Chapter 1

“Private, is he down there?”

“Yes Captain, the dog is being held in one of the room down these stairs.” The white unicorn guard pointed to the old stone steps that spiral downwards, to parts shrouded and hidden by the darkness.

“Very well then, lead the way.” The same unicorn nodded and lead his Captain down the dark, rocky steps.

The stallion behind the unicorn is the recently promoted royal guard, Captain Path Finder. Capt Finder is a crimson earth pony with a short, combed, orange and yellow hair. The guy is wearing a golden armor that covers his body and head. His yellow eyes looked down, cautioning each of his steps on these old staircases.

The two ponies were traveling down to one of Canterlot's most oldest rooms, the abandon dungeon. This place hasn't been in use since the days of Nightmare Moon's banishment. Princess Celestia herself ordered the closing of this place, saying that it was inhumane to lock the prisoners in such a dark and dirty place.

Unfortunately for these two, their guest prefers a dark and dirty place. From what Path Finder read from the various reports, their guest was a diamond dog. The dog burst from the ground last night and frightened a bunch of nobles.

The dog was cover in blood and was screaming about something that nopony could understand. After rampaging through the city for bit, he was later subdued by the night guards and was brought to the dungeon. However, the diamond dog refuse to cooperate and reacted violently, unless they take him to the most darkest place they got. Which just so happens to be this place.

Finally the two reach the bottom of the steps and found themselves surrounded by pitch blackness. The only light came from the two lanterns the two ponies were holding.

They moved forward, their lanterns illuminating the long hallway. Their two lanterns lit up the place brightly, revealing the many empty jail cells they were passing by.

Path Finder remembered from reading the history textbooks that this place was once used for their psychological torture. The prisoners were cut off from the world above. Their rooms were sound proof so they can't hear or talk to the other prisoners. Surrounded by the darkness that blinds them, the prisoners were left alone with their own mind as it slowly breaks down, turning some mindless and some insane.

The captain was suddenly brought out of his train of thought when his partner stopped right in front of a cell.

“Here he is sir.” The unicorn shined his light in the cell, which has a diamond dog, with his back turned.

The dog was very large, he has black fur with bits of blood staining his coat and the grey vest he was wearing. Both of his paws were wrap in bandages, done by the castle's medical staff. According to the doctor that treated the diamond dog, his paws were broken and bloodied. Indicating that this poor dog has been digging nonstop.

Path Finder eyed the dog suspiciously. He found his lack of acknowledgement of the two stallions quite eerie. Their guest showed no signs of being aware of their presence. He just stay sitting there, back turned, and eyes staring straight at the wall of his cell.

After waiting for the dog to say something, the captain decided to break the silence and spoke first. “Alright dog, are ready to talk? Cause I got some questions to ask you.”

“Turn off the lights.”

“What?”

“Turn off the lights.” The diamond dog repeated.

Both ponies looked at the dog in confusion. Before they can ask why, he spoke up again.

“The light. It hurts. Too bright.”

The two ponies looked at their lanterns and back to the dog. They was no way in hell are they going to turn off their lanterns. However, if they don't do it, they'll lose his cooperation.

With some quick thinking, Path found a compromise that can please both sides. The captain put his lantern down on the ground and made sure his light was pointing at a different direction. The unicorn private follow his example and did the same with his own lantern.

“Better?” Path ask., hoping this would satisfy him.

“Slightly.” The dog answered and turn to face them.

Both ponies cringed upon seeing his face. The diamond dog had lots of various cuts and bruises all across his face. Broken nose, broken jaw, broken cheeks, and a whole lot of broken everything. Who ever done this to him, really mess him up.

“Alright first question, what is your name?”

Instead answering right away, the dog was having trouble remembering his name. “My name? It's...S-Sp-Sp-Spo-Spot! My name is Spot!”

The crimson captain was perplex by the dog's response. “Why did took you so long to answer? Don't you know your own name?”

“No one say my name. Name forgotten, Never heard my name in long time.”

The captain made a mental on what Spot said. However, his answer only just generated even more questions.

“What do you mean no one says your name? Who are they? Are they other diamond dogs?”

“Yes and no.”

Raising an eyebrow, Path questioned him about his answer. “What do you mean yes and no?”

“Were dogs. But changed, No longer dogs.” Spot said with a tint of fear in his voice.

“If not diamond dogs, then what are they?”

Spots stood straight up walked towards the metal door that separated the two from each other. Standing on his feet, the diamond dog large size, towers over the two little ponies. He looked down at the captain, stared him right in his eyes and said: “Monsters.”

Back upstairs, a lone guard mare was waiting outside the iron door that lead to the abandon dungeon down below. The yellow mare was ordered to find the Captain of the guard and ask if he made any progress with their guest. After questioning some ponies, she was lead to this door.

She knew she had to go in and find the captain, but stopped herself from opening the door. She remembered hearing stories about this place. Tales of monsters and ghosts sparking some terrifying rumors about this area being haunted.

Her fear was so great that she decided to wait for them up here. Almost an hour has passed and still no sign of the captain returning. Gulping, the mare knew that if the captain doesn't get up here soon, she'll have to go down there in the dark, creepy dungeon.

Thankfully for her the iron door opened. A crimson stallion and his white coated companion emerged from the door and spotted the yellow guard. She instinctively raised her right hoof to her head, saluting her captain.

“Sir, the name is Private Banana Splits and I've been sent by Princess Celestia to check up on your progress with the diamond dog.”

“Tell the Princess that I made some progress with the dog. Also tell her that I'll meeting her later, I need to go look up something in the royal archives.” Captain Finder ordered.

The mare nodded and headed back to her princess. Path went in a separate direction, leaving the unicorn private to resume his position by the iron door.

Captain Finder trek through the multiple long hallways leading to the royal archives. He passed through a couple of windows, showing the beautiful garden outside and displaying its huge collection of colorful flowers. The captain paid no heed and continue trotting, not even sparing a glance look outside the glass window.

Along the way, the crimson stallion pass by many guards and servants that inhabits the castle. Some simply saluted while others offered a friendly wave. However, once again he paid no attention to them, for his mind was preoccupy with a feeling of dread.

If what Spot says is true, that he and his packmates has uncovered a long forgotten, ancient evil. Then he feared for the safety of Equestria and her citizen if these monsters decide to invade.

Author's Note

My first ever multi-chapter story that is not a oneshot or an anthology. Please comment if you have anything to say this story.