The Book of Darkness

[Underground Canterlot Bunker]

"This is not a good idea." Twilight sat and watched as the demon that attacked her and her friends in the Everfree Forest, play with her daughter as if they were best friends. Dawn and climbed and slid down the demons tail like a slide. Meanwhile it sat on its hinge legs and seemed to be starring into space. The demon would occasionally look at the filly climbing on him but return to the same expressionless look in its blank eyes. The little filly climbed onto of the demon once more. This time into his head and sitting on top of him. Twilight felt a lump form in her throat as she observed from the tent. She felt like the demon would lose its patience with the five year old at anytime. Then, it reached with its large scaly hand and scratched the cheek of the filly on its head. A small giggle coming from her.

"He's surprisingly good with her." said a sudden voice behind Twilight. The purple alicorn turned her body slightly and saw the form of her mentor Princess Celestia smiling at her. Twilight exhaled deeply and leaned against the wall of the tent. She rubbed her eyes with both her hands, an obvious look of concern on her face and the tone in her voice. Celestia took a few steps forward and sat across from her pupil in a chair. Twilight took another look outside the tent and saw the demon listening to her daughter with such patience it could put a royal guard to shame. "This...thing! It scares me seeing it with her." Twilight said rubbing her arm. Celestia sighed.

"Twilight, aren't you the one who inspires friendship in everyone?"

"Yes but-"

"Then this is another time to inspire friendship and...forgiveness in another soul." Celestia silently sighed, remembering the casket her guard brought in of what remained of the soldier that was killed by the demon. "We can not afford conflict with this...Pumpkinhead for now. Now we must learn to co-exist with him until this conflict is resolved. Then a trial will be made to decide his fate."

As much as Twilight didn't want to wait. Her mentor was right. She had a role as the princess of friendship to fulfill. Twilight took in a deep breathe, sucking down all bitter emotions she was feeling and swallowed hard. With a fresh new attitude, Twilight walked out of the tent and made her way toward the demon and Dawn. The creature heard her steps and snapped its head toward her. Twilight felt her hooves freeze looking into the pitch white eyes of the monster. They stood there, starring at each other for what seemed like minutes until the little girl on top of the demons head tapped his cheek.

Pumpkinhead looked up slightly. Dawn smiled down at the demon and spoke in her cute little tone. "She's my mommy! Its okay!" The demon moved his head back down and looked at Twilight. He remembered her very well. The one that teamed up with the purple alicorn and nearly killed him and his summoner. In his mind, Pumpkinhead still held a grudge but for his summoners sake he would put it behind him. The demon scooted over from his spot. Twilight gulped and without making any sudden movement, she gently next to the demon.

The tension between the two could be felt by anyone that passed by. They sat in silence next to each other for some time until Dawn slid down Pumpkinhead's tail once more and skipped in front of the two. Starring up at them with a wide smile. Twilight returned the smile with her own while Pumpkinhead just starred down at her and cocked his head. Dawn giggled and wrapped her arms around her mothers and the demons legs. Twilight rubbed her head, adoring the sight and the demon watched in silence for a moment.

He looked out of the corner of his eye and studied the emotions he was sensing from the two and the actions that were being commenced. He was knew to this sort of thing and didn't know how to react to it. All the demon could think of is lifting his large long arm, much to Twilight's dismay, and patted the child's head. She let out a small cute giggle and looked up at the demon. Suddenly, it felt as thought a lantern had been lit inside a deep dark cave. The explorer holding it wondering through the cave looking for a way out. Pumpkinhead gulped and a heavy beat in his heart caused him to grunt and rub his upper chest.

The two ponies looked at him in silence. Dawn let go of her mothers leg and stood in front of the demon. Her fingers intertwining and rubbing against each other as her puppy dog like eyes laid upon him. "Are you okay?" she asked in a worried tone. Pumpkinhead looked at his summoner, he wanted to say everything was alright but due to the language barrier he couldn't. The only thing he could do is raise his hand and rub her head, earning a small smile from her cute little face. Twilight couldn't help but smile a little at the scene, even though she didn't like the demon next to her, she had to admit he was so good with Dawn. Acting more like a fatherly figure then a blood thirsty creature. Twilight spotted out of the corner of her eye the disgusted or terrified stares of the citizens toward them. The looks of those who think he is an infiltrator or maybe controlling the princess. The figures of ponies moving around the bunkers plaza and the little shelter neighborhood come out of their homes. A total of five formed down the path, holding different weapons in each hand. Pipes, two-by-four wooden planks, and shanks carved from spare metal. As the few started to act causal while walking down the path, Pumpkinhead could feel the emotions and evil motive behind them. His instincts wanted to come over and rip the five to pieces but with his summoner and newly gained alliance next to him, he couldn't risk it. He looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Twilight turning her head and seeing the group as they stopped only a few feet in front of them.

One of the ponies, a unicorn stepped forward and pointed a pipe toward the demon. "Princess...sorry about this...but this freak is just inside here to tell those other freaks where we are! For all we know its just a spy for them! Taking over your daughters mind to get to us!" Twilight pulled herself up and raised her hands in self defense. "Please. Why don't we all calm down. Pumpkinhead...isn't our enemy." The demon's eyes widened at the alicorns words about him. Another one of the group approached with a much more aggressive tone. "Cut the crap! His kind killed my damn wife!" He pointed a rusty pipe toward the demon and grinded his teeth. "I saw screw what the princesses say! This is war man! This fucker dies tonight!" The aggressor charges with the pipe and Pumpkinhead springs to his feet, swinging his heavy hand back and knocking the weapon out of his hand. The pipe sliding across the floor and kitting the hooves of Princess Celestia, who, watched the scene with lump in her throat as she and a large crowd saw the demon grab the hand of the stallion as he tried to swing. A tension grew in the crowd, everyone expected the worst. Dawn clanged to her mom as she watched in silence. Pumpkinhead looked over his shoulder toward the filly and gave a sickening attempt of smile. She smiled back at him and her grip on her mother loosened. The demon then looked back at the pony and released his hand. He looked at his hand in shock and fell onto his rear. The demon then took in a breathe and shocked the crowd even more.

"I...am...not...the...enemy..."