The great doors of Tartaros' deepest level slammed shut as the six mares piled inside.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash barred the door behind them, while the rest caught their breath.
"Starlight! Oh goddeses, they tore her apart!" Cried Pinkie.
The girls, save for Twilight and Applejack, began to sob uncontrollably.
Equestria had been overrun with a demonic invasion. Twilight was given an order by Celestia herself.
Never had Twilight heard her mentor sound so desperate. "Go to Tartaros' deepest depths, find the demon slaying weapon there, wake him!"
Twilight had little time to explain the situation to her friends, as they were immediately beset on all sides by demons.
Twilight displayed her wings and glowed her horn. "She gave us a chance to succeed, we'll make her sacrifice mean something!" Her tears belayed her true feelings, but she wiped them away when the others couldnt see.
She had to be strong for them. If she were to break, then it would all be over. Equestria would fall.
*Crack-Boom!*
The great stone doors heaved as the demon horde rammed against them to tear it asunder.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity all pressed themselves against it. They're grunts and straining effort became part of the background as Twilight searched for 'The weapon to slay demons'.
A sarcophagus, twice that of Celestia's height, sat in the middle of a stone room.
Glyphs wrote on the walls spelled this was the resting place of what they were looking for.
"I think we found it girls, just give me time to figure out what it says!" She called back.
Pinkie and Fluttershy were doing all they could to help bar the door with various junk they found. All of which was useless, brittle antiques that shattered to pieces on the next great heave of the doors.
Twilight read an ancient tablet.
"What does it say, Twilight?!" Called Pinkie.
"Yeah, where's this weapon thing that supposed to help us win!" Applejack grunted.
Twilight explained her findings. "It's not a weapon at all!"
"What!?" Her friends cried in unison.
"It's a being, from another dimension, a man, he's been sleeping here for millenia!" She called back.
As her eyes roamed over the ancient symbols, her uneasiness grew.
"Darling, I love a good mystery as anyone, but could you HURRY THE BUCK UP, my hooves are cracking!" Rarity shouted, her strength waning against the door.
The next heave of the door brought a sickening crack to the hinges.
Fluttershy broke down in uncontrollable sobs.
Twilight spoke the words, her voice taking on a demonic rumble, despite speaking softly.
This was dark magic. Ancient. Powerful.
"So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again..."
Twilight's breath hitched as she faltered to utter the next words of the ancient spell.
The writings were glowing a toxic green. Activated by the voice of a Princess. And it was only a Princess' voice whom could call upon such a weapon.
Twilight stood on the precipice of the unknown. And it terrified her to no end.
"Well? What are ya waitin' for? Wake him up!" Yelled Applejack from the door.
"I'm not sure I want to..." Twilight backed away, looking agast. The burden of knowledge weighed on her, knowing whatever she was about to release, would likely never be put back in.
"They're gonna get through!" Rainbow Dash cried out, straining her body against the door; along with Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie.
"We're dead, we're so dead; I love you guys to the end of forever!" Cried pinkie
"I love you too, Pinkie; I know I'm a jerk sometimes, but I really love you guys, I dont care how uncool it sounds!"
"I love, ya'll; I know I never say it, but I love you Dash; I wish I was brave enough to say it before now!"
"Darlings, being your friend was the most generous gift you all could've given me, thank you, I love you all so much!"
Twilight stared at the green, glowing tablet and struggled to utter the next words. Her friends could profess their love for each other; but she couldn't say the three words that may save them all.
But they were out of options. This was their last hope to fight back against the Demon horde.
Twilight's lips whispered the order.
"Awaken, Doom Slayer."
The symbol etched upon the sarcophagus glowed a hellish red, then floated opened to reveal a being unlike anything on Equss. The stone coffin lifted the being upright.
It's torso was much like that of a Minotaur, but the rest was a more evolved form of a great ape. The being's bulging musculature looked chiseled from stone.
Twilight and Fluttershy flinched away as the man, chained to his sarcophagus prison, opened his eyes and looked at them. His visage exuding the calmest expression of hate and malice, the likes of Twilight had never seen on even her worst enemies.
The man strained against his metal binds for a moment before they shattered and he stepped forward.
Fluttershy yelped and grasped onto Twilight for protection.
The man looked down at them, and then up at the door; where the other ponies stared in silence; until the next lurch of the door threatened to give way; parting enough for the arm of a demon to reach through the breach.
The mares screamed and doubled their efforts to hold the line; while avoiding the beast's sharp claws.
Fluttershy stuttered. "P-please... help us?"
The man wordlessly turned and approached another sarcophagus stuck in a wall, also adorned with his symbol, and with his great strength the stone lid was torn asunder.
Twilight watched as the Slayer adorned his green armor and helmet. Scars and pock-marks marred every surface. The glass visor of his helm was cracked.
He took up a long, black, metal device and loaded multiple small, red cylinders into it's underbelly barrel; then pumped it with a satisfying sound of clacking metal.
The Doom Slayer stood, staring menacingly at the door; before his torso turned to look at Twilight expectantly.
Twilight swallowed and nodded in understanding.
The Slayer was bound by the word of a Princess. She had ordered him to wake. And now she must unleash him unto her enemies.
The door was blasted open, sending Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all hurtling before the Slayers feet.
Twilight was quick to catch them all and shield them in a bubble of protective magic.
Instead of being overrun and torn apart. The demons had yet to enter the room.
They weren't being cautious. The demons hissed and roared. Beating and scratching at the ground; never daring to get closer to the Slayer.
They were afraid.
The Slayer paid them no mind. Still keeping his intense, unfaltering gaze on the Princess.
Twilight thought of what the Demons did to her pupil, then took a breath and whispered the final line of the tablet. Her face hardened, and her feelings began to mirror that of the Slayer.
With a calm and even voice, laced with hate and malice, she gave the order.
"Rip and tear, until it is done."
The Doom Slayer turned away to fulfill his destiny once more.
Author's Note
My attempt at a 1000 word challenge.
