just—"
You trail off as the sound of clanking armour once again fills your ears. You share a worried glance with Vinyl and Octavia, while Rockpaw lets out a small chuckle.
"Did you really think those were all the soldiers I had, Anon?" he asks you just as smugly as you addressed him. "It's not over yet."
You turn to face the source of the noise, your anxiousness rising with every second, only for it to give way to relief as a contingent of Royal and Crystal Guards enter the pit. Their faces are filled with determined zeal, but that quickly fades when they catch sight of the dragon towering above them.
The Princesses enter a few moments later, and you let out a massive sigh of relief before turning to Rockpaw.
"Now it's over," you tell him, before pushing him to the ground and letting the Guard take him into custody. They slap manacles around his arms, legs and neck, leading him away to cheers from the prisoners, who flock to their Princesses in gratitude while the guards begin tending to the injured.
"We heard the commotion from Ponyville," Luna says as she approaches you. "Are you all right, Anonymous?"
You nod. "Nothing a few plasters won't heal." you rub the back of your head nervously. "I know you weren't exactly thrilled with my idea, but you can't deny that it got results, right?"
Luna shrugs. "Unorthodox results, but results nonetheless." she motions towards Xaroneth, who is in conversation with Celestia. "Now, why don't you introduce my sister and I to your new friend?"
"I'd be happy to, Your Highness." you bow and walk over to the dragon, making sure to give Slasher and Rockpaw a one-fingered salute, coupled with the biggest shit-eating grin you can muster.
"When we're all done here, can we go home?" Vinyl asks.
You nod. "Sure thing, babe."
Octavia lets out a sigh. "I cannot wait," she says. "It will be so good to sleep in a bed that doesn't smell like piss."
The three of you exchange a smile before breaking into laughter which echoes around the pit.
Done and done.