Perpetual Torment

Rainbow Dash growls and groans in force. Putting all of her strength into her right hoof which was wrapped in your own grip, she leans to the side. Through your visor you stare into her soul, a smug smirk on your face.

"C'mon Rainbow, show 'em whose boss!" Pinkie Pie cheers on.

Applejack is watching intent, a mix between a smirk and slight concern on her face. "Alright... Stop foolin' around big guy, Ah've got money on this y'know!"

"Shut up, A.J.! I need all the cheers I can get!" Rainbow complains, huffing and puffing as she wipes some sweat from her forehead. "You're not so tough, watch this!" She growls once again, leaning her body into her hoof.

Amused by how dedicated she is to winning, you decide to humor her for a second. Faking worry, you begin to let your arm drop, eyes darting from your hand to her face as she 'overpowers' you.

Dash's eyes light up at this, as she smirks. "You're... going... down!"

You flex your arm, making it tremble as you let her push you near inches away from the surface of the table. You shake your arm violently, feigning struggled resistance to her attack. You turn your head to Applejack, flashing her a look of worry.

"C'mon now! Don't let her win!" Applejack's eyes are the size of pinpricks, as Rainbow is basically hanging off your arm, trying to tug you down to the table.

You give A.J. a wink, before ceasing your act. As if there was nothing pushing you back in the first place, you easily overpower Rainbow Dash, and swing her hoof the other direction.

"Wha~?!" Dash's pupils shrink as you effortlessly push her hoof into the table.

"Hah! Good job there buckaroo, I knew you could beat her!" Applejack trots over, slapping you on the back.

"My my~... Such a display of power!" Rarity, who had shown up a couple hours ago fans a hoof in front of her face. This causes the baby dragon by her side to fold his arms, pouting in jealousy.

Pinkie Pie dashes behind Rainbow, rubbing her shoulders like a cornerman would to his boxer. "Don't listen to Applejack, Dashie! You almost had him!"

The four of you were killing time whilst you waited for the regulator to cool off. You had spent the past four or so hours knee-deep in books with Twilight. This little journey into magical knowledge and astronomy has proven to be very informative, but very troublesome. For starters, most information regarding magic has proven to be useless to VEGA. The original idea was to expand his grasp on the new energy source so he might be able to optimize functions. Instead, you've found that there's not much else he can do with raw magical energy besides basic conversion.

Furthermore, no known map of the solar systems in this galaxy has proven to locate Earth. VEGA is under the impression that you will have to get into dimension and universe traversal, which is going to require a lot more than eight magic crystals and a single regulator to pull off. Last you checked, you have approximately 95 hours before Earth is completely overrun by the demonic invasion, and that's assuming they haven't rebuilt the Super Gore Nest.

The sun is descending across the west horizon, basking the land in a deep orange hue. Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were huddled in a little group across the table from you, debating about whether or not you cheated in the fight. Fluttershy was off in the corner, cuddling with Pumpkin as she read some children's book to him. Across the room and resting on a pillow, Twilight and Rarity had some romance novel open, but their attention was given to the wrestling match that just took place. All day today, Twilight Sparkle has been giving you friendly looks out of the corner of your eye. Any time you have glanced over to her, she gives a bright smile and a wave, seemingly ecstatic to have made your acquaintance.

This is getting heavy. You need some fresh air to think about what move to make next. One way or another, you're getting your ass back to Earth.

"Aw get off yer high horse, Dash! You lost fair 'n square. Right, Twi'?" Applejack slams a hoof onto the table, looking over to Twilight.

Twilight's eyes were watching your every move. With a shake of her head, she turns to face Applejack. "I don't know, it seemed pretty close. Maybe you two should have a rematch?" Twilight suggested.

"Yeah! You just caught me by surprise, I totally had you!" Rainbow Dash zooms in front of your face, flashing you a confident grin.

You were too focused with your thoughts to acknowledge her presence right now. Standing up you trudge your way over to the front door, gently pulling it open.

"Hey! I'm talking to you, big guy! You scared you'll lose or something?" Rainbow Dash yells, as you step outside into the cool dusk air.

The sun is no longer visible in the crystal clear sky tonight, as the various houses begin turning on lights inside. Picking a random direction, you keep your gaze in front of you.

Doubt creeps into your mind, and you can't help but wonder if this is all a lost cause. With every new piece of information, you are set back further and further from returning to Earth on your own. God knows how long it will take to locate more of those energy crystals, and it almost seems pointless to try and find more. According to VEGA, you'll need almost 300 times your current power output to be able to travel between planets alone, and at that point you'd need to construct a sturdier Slipgate.

But you can't stand the thought of the consequences of failure. All those innocent lives being brutalized and tortured, it fuels the fire deep inside you. You've become the one thing demons fear, and the one thing they strive to torment the most. Any grounds you tread, death and destruction follows suit. Demons must be the reason you've wound up back home, they just want to lull you into a false sense of happiness before they destroy Equestria too.

Conversation from an open window above catches your attention, as the moon slowly begins to bask the world in it's softer shades.

"Momma, I'm scared... What if that big monster comes to eat me in my sleep?" The trembling voice of a very familiar colt sniffles out.

"Well, if you're going around being mean to younger colts I wouldn't blame him." The stern voice of a mare retorts.

"I won't ever do it again, I'm just scared... I don't wanna go to sleep, Momma. I'm gonna have nightmares!"

You hear a sigh escape the mother, followed by a kiss. "Don't worry, Darling. If you have scary dreams, Princess Luna will be there to keep you safe, okay?"

The cogs turn in your head, as an idea hatches. It's not an idea you want to pursue, but at this point it might be your only option. Horse Lady's sister has to know about the galaxy, it's her special talent after all.

"It's so pretty out tonight isn't it, Mister Alien?" Twilight Sparkle speaks up from your side.

If you were any less of a man you'd jump out of your skin. Fucking hell, she's quiet.

Walking past the house, you decide to take the long way back to the library. VEGA only needs a couple more minutes before he can activate the Slipgate. Crickets chirp off in the distance, as street lights illuminate the large dirt roads of Ponyville.

"I know you want to return home as soon as possible... That visor makes it really hard to see, but anypony with half a heart can see the sadness behind your eyes." Twilight walks very close to your left leg, as you two wander. "If there's anything you need, I'm here for you, as a friend!" The both of you reach Golden Oak once again.

"The Slipgate is ready for operation. I will open a portal in front of you in 30 seconds."

Standing outside the library, you look back down to her. Twilight is looking up at you, a deep concern visible in her purple eyes. "You... can sleep with me if you want. I have a spare bedroom."

Kneeling down, you place your hands on her withers, gently rubbing up and down her soft coat. Twilight's eyes glance down at your exposed arms, then down to your armored hands. Her eyelids squint ever so slightly, as she hums in delight at your touch. "That feels so wonderful, Mister Alien." Her voice is calm and relaxed. After a couple seconds, her eyes trail back up to meet your own underneath your visor.

"Opening the portal now." VEGA calls out from your chestplate speaker, instead of from inside your helmet.

A bright blue light casts itself over the front of Golden Oaks, as Twilight's interest is peaked. "P-portal? You can open portals?!"

You pat her side a couple times, just as the front door opens.

"What the heck is going on?" Rainbow Dash calls out, looking between you and Twilight. "Uh, am I interrupting something?"

Standing up, you whistle from underneath your helmet. Seconds later Pumpkin hops his way outside, jumping into your arms.

"W-wait! Don't leave, there's so much more to talk about!" Twilight begs.

Turning around to walk into the portal, two purple hooves wrap around your right leg. Looking back, you can see Twilight sprawled out on her stomach, tears forming in her eyes. The other four ponies walk outside to see what all the commotion is about, all giving different reactions to the situation.

Shaking the overly friendly purple pony off your leg, you vanish into the portal.

...

...

...

Reemerging into the dark cave, you set Pumpkin down and take off your helmet. Placing the helmet onto the gramophone, you rub your face with your hands, fatigue from your situation weighs you down like a bag of sand. Off in the corner of the cave, the eight energy crystals give off heatwaves, pulsing rapidly and violently. The arcane regulator is red hot, the metal body contracts and contorts, giving off steam and smoke.

"The regulator will be ready for use in nine hours."

Tossing a handful of baby carrots to Pumpkin, you scan your cave for a place to take a nap. The last time you've slept was when the priests entombed you in that sarcophagus eons ago. After being put into the Divinity Machine, sleep was rendered pointless to your now immortal body, becoming a leisurely activity or a means to pass time. It was more of a blessing for you, however, as the dream realm offers nothing but horrific memories from your past now.

Sitting against the cave wall, you rest your head against the cold stone, damning yourself for what you're about to do. You close your eyes, and tone the midnight ambiance out, drifting off into your own personal hell.

RATTA-TATTA-TATTA-TATTA-TATTA

Ducking behind a wall just in the nick of time, heavy caliber bullets whiz past you, embedding themselves in the stone pillar beside your position. Your left forearm is bleeding profusely from the gun run seconds before hand, and you fear an artery has been ruptured. Thunderous mechanical legs stomp their way towards you, their loud motors sending vibrations through the ground underneath. With your plasma energy depleted, you toss the B.F.G onto the ground, gripping the chaingun slung around your back.

Wrapping the ammo belt around your left forearm, you brace the chaingun underneath your armpit, as you reemerge from your cover.

The Spider Mastermind roars in anger as you dare enter her line of sight once again, her super chaingun spins to life as she prepares another volley of full-metal-jacket destruction.

"Eat this, shit-for-brains!" You reply to her howl, jamming down the trigger of your own automatic weapon. Fireballs emerge from the multiple muzzles, silver barrels rotating in rapid-succession as you pump piping hot lead into her brain-like body.

The cyborg wretch of Hell roars in pain, her tiny arms flail in pain and anger, as her own volley of bullets is knocked off target by your attack. Using this to your advantage, you begin sprinting to the right, chaingun recoiling violently as you hose her down. The ammo belt slowly unwinds itself from your left arm, blood staining the brass casings as the bullet tips scratch your wrist. The pain is immeasurable, and you can feel yourself getting dizzy from the blood loss.

As you run circles around the Mastermind, chunks of brain matter spew out in every direction, blood seeping out from the multiple wounds which pepper her flabby body. Despite the constant hellfire, she refuses to succumb to death by bullet.

The Spider Mastermind faces you once again, her own chaingun throws a wall of metal down-range towards your direction. Cobblestone dust and fragments kick up in your face, two of her bullets manage to rip through your left calf and thigh.

You let out a howl of pain, collapsing onto the ground whilst never letting go of the trigger. With no other options, you focus fire onto her front right leg, right at her knee joint. The muzzle flashes from your gun leave flashers in your eyes, which make it harder to keep on target.

CLANK

Her right knee buckles and collapses in on itself, and you can see her eyes open in shock. A shriek escapes her mouth, as her robotic chassis begins to break apart. Deafening groans echo from her metal legs, the steel beams bending under the momentum of her body falling forward.

Just as the remaining bullets in the belt are fed through your chaingun, you watch as the Mastermind collapses to the ground. Her left leg snaps off it's knee joint, impaling her through the eye, as her chassis explodes. A massive fireball billows out, slowly dissipating to reveal her smoldering remains.

You huff and puff in pain and exhaustion, adrenaline depleting out of your system as your wounds begin to flare up. Shakily you rise to your feet, eyes scanning over the viscera that was once the leader behind this demonic invasion. A somber silence fills the large cathedral this battle took place in, as a portal emerges behind the corpse. With nowhere else to go but forward, you limp yourself through the piping hot mess of guts and metal, leaving behind most your arsenal besides your shotgun.

Emerging through the portal, you can hear birds chirping, and bees buzzing around this bright green valley. Blades of grass sway in the gentle wind, flowers glistening underneath the light of the sun.

You've done it.

It's finally over.

What other person can say they've gone to Hell and returned? That whole time you were surviving off of instincts and fear alone, and yet you've managed to prove too powerful for Hell itself.

A nervous chuckle escapes your mouth, before you explode into a fit of uncontrolled laughter. You collapse in the soft soil, letting the cool grass engulf your bruised and battered body. The stinging pain in your arm and leg mean nothing to you right now, as you let Earth embrace you. Your exposed and scarred abs become sore as your laughter slowly subsides, eyes locked on the smoke plume in the sky.

...Smoke plume?

Your eyes trail down the plume, following it to it's source.

An entire city skyline is ablaze, the various skyscrapers' flames combining smoke into a single, pitch black smoke plume which trails into the horizon for miles. Across the city, you can see flaming projectiles being cast back and forth, gargoyles and demons flying in every direction. Your shoulders slump, as you grip your left forearm, wrapping it in a bandage to stop the bleeding. You limp your way up a small, grassy hill to get a better view of the carnage.

Impaled on a rusty, jagged spike is the decapitated head of a rabbit.

A very familiar rabbit.

Limping over, your arms begin to tremble at the sight. Kneeling in front of the spike, you place a shaky hand on the side of the bunny's head, folding back its ear to look inside. Laser engraved inside the ear is the number 93. Daisy's number from the adoption center.

Underneath your helmet, your face slowly contorts into a mess of sadness and anger. Detaching her head from the spike, you hold it in your gloved hands, idly rubbing your thumb over her forehead.

A rabbit, a harmless animal of prey. Not any regular old rabbit either, there were live rabbits hopping around behind you. Specifically your fucking rabbit. After the thousands of demons asses you've kicked, the cathedrals and keeps inside the nine circles you've destroyed, they had the gull to kill the one thing you had left.

You're about to throw off your helmet and scream, when the sound of hoofsteps in the grass behind you catches your attention. Without looking behind, you calm your breath.

It's just a dream, stay calm.

"We have not seen a human for centuries. Art thou Equis born, Slayer?" Luna's voice graces your ears, a brief reprieve from the horrid memories.

She knows the name Slayer, huh? Play it cool, Anonymous. She can't know it's you.

Refusing to turn around, you pet Daisy's head, hands still trembling from the rage. After a few seconds, the hoofsteps grow closer, stopping at your side.

A gasp escapes Luna's mouth. "We have been watching over thine nightmare, though we must admit, we have never encountered something as terrible as this..." Luna ducks her head down to nuzzle your side, looking down to Daisy's head. "Is this what the demons took from thou, Slayer?"

That's really bothering you that she knows about the name Slayer. Regardless, you give her a small nod. Rising to your feet, the world around you begins to disintegrate, leaving you and Luna alone in a black void.

"Our sister and I were alerted to your presence. We believe that you shall be able aid us in a growing issue within Equestria, Slayer." Luna keeps her eyes on you, as you pace around in the void.

Your old, bright green UAC armor fades away, being replaced with your newest iteration of the Praetor suit. Channeling your focus into the dream realm, you form the world around you into what you remember the Fortress of Doom looking like. Your hub area forms before your eyes, the massive window in front of you and Luna showcases Earth engulfed in the various demonic pentagrams.

Luna walks over to your side once again, eyes locked on the suffering planet. "...Is this your home world, Slayer?"

You nod your head, as you focus on the dream again. The fortress fades away, as the destroyed and mangled ruins of a city are constructed. Remains of building infrastructure surround you and Luna, cement and glass scattered around. Imps and possessed humans run around, laying waste to the human population left alive.

Luna's gaze saddens, as she watches the events unfold before her. A human mother kneels in the middle of the road, hugging her boy tightly as an Imp prepares a fireball to toss at them. Running up behind the Imp, you grab its head forcefully. Placing a hand into it's mouth, you put all your strength into breaking it's jaw off it's skull. The Imp screeches in pain, collapsing onto the ground as it fades away.

Luna has gone pale in her face, and looks as if she's about to throw up at any second. Her eyes glance from where the Imp disappeared, over to the human parent and child. "Your home world is under attack, by demons? You are trying to return home... Is this why you have been stealing materials from our subjects?"

This is proving to be easier than you thought. Luna has always been very perceptive when it comes to these things. You give her another nod, turning your full attention to her as the streets fade away.

Luna sighs, and nods her head. "We understand. If thou art seeking our help, we must inform thee that we have never seen this planet before. We have explored our own galaxy and beyond, but we do not recall such a planet."

Fuck.

"However, we do believe there is something that might help thou locate thine galaxy. We wish to meet you in-person with our dearest sister Celestia. From a letter she received yesterday, thou was last sighted in Ponyville. Is this a good place to arrange a meeting?" Luna asks, her eyes never leaving your tinted visor.

As much as you want to hide away from Celestia, do you have a choice at this point? Even if she doesn't know it's you specifically, she already knows of your presence. You'll just have to steel your nerves, and act like you don't know her.

After several seconds of thought, you nod your head to your lover's sister.

Luna gives a small smile and nods. "Then it is settled. Tomorrow when the sun reaches it's zenith, we shall set out for Ponyville by chariot to pick you up." As she says this, a wind begins to pick up, as Luna is slowly dragged away from you. "Fear not, Slayer. We shall assist thou in anyway we can." Luna is sucked away into the abyss, leaving you alone in the void.