The Book of Darkness

[Canterlot. Main Plaza]

The night was late. The moon was shrouded in purple storm clouds. The roars and growls of the coming storm echoing through the quiet atmosphere of the capital city. The streets were empty, just like in the smaller town below. Though less splatters of red covered the walls and concrete ground. instead broken weapons, windows, and carriages covered the streets. it was as if everyone had left the city in an instant. It was as if Canterlot was a ghost town. But in reality, it was still populated. Below the ground was a secret bunker designed by Celestia in case of disasters. The case of the undead and monster outbreak was no acceptation. If you were to travel through the main throne room, there would be candlesticks next to the throne. If pulled, the throne would shrink in on itself and behind it would reveal a hidden passage. The metal door of the passage was sealed with a assortment of innovative locks. All were hard to crack making it hard for even a master thief or locksmith have trouble getting in. Then, their was the magic barrier. it is still unknown how strong the barrier is, due to no one attempting to challenge it. When the door would open, a large flight of spiral stairs built into the rock of the mountain would take you to an underground shelter. The shelter was deep enough in the mountain that nothing could touch the ponies inside.

The sight was of mass hysteria, doctors and nurses along with royal soldiers and guards walked and ran across the bunker, trying to calm or aid the wounded or scared. A nurse with pink hair and a white coat vastly wrote in multiple notepads using her magic. Though her body was growing immensely tired, she fought against it and continued her job. Nurse Redheart finished with a her writing of a patients missing pony report and she sprinted back toward the guards tent where she handed the report to the captain. He nodded and handed the report to two guards who then would quickly go to work expecting the crowd and the details of the report. The report they were holding was from one of the injured nurses of the above ground hospital. The report told to find a filly with a light pink dress and dark blue coat with violet mane. One of the guards felt his heart in his throat upon reading it. He knew the child and departed from his partner to sprint across the massive, noisy crowd to find the child's mother.

In a tent for the royalties on the other side of the complex, Princess Celestia, Luna, and Twilight along with half her friends sat in silence as they thought about what to do. Their was a sense of tension of the matter of the entire population of Canerlot being underground and the fact of how to stop the outbreak above. Twilight out of the rest was the most terrified and worried. her hands were shaking, sweat dripped from her head, and her eyes were red from crying so much. Pinkie Pie and Trixie tried her best to help her friend smile but even she was having trouble keeping a good mood. Suddenly, the sounds of clanking armor caught the ears of everyone. The guard burst through the tent entrance, panting and sweating in his helmet. "Your majesty!" he said toward Twilight. The purple alicorn quickly stood and approached. "Yes? Whats the matter?" The guard wanted to shout what was wrong but his breathing was making it difficult. "I-its Dawn! She i-isn't here!" Everyone looked toward the guard with wide eyes and their pupils shrunk to pinpricks. Twilight felt another meltdown engulf her mind and her legs became uneasy. Pinkie quickly held her and as she started to slowly fall to her knees. Celestia and then Luna stepped forward. "When was the report made?" Celestia asked, her own deep emotions starting to build. The guard took off his helmet and wiped his brow. "Just now. Her teacher said she was lost in the infirmary above." Luna suddenly took a stomp forward, fire in her eyes. "We have to go and get her! I'll be damned if I leave her out there with monsters!" Celestia wanted to agree, she wanted to save the child just as much as her sister for Twilights sake. Unfortunately greater objectives had to be put first. "I'm sorry...but we cant now." Her sister gave a scowl toward her and clenched her fists. "Why not!? That is a precious life out there Celestia! We cant just-!" The older alicorn slammed her palm on the table with force, everyone in the tent growing silent. "Luna we don't have a choice. i want to save Dawn just as much as you! But right now we have more than a thousand ponies inside this bunker. We don't have the means to go outside." Luna turns away and leans on the table.

Back at the front entrance to the bunker, two guards watched the large population with hawk eyes. Even though all of them were in the same boat of misery, you never know when some passengers will cause trouble. Already arrests were made for thieving medicine, food, and supplies. Though they didn't want to arrest them for only trying to help their families, it was for the better to make sure enough was for everyone. Then, a sudden rumble was felt. A small quake under their hooves caused the two guards to look at each other with worry. The heavy stomps on the ground soon caught the attention of the crowd near the entrance. "W-whats that?" a mare asked. The coughed into his fist and addressed the front ponies. "Nothing to worry about, just some minor earthquakes." Another heavy stomp but this time closer. The other guard looked toward the door and leaned in to put his ear to it. Another stomp. The guard gasped and back stepped toward the crowd, drawing his sword from its sheath. "T-that's no earthquake!" The ponies near the entrance gasped and quickly stood up. The stomps grew more and more closer toward the metal door to the bunker. The ponies started to stand from the concrete ground, causing the crowd to grow more. The heavy steps could be heard and felt from the other side of the bunker now. The screaming then started.

"They found us!"

"Were trapped! Theirs no way out!"

"Harmony help us, this is the end!"

The heavy steps reached the door and then stomped. Silence then grew through out the bunker. The princesses flew over the population and landed in front. Weapons and armor equipped. The guards stood by their side, ready to give a last line of defense for the citizens. Moments passed before something happened no one expected. A small knock echoed on the door. The guards raised eyebrows and some looked at each other. The princesses didn't break their bearing. They kept a hard disciplined stance as they watched the door. "Who is there?" said Celestia. No answer for a few moments but then some one called back. "Auntie Tia? Is that you?" Nearly all of the guards dropped their weapons and some fell to their knees giving heavy sighs. Celestia, Luna, and Twilight felt their hearts stop for a few moments before they were snapped back into reality. However, they knew better. "If that's you Dawn, what did your mother give you for your fourth birthday?" A few moments of silence passed before she answered. "Mommy gave me a teddy bear for my birthday." That was enough proof. Twilight jumped up and sprinted toward the door. Unlocking it grunting as she opened the door. Standing at the bottom step was a dirty, smiling filly. Dawn didn't get to say a word before she was swept up in her mothers arm and hugged tightly.

As the two had their heartwarming reunion. Celestia and Luna looked at each other for a moment and nodded. The older alicorn then stood next to Twilight and Dawn. "Dawn, who brought you here?" The child pointed toward the darkness behind the door. her eyes widened and she called out. "its okay! Their not mad at you!" Everyone looked at each other for moment. Cautious of what the child was talking to. Then, the stomping started again. The guards got up with weapons in hand and pointed them forward. The same thing happened for the princesses. But Twilight held her daughter tightly as she backed up slightly. A large monstrous foot came from the darkness and two clawed hands grabbed the frame. Citizens in the back screamed and ran away from the scene. Crowding in the back of the bunker. Finally, the last thing to emerge from the dark was the body of the monster. Its white emotionless eyes starring at everyone. The guards pointed their weapons forward and the princesses readied their magic. "You...you dare use my niece for your own personal-!"

"Stop!"

All looked and saw Dawn fly out of her mothers hands and land in front of Pumpkinhead. Spreading her arms out in defense of it. All starred in shock, even Pumpkinhead did the same. "He's is my friend! He saved me from the monsters!" Everyone gave skeptical looks, everyone except for the princesses. They were hard on exterminating the monster. But with the child in the way, they had to stand down. Celestia ordered the guards to lower their weapons and Dawn gave a wide smile. She then went toward Pumpkinhead and grabbed his finger with both hands, pulling him toward the crowd. "Come on! Its okay!" The beast had to admit, he was very outnumbered in this small encampment. He did as the child said without showing sign of aggression, though as much as he wanted revenge against the blue alicorn for what she did. The ponies let a path form for the two as Dawn pulled Pumpkinhead inside. The guards sealed the door again and the population, upon seeing the princess with the monster and how kind she was to it made them feel...slightly less terrified. Dawn reached the middle of the complex and climbed onto the monsters head. she then raised her hands high and shouted. "Everyone! Meet my friend! Mister P!"