DOOM: Knee-Deep in the Flame
Prologue: Before Reincarnation, comes Death
Author's Note
Hello everyone, Triple B here! This is my first ever fan project that revolves mine and everyone’s beloved game. DOOM! Not sure how will this go to be honest with you but I’m gonna do my best to make this a banger of a read for myself and everyone else who reads it. Without further ado, enjoy!
Prologue: Before Reincarnation, comes Death
It’s still a wonder to what lies within the deepest parts in space.
A galaxy, and a sun, and an entire star system of planets – and yet, not one is as dark as those in the depths of this abyss. It isn’t just any old galaxy or sun, but rather a collection, like a collection of stars. An entire cluster of them are so large that, from afar, they seem to be floating on their own. In fact, from the outside, it looks almost impossible for there to be a planet around them. The closer you get, however, and look at how small each is – each with its own individual gravitational pull and gravity – the more your curiosity grows. If they are here, why aren’t they larger? Why are they all so tiny compared to all the rest?
They are all so close – only a matter of miles away if the stars were aligned perfectly – but then, that would have meant something is wrong. Something should be out there. Not just some random assortment of galaxies, planets, moons, and stars. There should be someone out there, someone who might have been out there before. They should be able to recognize the familiar shapes of the constellations and know where they come from. Someone ought to be looking down on them. Someone should be looking at their home, and knowing what is right under their very feet.
Someone should be…
The only reason that thought had even entered his mind in the first place was because he had gone out one night and stargazed. He had looked up, watching the countless stars above him, and wished that he could make a map of these unknown systems. A way to find out who might have inhabited them.
“Um, Aiden?”
He jumped slightly at the sound of his name being called, turning to face the person who had spoken. “Yeah…what is it?”
“Are you okay? You seemed pretty distracted.” His friend asked.
That was an understatement – he could have been staring off into space for hours at that point. He hadn’t realized he had drifted off until he heard his friend ask him if everything was alright, or that there was a chance that he was zoning out while talking to him.
“I’m fine. I think I just zoned out for a bit there. Don’t worry about me.” Aiden said, giving a small smile, though his expression quickly fell when he turned away from his friend and looked back into the sky again. “What are you doing up anyway?”
“Oh!” Caleb said, glancing down at the book in his hands. “I’ve been reading. Nothing interesting really. What about you? What are you going to do tomorrow?”
Aiden let out an annoyed sigh. “You’re making fun of me, Caleb. We don’t have school today, remember?”
Caleb chuckled lightly in response, closing his book. “Sorry . I forgot. But seriously, what’ll you do? You can’t just sit in a classroom all day, you know.”
“Maybe if my parents didn’t want me getting involved with all the stupid stuff I do on campus, I wouldn’t have to sit through it. Or maybe if they’d let me graduate early, I wouldn’t be stuck babysitting everyone who wants to try the most ridiculous shit imaginable.” Aiden spat. “If they knew what it took for my grades to go up in class, maybe I could finally be left alone. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to deal with dumbasses who act like they’re better than everyone else.”
His words caused Caleb’s expression to fall slightly, which made Aiden immediately feel bad. His friend was always trying to help him through whatever he had going on. Sometimes though, he couldn’t handle things. Even when he was being serious, Aiden sometimes felt like he needed to say something mean in return.
But now wasn’t the time for him to snap at anyone – not Caleb, not Nate or Molly, certainly not Jasmine – or even himself. That would be immature and uncalled for. He had enough issues to handle without adding anything else onto his plate.
Still, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about what would happen next year. He wasn’t looking forward to the last two months of highschool, no matter what Caleb said. He wouldn’t be ready for college, either; he just had enough left in his savings to support him through high school, and he would only ever be able to afford two years at least.
Not counting college. College. A college full of people he had never met before, studying different subjects than what he was used to. He would probably have trouble finding friends there.
No.
No, Aiden told himself, shaking his head firmly. This isn’t the time for that. I need to focus. My future is more important than worrying about how many classes I’ll need to take. Besides, if I keep worrying about all of this, nothing will change.
Everything will be okay.
I can’t lose control of myself. I’m just stressed, that’s all.
As soon as Caleb spoke again, Aiden forced himself to snap out of his thoughts. “Right. So tomorrow’s Friday, and we have a big game against the other school. You coming?”
Aiden nodded absentmindedly as he gazed across at another cluster of stars. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.”
“Great! We’ll see you there. See ya later, man!” And Caleb disappeared in a flurry of black clothes and white curls.
“See you tomorrow.” Aiden replied quietly, and turned his attention back to the stars. He couldn’t quite shake the feeling that there was something he was forgetting, but he couldn’t put his finger on it – or rather, he didn’t want to put his finger on it. As much as he tried, he couldn’t understand why he felt so off. Maybe it was the new feeling of loneliness that had settled itself deep inside him. Or perhaps he was worried about the big game coming up and how much stress it was causing him. After all, there was only one year left until they graduated. Only one year to make it past every hurdle, pass every test, and finally get accepted into a university. Only one year to become a professional soccer player, and live a life filled with excitement and joy. And yet, despite everything, he still felt empty. Lonely.
Sad.
Why does this feel like such an anticlimax?
He sighed deeply, shoving his hands into his pockets and leaning over slightly so that he could see Caleb out of the corner of his eye. He was standing on the edge of the railing , his arms crossed against his chest, his eyes closed. Aiden smiled softly at the sight; Caleb always did look so peaceful during star gazing. He never seemed to tire out. He always stayed awake to admire the universe, or to watch the stars. He often found himself wondering how Caleb managed to do that – not get tired, not feel like he had to sleep, not worry about anything. It was nice having a best friend like that. And if he had to admit it, it would have surprised him just how well Caleb had taken everything lately.
He would have never expected Caleb, the guy he thought of as so fragile, to suddenly get over whatever was bothering him and become the caring and concerned friend that he deserved to be. Still, Aiden knew he was capable of doing those things – of helping others out in any way possible without hesitation or judgement. That kind of personality was something Caleb was born with, a trait he shared with his mother and grandmother. That trait had helped him get over some of the rough patches that he had endured in his life, and had allowed him to move past a lot of problems without breaking down completely. Aiden envied Caleb for that.
He had done the exact same thing.
When Aiden was twelve, Caleb had fallen ill. Aiden remembers being at home for dinner when the phone rang, and answering it after picking it up. The moment he heard his brother’s voice, he knew it was the end. His little brother was going to die.
After that, Aiden didn’t have any doubts as to what he wanted to do. The whole family agreed to go together to the hospital. Caleb and his mother went along with them, as well as his father. All of them had tears in their eyes as they stood around Caleb’s bedside waiting for the doctors to tell them the news, and then he was gone. They lost another sibling that night.
They were never close. Not until he joined the soccer team. When his coach offered him a spot and explained the situation – the position of first string right winger – that was when Aiden realized he might actually make it somewhere. He had played basketball at the local public high school for a couple of weeks prior to that, but hadn’t gotten very far because of lack of motivation. Now he was starting to get motivated again.
He started watching the games whenever he could. During the times his dad was out working, his mom spent most of her days working, and Aiden watched his brother play on TV during free periods. At first he had no interest in following soccer, but as he watched more and more matches his interest grew. And slowly, but surely, he began to understand the sport. By the time the second year rolled around – almost half a year later – he had already played almost five or six games with his teammates.
The first time he played a match was at the state championship game held by his old high school. Caleb was there that day too, playing the same position, sitting next to the owner, his dad. When he saw Caleb, he waved hello to him and gave a small smile, but Caleb didn’t wave back. Aiden could tell from the frown on his face that Caleb wasn’t happy about seeing him.
It hurt him badly, but he didn’t show it, as he knew Caleb wasn’t going to appreciate him showing emotion. The fact that he was the captain, though, and was supposed to show respect to his team members, meant nothing to him anymore. Instead, he ignored Caleb and concentrated solely on his teammates.
When he walked away after the final buzzer sounded, he kept his eyes focused straight ahead, refusing to glance at the bleachers where Caleb sat alone, watching the game intently.
He never looked back.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Aiden scoffed quietly, staring at the letter on his desk. There was no reason for him to be so upset. Sure, the letter was somewhat embarrassing, but that didn't really bother him anymore. In fact, he actually felt relieved that his mom hadn’t written anything more personal. She was always pretty upfront and honest, even though she made sure Aiden knew she loved him and supported him in anything he decided to do. Though, knowing his mom, she could never help but try to make him feel better. That was her job, and Aiden liked knowing that she did it well. If she wrote him something that reminded him to eat more vegetables, or to take care of himself, he would know that she cared.
So, yeah, he was fine.
He was just annoyed that he had been called to the office. Again.
“What’s wrong?” Caleb asked, glancing up from his book. He was sitting on the floor, propped up against the door frame and looking curiously over his shoulder. He always enjoyed reading while Aiden worked. Aiden wondered if Caleb was bored, since he usually sat and read while Aiden worked – or slept – all the time. Although, he didn’t think Caleb needed the sleep.
“Nothing.” Aiden snapped, turning back to his desk.
Caleb frowned slightly as he opened his mouth to reply, but before either of them could say anything else, the door swung open and his dad came walking into the room. His gaze immediately fell upon his son, and the frown vanished.
“Well, hello to you too. How are you today?” He asked sarcastically as Aiden jumped up from the chair.
“Fine. Thanks.” He answered, avoiding looking his father in the eyes. His father smiled, his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary on his son’s figure, before he turned his attention toward Caleb.
“And who is your friend here?” He raised an eyebrow, nodding towards Caleb.
“This is Caleb. Caleb, this is my dad.”
“Nice to meet you Mr. Larkin. My name is David Caulfield.” Caleb smiled politely, holding out his hand to shake.
His father smiled warmly and shook his hand firmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. You can call me William, if you’d like.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Caleb nodded.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments, before William cleared his throat and glanced at Aiden. “I assume you’re here to talk about the upcoming season?”
“Yeah. I’m gonna start training hard.” Aiden said confidently, crossing his arms across his chest.
“That’s good to hear. Have you picked a team yet?”
Aiden paused. It was only the second week of school, so he still had no idea where to focus his efforts. He glanced nervously at his father. “Uh..no.”
William narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression growing stern. “Really? Why is that?”
“Because…it’s not really my thing. Soccer…you know.” He mumbled, scratching his neck awkwardly.
William chuckled and smiled brightly at Aiden. “Don’t worry, I understand completely. But I still think you should pick a team . Even if it isn’t really your thing, you’ll learn a lot from everyone who plays. Besides, we don’t need you to be a professional player; our family does, and so do you. We’ll support you in every possible way to improve yourself as a player, no matter what.”
Aiden sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, before nodding.
“Good. Let’s head downstairs. We can discuss the plans for the upcoming weeks. After that, you can go find Jasmine and ask her to show you around town tomorrow morning, since she seems to really love the place.” William suggested. “And then you two can work out how we’re going to spend the rest of the evening. Sounds good?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Great! Well, we’ll see you both down there. Don’t keep the girls waiting long. Oh, and Aiden, take this.” William suddenly handed him one of the envelopes, which had a letter inside. Aiden glanced at it briefly. He noticed the familiar handwriting that was his own mother’s writing.
“Thanks Dad.” He muttered as he took the envelope from him.
“No problem. See you soon.” With that he left them alone, leaving the two brothers standing in the empty room.
Aiden stared at the letter in his hands for a few minutes. Then, he turned around and headed out. He knew his dad was right, he should get some training done.
He couldn’t waste any time.
After dinner that night, Aiden found himself walking through the streets of his hometown aimlessly. It had grown colder overnight and snow had begun to fall. It had already accumulated a couple of inches and the temperature was dropping rapidly. The wind whipped through the street as cars drove past him, making Aiden shiver as he wrapped his arms tightly around himself. It was nearly pitch black outside except for the occasional street light that flickered sporadically. He had already finished his homework and tried several different games of computer chess online earlier, but none of them seemed to be able to hold his interest.
He stopped for a moment, glancing up at the clusters of stars above him. The thought crosses his mind if he could have seen it when he was younger. Back then he often dreamed of visiting space and exploring new planets. Maybe when they moved somewhere more remote the world would look different. Or maybe he’d travel farther and see a whole new planet. Something he desperately wanted to experience, even though he knew it would never happen. It was a wish that never really left him and he would never forget that he could dream of other things as well, just because those dreams were just fantasies and fantasies never last forever. No, they rarely lasted more than five seconds.
The sky was filled with countless beautiful colors, and it made him realize that life truly does have infinite possibilities. The universe had such an infinite amount of possibilities. He wished he could experience all of it one day, even though he knows that eventually it will come to an end, and reality will inevitably come crashing into reality again.
Sighing, he continued walking until he reached a small park. It was mostly empty and dark apart from the single street lamp flickering faintly near the entrance, casting a dim glow around the area. There wasn’t anyone around to disturb Aiden during his walk and it allowed him to think without worrying about being overheard.
The park was small and peaceful; quiet and deserted except for him. As he walked through the park, his thoughts began to wander. He started thinking about Caleb, and what their lives could be like, if circumstances weren’t like they currently were. What would life be like if he hadn’t had to hide everything away? Would he be happier now? More content? Was he actually happy, or was this simply his way of coping? Because after everything he saw that day, Aiden had realized, no matter how much he denied it, he couldn’t deny the truth anymore. Not when it was staring him straight in the face. He couldn’t continue living like this. Not when he felt like it was killing him slowly. Maybe Caleb understood, because it wouldn’t surprise Aiden if he felt the same way. They lived close enough together to have known each other for quite awhile now. Their fathers were friends, after all. So it only made sense that they had experienced similar pain.
Then there was his sister. She was the best person he ever knew – and he would give almost anything for her to have been born into a normal home, instead of a foster home, and to live a life of privilege – or perhaps, even more wealth and success. Of course, he knew he would never see her in that life ever again. And he knew he would do everything to prevent it from happening, but what could he do? He couldn’t change a past that had already happened.
Maybe he should try talking to someone about his feelings. Maybe then he could finally be honest with everyone. Perhaps his father could help. Maybe he would understand, because he understood him. But then again, that would require that he tell him the full story. And telling his father about everything that has happened over the past year would require him revealing things that he didn’t want anyone to know. He didn’t know what to do.
Continuing down his walk, he arrived at a large fountain near the center of the park. Standing under the light of the lamppost by the side of the fountain, he sat down on a bench beside it. It took him a while to gather the courage to open the envelope and pull the letter out. He was nervous, and anxious. His heart fluttered anxiously as he unfolded the paper carefully.
My dearest son,
I’m sorry it took me so long to respond to you. Things are always busy at home. This week was especially difficult, as I was preparing for the big match against the state. But I assure you I would’ve made time to answer the letter if I hadn’t been so stressed. You know that you can count on me to always be there for you. If you have trouble in class, or in school, or just want to talk about something you’re feeling insecure about, I’m always here to listen. And no matter what happens between us, I’ll always be proud of you.
You may think that you don’t deserve it, but you certainly do. In fact, I hope that someday, you won’t need to doubt yourself because of these feelings. They are your feelings, and yours alone. That’s why I’m sending this letter. I know you don’t need me to send you letters every day, or even write them every once in a while, but I do want to encourage you and to make sure you stay as happy as you used to be.
I also want to remind you that no matter what happens, I’m always proud of you and I love you.
Your Mother,
Amelia
A tear rolled down his cheek as Aiden read his Mother’s letter. It broke his heart knowing how hard this must have been for her. Her life wasn’t easy either, although she managed to hide the hardships. He knew his Mom loved him very much.
He wiped his tears quickly, before folding the letter once more and slipping it into the envelope.
Taking a deep breath, he rose to his feet, heading towards the exit of the park. He had to find the nearest bus stop. He could feel his eyes getting heavier and heavier as he walked along the narrow road, trying not to step into a puddle. The icy weather was turning the roads into treacherous ice traps. Soon, he knew, people would begin to use the sidewalks and walkways instead. He couldn’t wait for Christmas to start, it was so cold and miserable this winter season. Hopefully by the time the holiday comes around, the weather will be considerably warmer again. Even if it did, he hoped he would enjoy some peace.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he hardly noticed when he had reached another block in the neighbourhood.
Aiden paused in that moment when he noticed a little kid with headphones on, making his way across the street about a block away. Aiden wasn’t gonna budge since it was night-time and the streets were practically empty. At least, that's what he thought. When he turned to his right, he went wide-eyed as he saw a pale-blue pickup truck going straight down the road at a fast rate.
What’s worst, was that it didn’t show any signs of slowing down as it barreled way down the street. When he turned back to the kid in the middle of the street, Aiden could see that he hadn't yet noticed any of it while it was speeding straight for him. Not giving it a second thought, He quickly ran over him, warning in a near shout to get his attention.
"Hey. Look out!" Aiden shouted at him, now making a full sprint towards him. He was only a good few feet away from them, trying to call out once again, hoping to make a sound to warn him. However, the boy still continued onward. Seconds were passing. The truck was drawing nearer and in Jason’s heart, he knew what he had to do.
Once he was close enough to him, he used all of his momentum to quickly shove the child forward, causing him to fall face-down on the sidewalk and out of danger. The boy pulled his headphones off laying them around the nape of his neck before quickly turning around with a glare in his eyes.
"What’s your problem du-" His expression changed to shock shortly afterward.
Aiden could see out of the corner of his eye the set of headlights, and for a moment, his world began to move slowly. He watched as the hood of the truck slowly collided to his side and into his left arm, causing his entire forearm to shatter and skin to ripple uselessly against the impact. Jason’s body bounced across the pavement, skidding across the rough surface hard enough to burn off bits of his flesh from the friction. In those few seconds, He saw the boy and Kaleb’s faces, filled with horror from the position his head landed on the ground before he felt his own conscience leave him. When he reawakened he was left with an unbearable feeling.
Pain.
That’s what he felt as his eyes slowly began to pried open. He tasted a coppery flavor in his mouth. Blood…is this my blood? He thought to himself. It was like knives were using his chest as a pincushion stabbing him all over, it hurt too great to breathe. Adding it up with several broken ribs, a guaranteed punctured lung for sure. And from both ears a long, high-pitched whistle was all he could listen to. Aiden’s vision was blurry, fading in and out of focus, darkness encompassing his peripherals. Slowly it all merged into one focused image again. His vision was focused long enough for him to barely see the kid he saved kneeling in front of him before his vision faded out once more. When it came back, he could see silhouettes of tall figures standing next to them, officers he thought.
Aiden couldn't think too much about this, the pain in his body was too much for him to bear. Soon, it became harder to breathe, and his body was growing colder. 'Is this it? Am I really going to die?'As time passes, he could feel his body feeling numb.
Aiden couldn't hear or feel anything except the numbness slowly spreading through his body. His vision started to darken as his life seemed to be reaching the end of the road. In those final moments of being alive he smiled whilst closing his eyes, breathing his last breath before everything completely goes black.
DOOM: Knee-Deep in the Flame
Chapter 1: Sentinel Reborn
In the darkness, the world was still. A void filled with nothing more than silence and soundless air; and in that emptiness, he could hear his heart beating against his ribs. It thudded against his rib cage, echoing off the miles upon miles of nothingness surrounding him. Is this what it’s like being dead? The thought had never really occurred to him until now. He had never been one for such frivolous notions, but if this is what death is like, what does he have to live for now? Where does one go after they die?
He couldn’t say he was particularly religious—not like so many other people—and certainly not like so much of modern society, yet he felt a profound sense of peace at this moment. He wasn’t scared or upset, and he didn’t feel as though he would have to do anything anymore. He was free of life. At least for now, in this limbo of nonexistence, he was completely and utterly content with the idea of being nothing.
He blinked, and something appeared far away across the horizon. There was no way he could tell what it was exactly, just like he was unable to determine where he ended up either. As time passed by and his eyes followed its progress across the horizon, however, the shapes became more distinct and recognizable. They came together into a shape he could understand quite clearly, and as they drew closer, he realized that they were moving towards him. Said shape morphed into an unfamiliar symbol before finally coming to float in front of him.
It was a strange and intimidating symbol. He didn’t recognize it from any books he had read, nor did he recognize the image on it. It glowed brightly in red light, and it reminded him greatly of bloodstains. He found the image unsettling, despite being nothing more than a symbol—and yet, there was something about the image itself which intrigued him. Something was nagging him in the back of his head, urging him to look deeper into it, further down into the darkness that seemed to have enveloped it. He wanted to see beyond this image, this thing. What lay beneath it, and why was it there?
A chill ran through his body, and he shivered uncontrollably. It was getting warmer—it was always warm—but now it felt almost unbearable as he watched it getting a little brighter. The light grew hotter, and then, it exploded, bathing the world around him in crimson. It blinded him. The burning sensation continued, intensifying throughout his entire body. His breath caught in his throat and the scream died in his mouth as everything went dark.
Throughout the void, a deep voice spoke.
“They are rage, brutal, without mercy. But you… you will be worse. Rip and Tear, until it is done!”
Then, silence again.
Aiden woke up immediately shielding his eyes with his hands instinctively as if the last remnant of his memory blinded him. Beating wild, he could feel his heart pounding against his ribcage, beating as though he was still living through the last waking moment, even though he vaguely became aware he was no longer in danger. Fresh adrenaline coursed through his veins - eager and waiting for something that would happen, which it already had. Not only was his body motivated to be alert thanks to the adrenaline, but it also sharpened his other senses.
Completely aware he was no longer feeling the dread of incoming physical danger, he placed his hand close to his chest and tried to get his body to slow down. To slowly bring himself out from the last memory.
I'm fine….
I'm okay…
I’m… okay.
Using the right side of his body, Aiden tried to prop himself up with the use of his elbow. Although he could still feel the beating of his heart and the anxiety that lingered, he could sense that he was back in control thanks to concentrating on a different matter.
Unlike minutes ago when everything within him was running rampant, he could feel everything coming to a standstill yet again. With his breath stuck within his throat for god knows how long, he finally exhaled. Aiden had believed all this time that he was specifically on the ground, dying in the coldness of night-time.
What stood before him was nothing to his familiarity.
"What the..." He finally muttered.
This isn’t the town, Aiden thought to himself as he stared at the tall trees. Not too far from him was a round crater filled by clear water. Flowers were different, plants he didn't think existed dotted the forest floor in large frequency. What also didn’t add up was how different the trees looked. Last he remembered, he was nowhere near any forest of nature before it happened. In fact, he was in the process of returning back home. So why was he in a big forest? But most importantly, how in the world is he not dead?
“Hello?” Aiden called out into the forest. At least, he tried to call out. He felt a spike of pain in his throat when he tried to call out again, so instead of saying another word, he raised a hand to his neck, massaging where the pain lingered.
He tried a third time and immediately whipped both hands to his throat when the pain increased tenfold. There wasn’t any reason why he should have been experiencing pain from talking. Yet here he was - completely unaware of anything beyond the surface level, yet still capable of experiencing pain. It took all of Aiden’s strength just to lift his head up. One thing is evident to him now: He can’t talk. At all.
Though his voice is still there, he could feel it. But some unknown force is blocking any form of vocal communication he could possibly use.
'Ugh, you’ve gotta be kidding me,’ Adien thought to himself as he quickly lunged into a seated upright position. Half a dozen scenarios crossed his mind but as one thought progressed into another, none really made any sense for his particular situation. Nothing could really explain why he was here in the middle of the woods. The most sane reason would have made perfect sense had he actually been sleeping and maybe he just woke up from his dream.
“Mm mm no, that can’t be it,” he muttered under his breath as he cupped his chin slowly stroking it. Barely enough for him to think through what he had to do, he decided to save the questions for later. For now, he needs to find out where he is and find out the location. It would at least ease his mind if he can get back to civilization.
Quickly getting up he planted the sole of his feet firmly against the earth’s floor as he stared ahead at the small pond. Without another thought, he quickly made his way towards it as I stared at the surface of the water.
Something felt off about him and though he had not sensed it while he laid on the grass, he could very much feel it now as he stood. It wasn't the dirt floor that he walked upon or the woods itself that was throwing him off.
Rather It was not only his height that he found to be incredibly disconcerting, but realizing now how his face behind his helmet looked much older, so middle age.
Getting on his knees he slowly leaned his head over the puddle. Immediately with a loud audible gasp he stepped back putting the distance between himself and the puddle.
At the age of sixteen, he was clearly a young fully developed young man, body parts and everything. My physical body, as bizarre as it was to describe it that way, felt somewhat lighter. Cautiously and with my mouth agape, I looked back at my reflection and blanched at what I saw.
‘Wh-Wha—What the hell?!’
Aiden crawled back to the edge of the pond. Shocked and in disbelief of what he was seeing.
Staring back at him in his reflection was a green armored man. His face was obscured with a tinted visor, and was clothed in armor from head to toe. The suit he wore was battered and worn. He also had a dark green metallic cannon planted on his left shoulder.
Aiden closed his eyes and took his head in both hands. How… How the hell did I not notice?! He thought to himself. No! Of course I had not noticed it while I laid on the ground and honestly, it was the very last thing on my mind but it was the sight of my reflection that brought my attention to the forefront of my mind. By doing this, he had consciously become more aware of himself, hence the reason he felt off since he got to his feet.
There was no way he could explain what he was seeing, how he came to look like... this! With his arms raised up he grasped on his head, as he stared back at himself. This… This isn’t normal, this is way FAR from normal! This has to be a dream. He has to be dreaming, because there’s no way he should look like this.
With his trembling hand bawling to a fist, he willed himself to slow down. To take a deep breath and just... breathe. Now is not the time to panic. He just needs to get out of this forest, look for people or a town hopefully.
“Quite shocking, isn’t it?”
Aiden snapped back to reality at the sudden voice. Looking around for the owner of the new voice, he heard a soft giggle coming from his right. He stood back up, slowly turning to the sound, looking up at where the laughter originated from.
Floating above him was a little girl. Her body was petite, and had long cyan hair cascading down her shoulders like ink. She was wearing a white dress that resembled the material of clouds, her light skin shining as she smiled gently down at him. She was beautiful and her appearance was ethereal - almost making her seem a little less real than she actually was. Her eyes glimmered with the purest of blue. They matched beautifully with her long wavy hair and a pair of pink lips formed into a genuine smile. Her wings, like a bird, fluttered softly behind her.
The second their gaze met, the little girl let out a delighted giggled. Before he could blink she flew down at him with great speed, floating in front of him without breaking eye contact.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” she said, smiling sweetly. “You’re confused, for that I am certain. Allow me to introduce myself.” She closed her eyes, waving at him before folding her arms and opening her eyes again. “Hello, I am VEGA, the sentient intelligence assigned to guide you wherever your journey may lead.”
VEGA? What kind of name is that...? Aiden wondered.
VEGA then floated around him in a circle. Her eyes glowed brightly before dimming to her usual blue.
“I believe you are the one who’s called Aiden Walker, yes?” She asked him. Aiden nodded slowly, unsure of how to proceed from there. It’s not like he had a clue what was going on in these weird circumstances anyway. “Hmm, just as I expected," VEGA chuckled. "You do have quite an interesting name, you know."
Aiden stared at her blankly.
“Well, now that we have the introduction sorted out," she began. "Let us begin our discussion by stating the obvious. Not too long ago you gave up your life to save the life of an innocent soul, which I must say is very noble indeed. Usually the average soul after dying would ascend into the afterlife depending on how you view the concept.” She continued. “However, unlike the average soul, yours didn’t make it into the afterlife. Instead, you were given something no one has ever received in eons: a chance to be reborn.”
VEGA paused mid sentence, giving him time to fully understand what she had just explained. Aiden was slightly taken aback.
REborn? Reincarnation?
“As for where you are right now, you’re in a new world,” VEGA continued. “A world home to many different species but not one of your own, the ones called humans. The main inhabitants of this country, known as Equestria mind you, are beings identified as ‘Anthropomorphic Ponies’ or Anthro Ponies for short. Each of them are different from the other races in each aspect. You have the earth ponies, the soaring pegasus, and unicorns that can use magic.” VEGA finished.
Aiden’s eyes widened once he heard the description of the other races. In fact, he couldn’t help but wonder why they were referred to as ‘Pony’ instead of just ‘Earth Pony’. He then immediately shook his head trying to clear his thoughts.
“There are also Minotaurs, Griffins, yaks, and many more. But these creatures are not what you should be setting your sights on,” VEGA warned, her eyes narrowing. “While all of those creatures have their strengths and weaknesses, they are nothing compared to the true threat of this world. Would you like to know more?” VEGA asked, crossing her arms.
Aiden silently nodded at her question, unable to bring any words to his lips as VEGA went on explaining.
“Very well. Do pay attention.” She instructed. “Fifteen thousand years ago, before the world was shrouded in darkness; Equestria was a beautiful paradise. All life thrived in its beautiful lands. Friendship flourished between the various races living on the land. But most of all, harmony reigned. Everyone lived together peacefully with one another in a peace such as never had been seen. It was the happiest and most peaceful time in existence, until the day when a horrible tragedy fell on the world.”
Aiden listened attentively as VEGA went on speaking.
“It started about five years prior. An army of monsters invaded many kingdoms in Equestria’s borders, destroying anything and anyone they encountered. The monsters slaughtered every living being within a two mile radius. Many of the ponies who lived in kingdoms, small towns or villages were killed mercilessly before being eaten alive by the monsters. These monsters are known by their name that has pierced the hearts of every pony. They called them… demons,” she said solemnly. “The demon’s armies ravaged across many kingdoms like a wildfire, destroying everything in their path. As the demons grew closer to another territory, the number of casualties began to rise rapidly, especially during battles. It wasn’t long before one kingdom in the north began to fall to the demons’ control. At first it was merely an ordinary village in Saddle Arabia, but soon enough, it was overrun. The population there dwindled by hundreds of thousands, with the death toll reaching tens of thousands of victims.”
VEGA turned away from him, looking straight ahead.
“There used to be those who fought the demons and managed to push them back, but not anymore, it seemed. When it became apparent that it was hopeless, all of these people gathered together and decided to fight the demons. The Sentinels they were called. Some fought and died bravely; however, not everyone made it back alive. There, many of them were slaughtered like sheep. It left them no place to rest. They were all gone. Their souls now reside in an eternal sleep within the heart of Equestria.” She looked back at him, smiling once again. “But not all is lost. The sentinels are gone, this is true, but not all of them are gone from this world; there is still one Sentinel remaining.”
VEGA floated over towards him, staring at him closely as she reached for his hands. Her soft fingertips brushed against the knuckles as she held them in hers, staring deeply into his eyes.
“It’s you Aiden Walker; the last Knight Sentinel. You, who were chosen by fate to become the next Sentinel of Equestria, are destined to restore peace back to this world, Aiden. And you alone have the key that will allow such a thing to happen and bring about the end of the demon’s reign upon this world.”
She released his hands before flying back to her spot.
Even though Aiden couldn’t speak, he was speechless. I’m going crazy, he thought to himself. This whole situation must be just a dream... It’s too bizarre for me to believe, I can barely process what I’ve learned.
He sat there in silence for some time, letting all that she had said sink in. Oh who was he kidding, this isn’t a dream. As much as Aiden wanted to deny it, he knew deep down that VEGA was telling the truth. This entire situation just had to be a strange combination of coincidence and chance. One that he had somehow ended up getting mixed up in.
A part of him wasn’t sure if he was actually scared or excited by what was happening to him. Sure he’d always believed in fairy tales, but he’d never really experienced one. To tell the truth, he wasn’t feeling overwhelmed and nervous; on the contrary, he felt calm and collected. It was kinda odd. Kinda think of it, he wasn’t just calm but… angry. Aiden felt it when VEGA uttered the word ‘demon’. His hands curled tightly together, fists shaking slightly.
A sense of loathing spread through his body. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop his anger from rising inside him. He was so mad that he wanted to tear apart these demons wherever they were. He shook his head vigorously, attempting to shake the thought from his head. What is this… this anger. This rage feels… overwhelming. So much anger. Aiden glanced down at his hand, noticing that they were balled into fists. He loosened them only to realize that the feeling hadn't left. He squeezed his fist tighter before opening it slowly, causing the skin of his palm to burn.
‘What the hell?’ he thought.
“With all said and done, we can begin our journey. All I need to know is one thing… Are you ready?” VEGA interrupted.
Aiden looked up at her once again. His sudden rage slowly subsided, and was replaced with determination. Which surprises him, he could feel something in him taking over. Something which he didn’t feel comfortable yet at the same time exciting. He looked into her eyes, nodding his head in agreement.
VEGA smiled. “Good. Our first destination is far but not to worry, I have another alternative planned. I have the ability to create portals that can take us directly to where we need to go. Opening the portal now.”
Not too far from Adien and VEGA, dirt, dust and wind began to pick up. Plants and bushes whipped around violently, leaves and pebbles on the ground being swooped away, pulled towards some anomaly that was taking place.
As the wind grew more ominous. Blue particles begin to spark out and fly around in this contained windstorm, before a small blue ball appears in the road. Shining bright for just a flash, the ball dulls to an almost black shade of color, as it rapidly expands in size. The ball transformed into a large, deep blue circle. Standing almost as tall as one of the buildings in this town, the circular anomaly spins ever so slowly, small blue sparks fly out and dance around it.
Once it came into a complete spin, VEGA flew towards it with Aiden close behind. He looked up at her as she turned her gaze towards him.
“I almost forgot, you’re going to need this.” VEGA stated as she snapped her fingers. With that statement, a tool falls out of nowhere. Aiden’s hand snapped up instinctively, catching the object that had fallen while VEGA flew into the portal.
Right hand wrapped around the pistol grip, fingers on his left hand tightly grip the rubberized, polymer pump. Looking back into the portal, his eyes deeply narrowed. He flexes his left arm.
CLICK-CLACK
Author's Note
Thus the adventures of Adien the Doom Slayer begins. Hope you all enjoyed this first chapter and hope to see you all in the next one! 
