Two months past as large groups of ponies trained with one of the four humans. Many of them past the training but just as many of them were unable to even come close to completing it. Specifically any ponies who tried to train with Artemus. Everyone had found a new life in the tunnels. After Twilight used her magic to almost double the size of some of the more stable tunnels. The largest ones were the width of the average city street. Rarity re-opened her boutique, Applejack and the Apple Family were able to farm using some tools and techniques they learned from Magnus, Fluttershy looked after any animals in the tunnels, Rainbow Dash started a pegasus race track, Twilight took care of any books she found and Pinkie Pie re-opened Sugar Cube Corner with Mr and Mrs Cake. Everyone had changed to some degree. Nopony was scared of fighting due to life in the tunnels being so rough on occasions and crime had risen quite suddenly after the tunnels were properly occupied. Because of the rise in crime, a policing force was deployed to any disturbance or issue to make sure nopony was hurt.
Celestia walked down the brightly lit tunnel with a determined look on her face. Ever since the virus was released, her, Luna, Cadence and Chrysalis weren't considered royalty anymore. They were just ponies now. Celestia didn't mind though, she liked being treated equally and so did Luna, Cadence and Chrysalis she was just wasn't used to being treated the way some ponies were treated. She rounded the corner to see a brightly lit facade of a building. The neon sine hung above the door read "Rainbow Dash's Bar and Nightclub" and sported a picture of Rainbow Dash holding a mug of cider in one hoof and a deck of cards in the other. Celestia chuckled lightly to herself when she heard the lively cheers and laughter come from inside. She walked in to see hundreds of ponies laughing and dancing, she even saw Viagol having a drinking contest with a griffon.
"Ready to *hic* give *hic* up now *hic* feather tits?" Viagol slurred as he put the empty shot glass on the table along with the other forty.
The griffon looked at the shot glass in his claw and raised it to his beak, however before he could take a drink he passed out and fell to the floor. The ponies who were gathered around the table cheered and laughed.
Celestia smiled at the sight of her little ponies having fun in such a horrible time and continued her walk through the bar. She caught site of Seragus sitting at a table with a large minotaur holding a twelve inch knife. She narrowed her eyes to get a better look and approached the table to see what was happening.
"Right then baw bag. You ready?" asked Seragus.
The minotaur snorted and picked up the knife. He then began stabbing the table in between his fingers at an impressive speed making everypony around the table stare at how amazing it was. The minotaur stopped suddenly when the knife made contact with his finger causing a minor cut and making him drop the knife. Seragus nodded to him.
"Good effort mate" said Seragus before picking up the knife and doing the same action at almost five times the speed. Everypony cheered as Seragus finished and stabbed the knife into the center of the table with a smile. "You owe me two grand big man".
Celestia smiled and continued her walk. She reached a door at the back of the club guarded by a large stallion in a dark suit and tie.
"Princess?" the stallion nodded to Celestia as he opened up the door.
The door lead into a large room with a table in the center. At the table sat Artemus, Luna, Cadence, Chrysalis, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Pinkie, Applejack, Magnus and Shining Armor. There was a very large pile of expensive items in the middle of the table. Gems of all shapes and sizes, thousands of bits and jewellery. Twilight was a wreck to say the least. Her mane and tail were messy and frizzy and she was sweating. Everyone was concentrated on their own cards and eyed each other cautiously. Luna broke the tense silence.
"I fold" she said as she flipped her cards onto the table.
"Me too" Chrysalis added.
"Me three added Pinkie.
Shining looked around confidently before placing his cards on the table. "Feast your eyes. Three tens and two sevens" Shining chirped happily. He had bet Cadence's favorite necklace and was glad to win it back. However before he could grab the winning pot he was stopped by Artemus.
"Now hold the fuck on mate. Everyone! I would like to introduce you all to, Sarah, Jenny, Chloe and Morgan! Eight titties!" shouted Artemus as Shining shrunk back into his chair in shame. "I am so sorry Shining but get it up yeh big man!"
Everyone roared with laughter and took a sip from their individual drinks. They the all left the table. Celestia took a moment to say hello to everyone before making her way to Artemus.
"I would like to thank you for all you and the boys have done Artemus" said Celestia with a smile.
Artemus smiled back at her. "It's fine darlin, you and everyone here have done so much for us and have been put through so much that it's the least we can do".
"Well nevertheless I still thank you and-" Celestia was cut off by a loud bang from outside.
An intercom cracked to life on the wall. "Infected have breached the tunnels! All ponies who cannot fight are to return to your homes ASAP!"
"Fuck sake!" Artemus shouted as he made a start for the exit. "Seragus!?"
"Aye I've got the guns Artemus!" Seragus shouted as he through Artemus a shotgun.
"Right make sure no infected reach the residential areas!" Artemus shouted as he and Seragus entered a large square filled with twenty to thirty armed ponies. Viagol and Magnus were at the other end of the square setting up a machine gun.
"What is that?" asked a stallion from behind Magnus.
"It's an MG-42" Magnus said with a menacing grin.
The wall in front of the square exploded in a shower of rubble and black ponies, griffons, minotaurs and other infected creatures poured into the square. The MG-42 roared to life, destroying anything it was pointed at. The ponies opened fire on the infected with shotguns and rifles along with Seragus while Artemus simply chose to charge into them head on wielding a large sledge hammer. After only two minutes the fighting was over and the tunnel square was covered in dark green blood and lumps of black flesh.
"Everyone alright!?" shouted Artemus.
Everyone present replied and relaxed. These attacks were becoming very common lately and many ponies believed that somepony was luring the infected towards the tunnels. Either way everyone was going to have to do something soon.
"Celestia?" asked Artemus.
"Yes?"
"You better come with us".
Celestia, Artemus, Seragus, Viagol and Magnus walked through multiple small tunnels before reaching an old building. The building looked deserted but when Artemus knocked the door it opened. They all walked inside to see Luna, Cadence, Shining and Chrysalis standing around a giant metal coil.
"Seragus power it up" said Artemus.
Seragus walked over to a control panel and started pulling levers and pushing buttons. After several seconds the coil began to hum lightly.
"Now you may all be wondering why your here. You are here because you have the ability to make very tough shields. As a result, me and Seragus built this coil to harness your magic to power a shield. The shield will protect the tunnels. Any questions?" said Artemus.
Everypony looked at each other before shaking their heads.
"Good" said Artemus. "If you could all please focus your magic on the coil please".
Everypony focused their magic on the coil causing it to glow brighter and brighter. After a while arcs of pure magic began to arc off of the coil and scorch the floor.
"Well fuck me...I can't believe that worked..." Magnus said in shock.
"We haven't activated the shield yet dick face..." Viagol said as he shook his head.
"Fuck off" said Magnus.
"Seragus! Flip the switch and turn the power on!" shouted Artemus.