The Eternal Shield: The Slayer’s Awakening

by Author Shimmer

Rating: mature
Tags: Romance, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Science Fiction, Starlight Glimmer, Profanity, Gore, Violence, Princess Celestia, Crossover, Dark, Alternate Universe, Human, Anthro, Main 6
Length: 12847

It's been eons since the Doom Slayer had been in deep slumber. Now freed, he must readjust to the present while also having to deal with the anthropomorphic ponies who fear him deeply.

After winning victoriously against the Dark Lord Davoth, the Doom Slayer returned to his sarcophagus and slumbered. Waiting for the day when a new evil arises with another reckoning, and the universe calling for his help once again.

At-least to the Slayer that’s how it should’ve gone down.

Now awakened, the Slayer must adjust to the present world, deal with a race of anthropomorphic ponies who fear him deeply, accept his position in this new world, and find a new purpose within it.

Click —> Main theme: Intro

An MLP:FiM/Doom: Eternal Crossover

Cover Art by - JetXPegasus

Author’s note: This story takes place in season 5 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Featured: October 5th - 2021

Featured: February 3 - 2024

Featured: February 6 - 2024

Featured: February 21 - 2024

Published 2024-02-03 13:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-02-22 01:17:57 UTC

Chapter 1

In a dimension before earth came to existence there were the Maykrs. The first deity of the Maykrs, the Father, built the Gate of Divum many eons ago. Its purpose? To access the hidden city of Immora deep in the heart of a realm known by many names: the pit, the dark abyss, the Netherworld, and many other countless titles. . . but there was one name that all sentient creatures know it by, a name that have been given by the Dark Lord himself:

Hell.

Twenty-five years ago in earth's time, Hell found its way to open a portal to earth. From the mouth of the black void legions, and legions of Hell's most vilest creations, and dwellers of the dark realm marched out. They were rage, brutal from the strike of their very claws, and feared so much even a child had nightmares of their bright venomous yellow eyes:

The Demons.

They shed blood and mercilessly brutalized any living thing on their sights. The horde of the demons overwhelmed the very best and most advanced machinery and weapons technology that mankind could muster against the opposition. No matter what they threw or plotted against them It was utterly useless, they moved and were too quicker then them, caring for themselves they did not, for only they sought out the blood of humanity. They were willing to sacrifice their own to get to the heart of their world. They slaughtered thousands and millions more followed.

Until… He came.

In the first battle, when the shadows first lengthened, and all thought hope was lost, one man stood. Burned by the embers of Armageddon, his soul blistered by the fires of Hell and tainted beyond ascension, he chose the path of perpetual torment. In his ravenous hatred he found no peace; and with boiling blood he scoured the Umbral Plains seeking vengeance against the dark lords who had wronged him. He wore the crown of the Night Sentinels, and his reckoning was uncounted.

The scribes carved his name deep in the tablets of Hell across eons, and each battle etched terror in the hearts of the demons. At the time they didn't know who he was nor were they prepared for his arrival, striding forth to feast on the blood of the wicked. For he alone could draw strength from his fallen foes, and though he was mortal, his strength grew, swift and unrelenting. For as he gains in strength so do they fall in numbers. His steel barreled sword of vengeance cut through layer after layer of the legions like a sickle through a field - his fury surpassing their own. Though Hell's forces were fast, He was faster - more relentless.

None could stand before the horde but him. Like a plague, despair spread before him, striking fear into the shadow-dwellers, driving them to deeper and darker pits. But no matter where they hid he would always find a way to break through the rabbit hole. When the Striding Outlander marched forth in the dark realm a new challenger from the depths of the abyss rose, The Great One, a champion mightier than all who had come before.

The Titan, of ferocity and immeasurable power. He strode upon the plain and faced the unyielding warrior, and a mighty battle was fought on the desolate plains. The Titan fought with the fury of the countless that had fallen at his hand, but when the demons thought for a moment victory was theirs - there fell the Titan, and in his defeat the shadow horde were left in utter disbelief.

On that day came the birth of a title: all those that tasted the bite of his sword, ripped and teared apart at his hands, those who realized he was far worse than them, those that stood and watched as he stood victorious over the Titan's corpse roaring an in-human battle cry named him...

The Doom Slayer.

The Doom Slayer and Davoth clashed one another, causing the multiverse to tremble as the immense power of the Primevals was unleashed, sweeping across time and space with devastating force. The strength of their opposing wills propelled them through dimensions, spanning the past, present, and future. Blow after blow, exchanging blood for blood, their battle gradually revealed the truth of the Ultimate Betrayal. It became evident that the Dark Lord was the True Creator, and the Father was nothing more than a usurper.

However, despite the circumstances, the armored warrior remained completely composed. The intense battle continued without any signs of abating, and the ultimate clash between two equally powerful forces unfolded. Nevertheless, the time for the decisive outcome of the entire existence drew near. One power triumphed over the other, and as the tremors of war subsided and the flames of disorder were extinguished, he stood at the pinnacle, possessing unrivaled might, unyielding, and invulnerable.

Upon the Ingmore Sanctum of the once revered Jekkad, the two adversaries stood facing each other, the atmosphere tranquil, the battle concluded. The life force, the very essence of Creation itself, flowed from the Dark Lord in an unprecedented manner as he wearily lowered himself to one knee, his body battered and exhausted, his armor in disarray. His ancient hand tightly grasped his sword of universal annihilation, yet there was an undeniable sense of acceptance in his demeanor.

Opposite the Dark Lord, the Destroyer stood, his fists clenched but his composure unbroken, a tempestuous storm of vengeance brewing in his eyes as he glared hatefully at the source of his suffering. The mightiest being, the one who had defied death and ascended from the dust to the cosmos, the Doom Slayer peered through the frigid visor of his impenetrable armor, known as the Praetor Suit, with a serene and righteous fury, the countless ages of torment he had endured flashing through his mind in an instant.

Everything he had lost, everything he had done to get to this point, every last demon he had torn to veritable shreds with his bare hands, every last god he had turned to pools of blood by his will, everything he had sacrificed...everything that he had loved. It all came down to this.

This was it, Doom Slayer thought, all or never.

Slowly, gradually, his gauntlet hands reached for his helmet, gripping the sides of his headgear, and giving it a twist. A slight hiss blew to the side as the pressure seal was broken, and extricated his helmet from his protective covering. For the first time in eons, he flashed his scarred visage to another physical being. One that he despised deeply. He dropped the accessory by the soles of his boots.

With his helmet falling to the side, the Doom Slayer was asleep. Now stood the very man who hailed the legendary title behind the head gear:

Flynn Taggart.

Flynn's eyes narrowed dangerously and stalked forward.

The Dark Lord breathed heavily, his will to keep fighting siphoned away from the overwhelming strength of his opponent. He raised his weapon, but quickly realized it was deadweight, useless in his hand for what was slowly approaching; for what was inevitable.

"Tell me," he spoke, blood eyes glaring deep into his adversary's. He tossed his mighty sword to the side. "Have you nothing to say to your creator... before you strike him down?"

Flynn glared back, a scowl forming to his scarred face, lips warped by hatred. He bared his teeth one last time, the arm-blade extending with a harsh screech. The Hell-Walker shot his arm forward and plunged the blade deep into the Dark Lord's chest. Blood and energy spilling forth, and for the first time in countless eons, the armored warrior responded.

"No."

Pulling his arm back, he ripped the blade free. The Dark Lord grunted and his body shook violently; pain flooded his body. The limitless power within him swelled. He tilted his head back and the power of Creation and Destruction raged forth from his orifices, a pillar of infinite energy shooting far into the sky, billowing out as it reached the boundaries of Hell. The Dark Lord fell back, and from his chest rose the First Soul Sphere. Cracked and unstable, it shattered in an intense eruption that spread wide waves of power and influence flowing throughout the multiverse.

In an endless number of dimensions that had been infected by the treacherous demons, the denizens of Hell crumbled. Back in the Sentinel World, man and woman alike cheered the Slayer's banner as the demons that plagued their world turned to ash. On Earth, an imp was about to pounce on a woman and an UAC soldier, but the vile creature vanished in flames. Countless other worlds saw the end of their plight as the demons were erased from the universe.

Flynn gazed up at the infernal sky, the cold fury in his heart sated for the first time. For eons he had wasted away, slaughtering every last demon he swore to erase out of existence, living for the sole purpose of tearing Hell asunder. Today, he had taken rightful vengeance against the Dark Lord himself, the ultimate source of his pain. His conquest of Jekkad, his quest for revenge was over. The rage within him settled; he felt nothing but an empty void. What was there left for him now that the True Creator, the Father of All was dead?

It is done.

It is finally over.

"..."

Flynn slowly twitched from side to side as a wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over him, nausea and dizziness overwhelming his senses. His brows furrowed in bewilderment as he fell to his knees, and he gazed down at his gauntlet hands, perplexed. What was happening to him?

"By his hand, all things were made," the Maykr Father's omniscient voice reverberated throughout the Holy Ingmore Sanctum. "... Even you."

Flynn chuckled as realization dawned on him. For centuries, his rage was the only thing that had kept him going. Now, without said rage, his body stopped functioning. He was an empty shell that had lost what kept him alive for so long; a husk of a human being.

In his moment of weakness, he fell over, and his world engulfed in darkness. In his last fleeting moment of consciousness, he eyed the Seraphs that stared emotionlessly down at him. One Seraph in the middle raised his hand and the long, stone lid slid over him. Darkness descended from all sides.

The blood red sigil above him, was the one thing illuminating his sarcophagus.

His eyes became heavy and finally let sleep overtake him.

An anomaly of a white flash of light appeared next to the sarcophagus. Standing next to said sarcophagus, stood a tall cloaked figure. The mysterious gazed down at the grim tomb before them with a tilt of their head.

The mysterious individual placed their hand on the sarcophaguss’ lid in the middle. Both the individual and the sarcophagus were shrouded in a bright white aura, before exploding and filling up the area around. Only when the light cleared did a group of Seraphs finally arrive to see the commotion. Unfortunately, they came far too late.

The mysterious individual, along with the sarcophagus, were gone.

Author's Note

And that’s chapter 1 my little shimmerings! I just wanna say though, I’m going to do my best to be as consistent with this story as possible. And if no new chapter pops up in a while, that is because I may not be feeling writing today or the other day after that. I want to do my best to keep quality in my writing, and when i’m force writing just to appease people, it comes out all-around bad and crummy. I don’t want to subject myself or anyone to bad writing, so i won't!

Since this will be another rewrite, there will be some changes as you all have read through this first chapter. I’ll be working on the second chapter soon (If God wills), but I’ll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!

See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!

Chapter 2

Flynn awoke by icy needles of rain falling on his face. His eyes slowly peeled themselves open. A cloudy sky greeted him with gray and streaks of raindrops, dripping from said clouds to the ground. He squinted as rain pecked his eyes. The drone of pattering rain filled his ears. Flynn sat up, rubbing the raindrops from his eyes. He looked around. He was laying in a small clearing surrounded by dense forest. Trees stood tall over him as the rain came down.

Flynn glanced to the ground and saw his helmet lying next to him. He stood up from his sitting position. Needles of rain pecked his armor. His hands reached and grabbed for his helmet, bringing it close to his view, inspecting it. His thumb rubbed along the side of the helmet. His hand traced around the visor, admiring its intricacies. It didn't look damaged in any way; the visor was intact. Perfectly polished.

His hands rested on either side of the helmet, holding it up to examine it further. His finger trailed along the metal. The material was smooth and cold, despite how warm it was. Flynn pulls it over his head. The HUD flickers to life, as a cushioned rubber ring slowly tightens and compresses around his neck, creating an artificial environment.

Flynn was asleep.

The Doom Slayer was reawakened.

The Doom Slayer started through the forest listening to nothing but the pouring rain. As he moved forward he progressively felt something odd take over. Something… feels different. He expected himself to be back to where he first fought Davoth when first awoke, or some remote part of the Earth where he could not get back to cities or civilization.

Even the flowers and plants were different, ones he didn't think existed dotted the forest floor in large frequency. What also didn’t add up was how different the trees looked. The Doom Slayer trudges on through the thick forest while commanding his armor to do a complete scan of the surrounding area.

The scan revealed nothing interesting at first, carbon based life, oxygen nitrogen atmosphere, no radio, infrared, or ultrasonic communications detected, etc. Then the Doom Slayer's armor started giving him readouts on the more mystical aspects of his surroundings. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he stared at the trees towering high above him.

The foliage swayed back and forth in the wind that gently rustled them. The trees were thick and old and had long, twisted branches and twigs which hung down like long strands of hair. He walked slowly, feeling the rotting forest floor sink beneath his feet. He stared over the undergrowth, past the trees, to the mist lingering in the space beyond. The air smelled of mold and mildew, the decay of plant and animal matter.

The Doom Slayer turned to his left and halted. In front of him, was a large opened doorway of a castle. Said castle was covered in ivy and vines with a few torches in front. There were plants, grass, and trees growing from the inside behind the brick wall. Doom Slayer couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. The Doom Slayer strolled along the forested path, meticulously examined the castle, leaving no stone unturned, and the evidence was unmistakable; a fierce battle had transpired within these walls.

The data displayed on his armor indicated that the castle had likely been deserted for well over a millennium, judging by the estimated age of the inflicted damage. Nevertheless, the ruins had been recently disturbed, suggesting that someone frequented this place. The Slayer yearned to uncover the fate of the original inhabitants.

The Doom Slayer discerned a faint, ethereal sound of someone in distress. His armor promptly detected a surge in temperature approximately one mile away from his present position. Without hesitation, the Slayer initiated a sprint, his mind resolute, as the trees whizzed by in a blur, hastening him towards the origin of the distressing cries.

A few minutes earlier…

Three young individuals made their way out of town. Rain poured down onto them as they walked. Ponyville, one of the small towns of Equestria, was a peaceful and harmonized place where ponies lived peacefully and lived together by the magic of friendship. On this day the trio were starting their way towards a forbidden area, one they were told to never venture. But since their older siblings weren’t around to watch them, this gave the Cutie Mark Crusaders the perfect opportunity to successfully sneak out of town and into said forbidden place.

“Uh, why’re we going in here?” Scootaloo asked as they entered the Everfree outskirts.

“Well, y'all remember Winona’s favorite ball?” Applebloom reminded her two friends, both of which nodded. “Well, while ah was in the middle of playing fetch with her, ah kinda bucked the ball too hard and it flew all over the Everfree. So that’s why we’re here.” She finished, pointing at the Everfree forest.

“But doesn’t she have more balls?” Sweetie Belle wondered aloud. “Surely she still has some of those few balls to play with, right?”

“Well, yeah she does. But that one ball was her most favorite. Ah couldn’t just replace it.” Applebloom explained.

The trio proceeded onward until they reached the edge of the Everfree forest. They found an isolated clearing, a dirt path stretched long and far. The ground was covered with a thick layer of grass, and trees lining the edges. There were several bushes on either side of the path, with leaves as soft as silk.

Applebloom led the way through the forest. The other two trailed close behind. As she walked, she noticed the flowers blooming from every side. It was like walking through a field full of colorful daisies, all growing together and swaying gently in the breeze.

The forest had become too quiet. The only three inhabitants seemed to be the three of them as they made their way into the entrance, following the path along the swamp, past more trees, quickly approaching a new spacious area. The air had felt thick between them. None of them had spoken since they had started walking. The only sounds they heard were their footsteps and the occasional breeze that seemed to blow through the leaves above.

Finally, Sweetie Belle broke the silence. “So, how close are we?” She asked, turning to her shoulder towards Applebloom.

“We should be just about… here…” Applebloom said, gesturing to the left of her. The path suddenly widened, allowing for more space to walk on. “It’s this way.”

They followed the path up a hill. The path narrowed considerably, making for difficult climbing. Each step took its toll. The crusaders soon came to rest near a large stone. A single flower grew in front of it, surrounded by vines with a few branches reaching toward the sky. All that could be seen from the top of the hill was a cliff, and the view below.

Scootaloo looked down and gasped. The sight before them filled her with awe. Below them stretched a vast valley of tall trees and sparkling streams. In the distance lay a round yellow ball, bobbing lazily against the surface of a lake.

“There it is!” Applebloom cheered. “That’s Winona’s ball we’ve been looking for. Come on girls!”

Applebloom jumped off to the first cliffside branch and climbed down carefully. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo followed behind. One step at a time they continued to climb down, careful not to slip and fall. Eventually they reached the bottom and Applebloom scanned the area cautiously, eyes darting around for any sign of danger. When nothing showed, she relaxed.

“Looks clear.” She smiled, turning to face the others. She pointed at the lake. “Alright, we should be able to get in and out without getting wet.”

The three of them start their way closer. The water of the pond seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. The sun hung directly overhead, casting a warm orange glow across the water.

After walking for some time the trio arrived at the lake itself. Sweetie Belle’s eyes darted to the ball floating on the lake’s surface. Her horn lights up slightly as she stared at the ball, levitating it in the air with her magic. Subconsciously she motions the ball towards her and brings it down gently onto the grassy shore.

Applebloom reaches for the ball and takes it into her hands. Swiftly she zips open the pocket of her saddlebag and puts said ball inside. Then she closes the bag once again and throws a strap over her back.

“Alright, now let’s get on outta here before my sister finds out where we are!” Applebloom laughs as she starts towards the path leading back to the hilltop.

She beckons for her friends to follow, and the three make their way up the hill. Once they reach the crest of the hill, round around a tree and start moving slowly towards the Everfree Forest. Sweetie Belle stayed close to Applebloom, staring ahead into the dark forest.

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, her ears flicked back. Sweetie Belle gazed at Applebloom who continued walking. After a moment, Sweetie Belle follows suit, her gaze also scanning the darkness.

Progressively, a new feeling takes over her. Something’s wrong. A deep uneasiness begins to settle in Sweetie Belle's stomach. She glances over her shoulder and scans the area with her eyes, trying to find anything that might give her an indication of what she's sensing. However, nothing is visible beyond the trees. She continues walking.

After another minute or so, Sweetie Belle notices something move to her left. Instantly, she snaps her head in that direction. Nothing. Yet again Sweetie Belle tries to scan the area, but she can’t seem to locate whatever it was that startled her.

Sweat drips down her forehead. What if she really did see something? She looks away from the darkening trees and stares down the mountain path. She hopes that there was nothing there. With a shaky breath she looks back at the woods, searching desperately for a shadow.

Suddenly she feels a tap to her shoulder. Turning around, almost jumping back when she sees Applebloom and Scootaloo next to her and watching her with confusion written all over her face.

“Y’all alright Sweetie Belle?” Applebloom asks, placing a hand on Sweetie Belle's arm reassuringly.

“Yeah, you seem a bit on edge. Is everything alright?” Scootaloo asks, her tone laced with concern.

Sweetie Belle inhales deeply and then exhales slowly, composing herself.

“Yeah, I'm fine! Just… lost in thought for a second, sorry.” Sweetie Belle chuckled nervously.

“Well hey, ah guess we're lucky we got here fast then huh?” Applebloom commented, her gaze now set on her shoes as she kicked a pebble on the ground. She then lifts her head up, smiling sheepishly. “Anyways, let's get goin'.”

Applebloom began to trot forward once again. Sweetie Belle hurried after her and Scootaloo, desiring to get out of this forest and never come back. Her eyes remain glued to her surroundings, her mind racing with the tension that still had a grip on her. She shakes her head slightly, focusing on keeping her balance.

“No reason to get distracted.” Sweetie Belle muttered, forcing herself to stop thinking about whatever strange feeling she had just experienced.

She needed to keep moving. She needs to…

Sweetie Belle’s thoughts suddenly halted at that very second by an ear shattering roar that bounced and echoed throughout the forest. Terror washed over the crusaders. The trio stopped to listen intently, trying to pinpoint the sound's source. Their ears pinned back against their heads, and their nostrils flared.

Slowly, they turned to look back into the path behind them when they heard a faint thump, and the ground shook. For a while nothing could be heard but the sound of their own heartbeat. A few moments later, they heard another thump, and another. They watch over each other, waiting, listening for more sounds. Slowly they begin walking again, making sure to keep alert.

Just a little farther, Sweetie Belle thought, Just a little farther and we'll be safe.

The crusaders kept on retreating backwards until they paused abruptly when they saw something coming into view down the path from afar. The trio’s eyes widened at the sight, their breaths hitched.

Standing afar from the three young fillies stood a giant manticore. Its massive body stood at least ten feet high. Its long sharp claws extended from its paws and arms and its tail whipped back and forth menacingly. Its fur was a deep purple with black highlights. The huge creature was adorned with a pair of red horns, which rose from its head like two small horns atop a big head. A red stripe ran down its back, disappearing beneath its thick coat.

“What is that...thing?” Sweetie Belle questioned quietly, her pupils shrinking.

“Ah don't know...” Applebloom replied, taking a few tentative steps back. “Ah’ve never even seen a manticore before.”

“Me neither..” Scootaloo says, shivering slightly.

The Manticore roared, sending a loud shockwave through the air. Sweetie Belle felt her legs wobbling under her. She quickly steadied herself before her, Applebloom, and Scootaloo turned on their heels and ran with all their might. The creature bellowed as it began to chase, every stomp of its legs shook the ground under their feet. Its heavy paws pounding the earth were a horrible reminder of how large it was.

Sweat beaded along Sweetie Belle's brow, her chest tightening. She pushed her legs harder and faster. Her heart was pounding as she tried to increase her pace, constantly feeling her feet about to slip from the shaking ground. She stumbled a bit, nearly falling over. But she recovered quickly and quickened her pace once more.

Just a bit farther, Sweetie Belle thought, almost there!

A low, resonant growl interrupted Sweetie Belles’ thoughts. At the same time, the trio gradually raised their heads and observed the gargantuan, reptilian feet that clutched the earth with black talons. Sweetie Belles’ gaze ascended the muscular legs, up to the massive heaving chest and finally to the thick musculature of the neck. Even in the shade of trees, Sweetie Belle could distinctly perceive the animal's majestic mane.

Sweetie Belle gazed upwards and noticed the colossal creature's head towering twenty feet in the air. Its rectangular jaws opened and closed, savoring the air, while its razor-sharp teeth dripped with blood. The nostrils located at the end of its snout flared open with a rumbling snort, and its small, black eyes peered into Sweetie Belles’ own.

The manticore growled and took a step forward.

The crusader’s screams echoed through the Everfree.

Author's Note

And that’s chapter 2 my little shimmerings! It appears the crusaders are in quite a tense situation, and with the monster in pursuit of them, the Doom Slayer isn’t far behind. I I’ll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!

See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!

Chapter 3

Applebloom’s world blurred around her as she charged mindlessly past an endless expanse of trees. Sweetie Belles’ screams echoed behind her, and the manticore bellowed tremendously. The mighty behemoth crashed through the jungle, causing branches to crack and snap beneath its bulk. Each methodic footstep made the floor shake, intensifying the already overwhelming situation. It was a truly terrifying experience, one that left the crusaders feeling utterly helpless.

The crusaders found themselves in a state of great distress. Their natural instincts had taken over, leaving them with no choice but to flee. Hiding was deemed futile, and so they resorted to running. As they ran, they became increasingly disoriented and lost, straying far from their intended destination. Despite Scootaloo’s reluctance to look back, she could sense the presence of the monster lurking behind them.

Sweetie Belle, on the other hand, could not resist the urge to glance over her shoulder. What she saw caused her stomach to plummet and her eyes to widen in terror. The manticore was closing in on them with alarming ease. In a matter of mere steps, it would have either of them in its jaws. The situation was dire, and the trio knew that they had to act quickly if they were to have any hope of survival.

The manticore roared with seismic force as it barreled after them through the forest. The rising humidity smothered the trio, their legs bowed, they had been running for what felt like an eternity and their bodies were failing them. The crusaders sprinted through the forest, jumped over logs and rocks.

Their vision’s pulse by their throbbing heart-beats. Hundreds of animals were squawking and screaming, tearing apart the treetops as they fled. They were intoxicated by their adrenaline. The crusaders had never exerted herself so vigorously in their lives.

With her keen eyesight Applebloom perceived the conclusion of the forest a few meters beyond a cluster of trees. She came to a halt at the edge of a precipice, and Sweetie Belle along with Scootaloo stumbled alongside her, their hearts pounding with trepidation. Together they peered over the edge and the sight that greeted them was nothing short of breathtaking. The river rushed nearly sixty feet below. The opposite river bank was a waning moon surrounded by mangroves.

“We have to jump, girls!” Applebloom shouted. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom hesitated.

The ferocious howl of the manticore reached their ears, causing them to turn their heads towards the end of the forest where the bushes were being smashed through. The sight that met their eyes was that of the manticore, with its jaws spread wide, and its teeth glinting in the moonlight.

Subsequently, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked back down at the river below and leaped off the cliff. Applebloom trailed after them and also jumped off of said cliff. As they descended, the trio screamed in terror as gravity wrenched them down. Applebloom caught a glimpse of the sky as she fell; charcoal clouds covered the sky as icy needles of rain pecked her face.

It was then that Applebloom saw the manticore had lost its footing and was falling in after them.

Applebloom screamed and knifed into the icy water with a frosty splash. She plummeted akin to a stone and slowly bobbed to the surface. Applebloom broke through the muffled silence of the water and heard the loud scream of the manticore. A shadow fell over the river and the manticore crashed in with the force of a falling boulder. The river surged and Applebloom was dragged underwater towards the thrashing behemoth.

The current pulled Applebloom into a whirlpool around the manticore’s swinging skull. Applebloom kicked, and the manticore caught her in its sights. It snapped at her, cracking its jaws shut just as Applebloom was dragging beneath the waves. The world turned muffled and dark. Applebloom’s eyes opened to see the manticore’s paws slashing feebly.

The manticore’s head burst beneath the waves and its jaws slammed shut a foot away from Applebloom. Bubbles jetted from between its teeth. The force rolled Applebloom backwards and she caught a glimpse of Scootaloo kicking towards Sweetie Belle, sinking beneath the behemoth’s kicking legs.

It was then Applebloom realized: Sweetie Belle wasn’t moving.

Applebloom kicked to the surface and gasped for air. With her lungs refilled to the brim, she dove back down and swam towards both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. The manticore snapped at her feet, and she pushed further down. The behemoth’s kicking created powerful waves that pushed Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle against the river’s muddy floor. Applebloom ducked the slashing talons and swam to her friends.

A wave kicked by the manticore launched Applebloom into Sweetie Belle’s immobile frame. Applebloom and Scootaloo wrapped their arms around Sweetie Belle's arms and pulled her towards the shore.

Applebloom and Scootaloo yearned for air. Their lungs were withered, and their legs were leaden. Sweetie Belle was dead weight; her jaw was slack. Applebloom’s eyes burned, and the cold burrowed into her bones through her furry coat. Gravity pulled the pair down, but they kicked and screamed their last breath in desperation. Applebloom and Scootaloo pulled Sweetie Belle into the surface of the river, where their last bubbles of oxygen had escaped to. Their vision dimmed, and their ears were ringing. The pair could feel their consciousness slipping away.

The pair’s feet found the sloping river bank, and they broke through the water’s surface. They gasped akin to a vacuum, pulling air into their lungs. Their legs bowed painfully, drained of blood and energy, and they dragged Sweetie Belle towards the powder-white shore. Sweetie Belle didn’t stir.

Applebloom looked over her shoulder and saw that the manticore had reclaimed its bearings. If slid through water like a giant crocodile, water glittering on its mane like crystal beads.

Applebloom knew that she and Scootaloo couldn't run anymore. Each breath they took burned through their lungs. Their bodies were numb from the cold, and their hearts struggled to keep the thick blood pumping in their veins. It was time to hide.

“Come ‘on, we gotta find somewhere to hide!” Applebloom shouted. Scootaloo nodded.

Applebloom and Scootaloo slung Sweetie Belle’s arms over their shoulders. Water soaked their clothes and stuck to their furry coats. Applebloom and Scootaloo carried her as quickly and gently as they could through the knee high foliage.

The manticore howled ferociously from behind, but Applebloom and Scootaloo dared not look back. The pair weaved around tree trunks, carefully stepping over logs and rocks. The pair staggered, shaking beneath the icy needles of rain, propelled by their surging adrenaline.

Somewhere, their monster was watching. They could feel it.

Scootaloo’s shoe slipped through the mud and she fell forward with a wet smack. Her sense of fight-or-flight possessed her. She quickly got back to her feet, proceeding to trot forward with Applebloom through the marshy turf of swamp vegetation.

Applebloom and Scootaloo slowly approached a nearby mangrove. The pair crawled with their immobile friend into a mangrove’s cage and peered out. All the pair had to do now was sit and wait, shivering and gripped by terror.

Through the pouring storm, Applebloom and Scootaloo could hear footsteps slowly padding somewhere on the earth’s surface. Each footstep was carefully placed, methodical and silent. They heard the manticore sniffing the air, followed by a long, low growl. The creature was circling the trees trying to locate the three crusaders in the storm.

Applebloom and Scootaloo carefully tucked themselves further back in the mangrove’s den and stared at the behemoth walking along the swampy area. The pair held their lips until their lungs felt sucked dry. The manticore raised its long snout, sniffing the air. The hooked claws flicked in anticipation. The behemoth’s jaws parted into a toothy, rumbling snarl.

It was only ten feet away

Applebloom and Scootaloo trembled uncontrollably. Tears were lost with the rain on their faces. Almost without thinking, Applebloom clasped a hand over her mouth to keep quiet. Scootaloo emulated her friend, and slowly clasped both of her hands over her mouth as well. Applebloom and Scootaloo could see the behemoth approaching, slowly. The mighty beast was taking its time; it knew they had nowhere left to run.

Please, Applebloom silently begged, please go away..!

The pair saw the paws and muscular legs of the creature standing before them. Its hooked cat-like claws dug into the earth. Applebloom and Scootaloo were petrified by fear; neither of them could no longer think and had forgotten the act of breathing. All they could do was watch as the behemoth crouched before them and stared back with cold, intelligent eyes.

With one swift swipe of its paw the behemoth tore the mangrove bars apart. Removing the wall that blocked it from its prey.

With its prey now cornered, there is no escape.

The creature’s cold gaze met Scootaloo’s eyes. Its mane muffled the sounds of the storm. Applebloom and Scootaloo can only hear their own whimpering and the slow heavy breathing of the monster. As the manticore drew its snout closer to Scootaloo, its jaws slightly opened to reveal sword-like teeth. The monster’s hot breath, rancid with decay, washed over the pair.

Applebloom and Scootaloo closed their eyes; neither of the two wanted to see what’s coming next.

CLICK-CLACK

A sudden explosion prompted Applebloom and Scootaloo’s eyes to snap open. Just in time to see the behemoth retreating backwards away from them, roaring in pain and shaking its head all around. The pair’s eyes crawled to its rear and saw that half of the creature’s tail was gone.

Then they saw a figure stepping out of the side five feet away from them.

The mysterious figure stood before the manticore. The enigmatic bipedal donned an ancient suit of armor from top to bottom, one that Applebloom and Scootaloo had never seen before. It reminded Applebloom of one of those space heroes that Spike read in his comic books. A steel cannon situated on the figure’s shoulder. The armored assailant held a double barreled firearm in their hands which completed their appearance.

Applebloom and Scootaloo redirected their gaze towards the manticore. The manticore had ceased its screams and was now casting a cold glare at its assailant. With a resounding howl, the behemoth leaped into the air, swiftly descending towards the armored figure.

Applebloom parted her lips, but before she could even utter a sound, the enigmatic figure swiftly advanced. Their hands swiftly extended and firmly grasped the jaws of the manticore. The impact was so forceful that the gust of wind whipped Applebloom and Scootaloo’s faces and mane. The creature vigorously shook its head from side to side, in an attempt to liberate itself from the clutches of its assailant.

Applebloom and Scootaloo’s mind were blown.

Their savior stopped the monster with their bare hands!

Applebloom found herself rendered speechless; any apprehension she had towards the manticore vanished instantaneously. A portion of her being desired to remain and witness the unfolding of events, while another part yearned for nothing more than to escape with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and never look back. She could flee until she reached the edge of the forest, out of Ponyville, the depths of her own sanity. Overwhelmed by a multitude of emotions, her inclination to run reduced her to a trembling state.

The armored figure effortlessly lifted the manticore in the air, leaving both the behemoth and the pony pair stunned by their strength. The behemoth’s legs and hands flailed and kicked the open air. The mysterious figure twisted their torso and sent the creature flying

It flew so hard and fast the manticore had no opportunity to straighten itself out and regain control before it slammed into one of the nearby trees. The behemoth’s body indented into the wall of a giant rock, and had to pry itself out, groaning in pain. The manticore raised its head, bellowing in rage before charging towards its assailant with the intent to kill. Each footfall shook the ground akin to a falling tree.

The armored figure reached for their back and pulled out a large metallic object in both hands. The manticore, Applebloom, and Scootaloo eye’s slowly widened as they felt their heart sink to their stomach at the sight before them. The armored figure had another metallic object in its hands, though this one was as big as its torso, with three long sets of barrels, each set having three barrels stuck together in a triangular formation.

Slowly the barrels began to spin to life, they spun faster and faster every second. Once it reached top speed, the manticore’s body was struck by a swarm of powerful projectiles, mulching and mutilating the lead creature. Steam billowed out of the barrels as Applebloom and Scootaloo watched the manticore’s body collapse to the earth’s floor chin first. Holes were dotted all over the fallen creatures’ body, and its face was unrecognizable. Blood pooled out of said holes as the behemoth’s chest fell slowly, ceasing its breathing.

There was silence.

For what felt like an eternity the armored figure’s head turned to look in the Applebloom and Scootaloo’s direction. The pair felt themselves quaking with fear as the figure approached them. As they strode towards Applebloom and Scootaloo, the pair sat glued to the spot, their eyes welled up with tears. Too afraid to move or run.

If… this was it, if this was how their lives ended, then Applebloom was glad that Applejack and Big Mac weren't here to witness their upcoming doom. She wondered if it’ll be painful to die? The armored figure crouched to one knee before Applebloom and Scootaloo. Besides the pouring rain, silence permeated the atmosphere. The pair’s countenance soon changed from horror to genuine surprise when the armored figure offered their gauntlets to them.

Applebloom and Scootaloo gouged at each other before shifting their gaze back to their savior. The pair’s eyes momentarily shifted from the outstretched hands to meet the figure's gaze, before accepting it. Maintaining an upright posture, Applebloom and Scootaloo held onto the armored savior's gauntlets before pulling their hands back to their sides.

A concerning realization dawned on Applebloom and Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle still isn’t moving.

“Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom rounded on her immobile friend and lifted her out of the mangrove. She and Scootaloo carefully laid Sweetie Belle down on the grass wet floor.

Scootaloo began performing CPR on Sweetie Belle, pumping her sternum with mounting desperation. A technique she and Applebloom learned at a time when they were still trying to get their own cutie marks. Scootaloo paused, stooped over to listen to Sweetie Belle’s breathing, frowned, and continued her compression.

“Come on, Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo pleaded. “You’ve gotta wake up!”

Applebloom fell to her knees. Keeping herself balanced with her hands, she stared down at Sweetie Belle’s face with tears trickling down her cheeks.

“Please, Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom cried. “Y’all can’t be dead, ah don’t want y’all to be dead! The cutie mark crusaders won’t be the same without y’all!”

Scootaloo paused to listen to Sweetie Belle’s breathing again. She growled and pumped Sweetie Belle’s chest three more times. Before she could do it a fourth time, she felt something cold gripping her shoulder. Scootaloo glanced over her shoulder, and met the armored figure’s dark visor. The enigmatic savior moved Scootaloo aside and placed their hand on Sweetie Belle’s chest.

The armored figure pumped Sweetie Belle’s chest once. Sweetie Belle spasmed and puked. She turned on her side and curled into a ball, gagging brine and bile. Applebloom patted her on the back.

“It’s alright, let it all out,” Scootaloo said, placing her hand on Sweetie Belle’s shoulder.

“Just breathe, Sweetie Belle. Just breathe.” Applebloom added, proceeding to pat Sweetie Belle’s back.

Sweetie Belle opened her eyes. The world was fuzzy. She focused on Applebloom and Scootaloo and blinked.

“Applebloom..? Scootaloo..?” Sweetie Belle rasped. “What happened..?”

Applebloom and Scootaloo smiled.

“We made it, Sweetie Belle,” Applebloom said. “We’re alive.”

Applebloom blinked.

“Oh, ah have to thank you, stran…ger..?”

Applebloom and Scootaloo turned their heads. Blinking together in surprise.

Their armored savior was gone.

Author's Note

And that’s chapter 3 my little shimmerings! That was quite a scare for the young fillies there. But fortunately for them, the Doom Slayer came just in time to stop the manticore before it could eat either one of the three. It’s also the Doom Slayer’s first time having seeing those three anthropomorphic ponies, and that’s just one species he encountered. Where will the Doom Slayer go next after this? Only time will tell. I I’ll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!

See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!

Chapter 4

A tapestry of sparkling stars adorned the heavens across the night sky. Said stars resemble a myriad of glistening diamonds. Some stars shone with such clarity that they were almost tangible, while others remained hidden behind a thick veil of clouds. The moon, resplendent and silver, cast its luminous glow upon the island, as if it were a celestial spotlight.

The branches creaked in harmony amidst the gentle sway of the trees with the wind that whispers from all directions. Occasional breezes would rustle the leaves, only to subside once more. Leaving behind scattered twigs as a subtle reminder of their presence. Standing in line with a huge group of employees of different species, a dark green unicorn named Cabbage York, glanced up with nervous eyes.

Cabbage York watched the crane bring forth a large metal container as it drove forward bulldozing through the trees. An impressive-looking paddock enters into view. Shouts of orders sounded in the air as the metal container came forward.

“Everypony, heads up! Heads up! Keep it clear! Stand back!” One of the unicorn workers shouted, waving their arms for the others to move.

“Bring it forward. Come on! Slow it down!” Another worker shouted as the steel box was lowered onto the hard ground, close to the enclosure.

“Ándale! Si! Cuidado! A ver, tráiganla, tráiganla! Vamos con la segunda!” Another worker, who was a tall Minotaur with a left arm ancient shark tattoo, called out in spanish.

“Confirmada la segunda!” A third Minotaur worker responded as Cabbage watched the crew move around in their respective positions, checking the paddock gate for any sign of trouble.

“Vamanos,” another worker shouted.

A deep purr rumbled in the steel box. The sound filled the empty paddock, as everyone worked to ensure everything was in place. Finally, everything was in check.

Standing seven feet away from the paddock among all the workers stood a mare pegasus. She possessed a brown coat, complemented by dark blue eyes, and is a young, attractive mare. She has noticeably large bosoms with a long, black mane that is kept in her hat, with one lock of said mane hanging right across her face. She sports glossy nude black lipstick while donning her crimson uniform, with a matching hat. She wore gray pants and her legs were encased with black knee-length boots that were high-heeled.

No one among this line of work knew her true identity. For now, everypony refers to her by her code name: Madam Beta. Beta turned her waist to the side, staring at the three workers standing behind her.

“Alright you maggots, move in there!” Beta commanded, pointing at the paddock.

The workers shouted orders in Spanish whilst the loading team approached the cage.

“Make sure those tasers are on full charge!” Beta added, narrowing her eyes at them.

Cabbage stood alongside the loading team as they grabbed the cage together. The second his hand made contact with the bars, a high demonic shriek frightened him and the other stallions away. The cage shook violently, as if something banged it with great force.

Cabbage stood where he was and stared at the paddock with wide eyes. His heart rapidly beating out of his rib cage. His chest rose and fell with each breath. He doesn’t know what could possibly be inside the cage but it was terrifying, and he hoped to Celestia he wasn’t around if it ever found a way to escape.

“Go on. Step back in.” Beta instructed. “And push!”

The workers push the cage into the paddock entrance. An electronic beep buzzes, notifying everypony in proximity that it was interlocked. Beta nodded in approval to their work.

“Good, good.” Beta shifted her gaze to the loading team. She internally commands them to back away by jabbing her head back, thus they complied and backed away. Beta then turned to Cabbage. “. Gatekeeper, get to it!”

Cabbage turned to face her and briefly saluted.

“Y-Yes ma’am!” He complied, rolling his body around and started towards the ladder.

Cabbage began ascending up to the ladder. When he started climbing up, he felt a chill run down his spine as he heard a deep snarl from within the cage. Inside the paddock, the creature was watching. Cabbage could feel it.

Beta lifted his head up. “Rookie, raise the gate!”

Cabbage stared down at the paddock beneath his boots. He could feel his legs begin to shake uncontrollably, his trousers flapping like flags. He was frightened. He didn’t want to be here. Alone among all the workers, Cabbage knew what an attack from monsters akin to this was like. He knew what happened to some of the employees here. He had seen the mangled bodies that resulted from said attack. He could picture it in his mind. And this monster was here! Encased inside of this paddock!

Oh Celestia, Cabbage thought.

When the creature shrieked it was terrifying, a scream from some other world. A scream rose in Cabbages’ throat, a knee jerk reaction but he smothered it behind his hand. He almost screamed like a little filly. He was simultaneously embarrassed and terrified. But he knew he had to get his job done, he can’t just stand here for too long. The sooner he finishes his task, the sooner he can get out of here and hopefully not come back.

Cabbage took a deep breath, finding solace in thoughts of his wife and children. The image of his daughter's smile and the warmth of their home brought him peace. A sense of calm washed over him, as if it had been a long time since he felt at ease. The sound of his son's laughter echoed in his ears, filling him with a sense of security. The laughter of his wife, the scent of her perfume, and the joyous laughter of his children filled him with happiness.

He felt happy at that moment. Happy to go back to them once this was—

A sudden shriek pulled Cabbage out of his thoughts. The container abruptly shoved backwards causing Cabbage to lose balance and fall hard face first onto the ground. The air from his lungs was knocked out of him as his face cracked against the gravel below.

His ears rang, while pain shot through his body, causing a groan of dismay to escape his lips. He tried to pull himself up but then he felt his feet wrenched and forcefully dragged from said ground. One of the Minotaurs, code name Dex, immediately runs to Cabbage’s aid.

“Block the opening! Don't let it get out!” Dex shouted. Both Minotaur and earth-pony workers followed his order as they held their spear-like tasers and aimed towards the metal gate.

Cabbage screamed as he reached for a curved thin bar for dear life but then a sudden force pulled him violently closer into the cage. Tasers proceeded to discharge through the bars of the cage. Each shot hit the creature’s tough skin, causing sparks to fly. But to every-pony’s shock, it wasn’t affected at all. The creature shrieked horrifically, shaking those who surrounded its paddock to their very core. it was almost deafening, its shriek was so loud that it reverberated off the walls of the cage.

Dex gritted his teeth. Trying desperately with all his might to pry Cabbage free from the brute grasp of the creature’s grip, but to no avail. He briefly glanced over at Beta, internally pleading for assistance. He blinked in surprise when not only did she not come to his aid, but he saw that Beta was the only pony among the hurrying workers unaffected by the chaos. She simply stood rooted where she was with her arms folded.

The workers continued tasing the creature through the peep holes. When the tasers didn’t do much damage, some of the unicorns lit up their horns with magic and blasted the monster inside with powerful beams. But no matter how much effort they put into said bemas, it didn’t make a difference.

“Somebody help him!” One of the workers shouted, trying vainly to hold back the creature.

“Come on, boys! Work her back! Work her back!” Dex yelled to another worker who stepped forward and pressed the end of his baton against the back of the creature’s neck through the bars. The workers continued tasering the creature, which in that moment looks Dex in the eye.

Dex and the monster eyed at each other. The
creature’s reptilian eyes stared deep into Dexs—eyes that glowed a bright yellow. The creature snarled in protest, releasing some guttural growls as it did so. It refused to let its prey go. One last pull to ensure its prey won’t escape. Dex’s arms strained to keep a tight hold around Cabbage’s arm. Cabbage groans in pain as the creature slowly pulls him closer.

“D-Dex, let go!” Cabbage strained.

“No!” Dex cried.

His grip around Cabbage's arm was slipping.

“Don’t let go!” He shouted, desperation ringing loud and clear in his voice.

The earth ponies proceeded to fire magical beams through the cage. But it didn’t matter. Cabbage found himself yanked away from Robert, his eyes meeting the creature’s own.

“No!” Dex yelled as the creature opened its jaws wide, revealing a set of serrated teeth.

The creature shot forward and snatched Cabbage’s throat in its jaws. It tightened its grip, cutting off his air supply. The monster shook him violently from side-to-side, ripping the flesh from his neck apart akin to tissue. Hot blood ran down Cabbage’s torso and the creature let go of him. Cabbage fell on his back whilst screaming, and a fiery pain flared throughout his body as claws sliced across his stomach.

The creature growled indifferently while Cabbage shrieked and pounded its face with his fist. Trying to dislodge it with all his strength. But the creature wouldn’t budge, instead keeping Cabbage pinned to the ground, its weight crushing him further in its massive form.

Cabbage hands clawed at the ground as blood poured out between his fingers. As though the world was becoming distant, he can barely hear Dex shouting his name or the workers screaming and shouting at one another. In Cabbage’s last fleeting moment of consciousness he watched the creature dug its claws into his abdomen and tug out coils of intestine.

His vision blurred and dark spots danced in front of his eyes as the monster started to eat him. His own horrendous death rattle was the last thing he felt before life fled from his shell of a body.

The world became distant and fuzzy as everything was engulfed in darkness.

Leaned against the railing of the catwalk stood a black Minotaur named Djunnarak Gloryhide. He wore a long white overcoat with encased formal gloves shoved into his pockets, and black jeans. He was blind on his left eye while adorning an old scar over it. Djunnark watched both of his workers and soldiers work on the levitation steel parts of the portal. Earth ponies in uniforms were welding steel in place, shouting at each other over the din of the generators.

Djunnark smiled at the sight. He felt like the father of this monstrous machine. From a series of blueprint sketches, he had watched it evolve into the temple of advanced technology that stood before him.

Despite the catastrophic misfire that had destroyed the prototype two years ago, he was determined to witness the portal in all its operational magnificence. He believed that the portal would be the initial step towards the core of pony-kind's evolution; if only he could get it functioning again in time.

Standing on Djunnark’s left was Court, his second in command and anthropomorphic spider monkey. To Djunnark’s right was his chief scientist Morida, a tall anthropomorphic gorilla. Morida checked tallies on his clipboard and stared at the portal.

“How much longer until the portal has enough energy for a test fire?” Djunnark asked.

Morida scratched his pencil across the clipboard.

“We should have it ready in five to six days,” Morida replied. “If nothing goes wrong this time.”

Djunnark hummed with a nod. He didn’t mind waiting that long. If there was one thing he was known to all of his acquaintances, is that he’s a patient man. As long as there was no-pony to interfere with his work, he could wait.

“See to it then, Dr. Morida.” Djunnark said.

Morida nodded and walked past Djunnark and Court. Djunnark watched Morida scampered down the stairs to a console to the front of the portal. He glanced to his right and noticed Court narrowing his eyes forward into space.

“Court, whatever is the matter?” Djunnark asked, raising a brow at him. “You should be merry; we’re six days away from completing a decade-long project.”

Court briefly glanced at Djunnark before shifting his gaze forward again.

“It’s Agent Bon Bon, sir,” Court replied.” She’s sticking her nose in where they don’t belong.”

Djunnark nodded. “Ah, yes, yes. I remember her. If I recall correctly, she gave you quite a bit of trouble back at your last assignment?”

“Yes, but nothing for me to be too concerned with. At first I thought she was nothing more than an average agent, just like all the others I’ve killed with ease,” Court said, rubbing his hand over his arm-length from where the mare cut him. “But that lowly vermin proved me wrong.”

Court bawled his fist tightly.

“I was also hoping you’d allow me to go out, so I can find her and rip her apart piece by piece.” He snarled with sheer contempt.

Djunnark chuckled while shaking his head.

“That won’t be necessary, Court.” Djunnark placed his hand on Court’s shoulder. “I can’t have you off on a wild goose chase; you are just as much too valuable as Beta. Besides, I need you and Beta to man the defensive perimeter. As for Agent Bon Bon, she’s nothing more than an atom seed beneath our boots. The only ones we should be wary of are the three princesses.”

Court glanced at Djunnark with an arched brow. “Even the new princess?”

A smirk graced Djunnark’s lips.

“Well, she’s the exception; sure, she’s an alicorn now, but she’s more of a greenie while Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadance are very well experienced when it comes to the art of battle,” he explained. “That naive princess of friendship has very little experience in fighting, which will give us the homing advantage for future opportunities.”

“I see…” Acknowledged Court. He turned to leave, starting towards the stairs.

“Court,” Djunnark called.

Court glanced over his shoulder. Djunnark narrowed his eyes at him with a grin.

“Head over to the laboratory. Tell the doctors to have our specimens ready when the time is ripe.”

Court nodded and walked down the stairs. Djunnark turned and held a kite-shaped piece of armor in front of his face. He hummed as he studied the object’s silhouette against the light.

The crystal empire shield insignia was stained with blood.

Author's Note

And that’s chapter 4 my little shimmerings! Now, some of you might be thinking that these chapters are a bit short. Which I’m well aware of. Doing the massive long-man chapters can be nice, but it can drain you, and I can attest to this as well. So in this case, i’m going to try for shorter chapters that go anywhere from 1-3k in words. I’ll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!

See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!

Chapter 5

The night was now overtaking the Everfree forest. The Doom Slayer already began to hear large creatures beginning to stir from their daytime slumber, and he started trudging along the base of a small mountain, one of several spread throughout the forest. He was looking for a path up so he could look around until he came across a large cave entrance. The Slayer steps in and subconsciously commands his armor to do a complete scan through the tunnel. It was obvious how dark the cave's interior was, however, it proved no problem for his armor as he subconsciously activated night-vision.

It didn’t take long for the interior to open up to a large cavern. The stone floor was filled with emeralds; sapphires were scattered across oceans of gold, diamonds and gemstones, and pebble-size rubies. The Slayer proceeded to scan the area by turning his head in robotic movement. When he was about to take a step, he caught movement from the corner of his eye.

Behind the enormous pile of gemstones rose a large scaly head. Then came another from behind it, then another, and a hundred more! Their bright yellow snake-like eyes glared at him with cold hatred. Each of these dragons had their own colors.

The dragon in the middle was blue with light cyan scales, pale light-grey under belly, and cyan single-lined spikes on his back and tail. He’s probably the owner of this cave. The other two beside their leader were red and green, their heads reaching up to their leaders shoulders judging by how small they are. The Slayer immediately recognized them as dragons.

“Hmm, what’s this I see? Heh, heh, looks like we got ourselves another trespasser in our lair, boys.” Said the blue dragon as he slammed his foot making the cavern quake by his might. The Slayer didn’t make an ounce of a flinch as he returned a cold glare of his own up at him.

The Green dragon chimed. “You came to the wrong place, you strange little creature. You should’ve never come to our turf.”

The large red dragon added while stomping its way towards the Slayer from his left. “Yeah, we have a rule out here on what we do to those who’re unwelcomed. And since you had the nerve to step into our territory, we’re gonna burn you into a crisp!”

The Doom Slayer stood motionless, his unwavering gaze fixed on the few dragons above him. While others would have been terrified by the sight of these three drakes, freezing in fear and begging for their lives, the Slayer saw them as nothing more than insignificant ants that he could easily defeat.

As the Slayer continued down the path, he suddenly encountered a scaly barrier blocking his way. The red dragon had positioned its tail to obstruct him, emitting a low growl and billowing smoke from its nostrils. The intensity of its hatred was evident in its glare.

The audacity of the Slayer, boldly striding through their horde as if he owned the place, infuriated the dragon to the core. The dragon decided here and now that it’ll make an example out of this trespasser. It leaned in getting eye level with the Doom Slayer and snarled.

“Did you really think you could just waltz in here, thinking you own the place, and just leave? Looks like I’m gonna have to teach you a lesson.”

The dragon sneered before retracting its head. It commenced inhaling all the inferno it had stored within its belly, until it unleashed a scorching torrent of flames from its mouth, engulfing its intended target. With each passing moment, the dragon intensified the potency of its fiery assault, ensuring that not a trace of the wretched oak would remain. It persisted in this endeavor for several minutes, then abruptly jerked its head back, emitting a snort and expelling a plume of smoke into the air.

The red dragon stayed rooted where he was. Fixated on the blazing inferno, contemplating what to do with the remnants once they dissipated. Perhaps it would add the ashes to its collection, a macabre trophy and a warning to all who dared to trespass upon its horde. The dragon chuckled at the thought, making a mental note to add it to its bucket list come morning. As it observed the flames flickering and swirling in various patterns, its pupils contracted to mere pinpricks, and a sinking feeling settled in the depths of its stomach at the sight before its eyes.

The Doom Slayer rose out of the ashes. Unschathed, uninjured, and no sign of any burnt on his armor. But that’s not what made the dragon's heart race rapidly or the rising terror gripping him. The Slayer was glaring at him but this was different, it deepened, deepened in such a way that no creature should ever be capable of doing. There was no intent of mercy, bargained, or negotiation in his expression.

It was there the drake knew at that moment: It made a very terrible mistake.

With that powerful glare the Slayer stalked towards the speechless red drake as he clenched both his fist.

The red dragon was dumbstruck. Any thoughts of killing this strange armored creature left him at once. Every single fiber of the dragon's being was shrieking at it to flee. Clear a path for a swift escape and exert every ounce of strength in its wings to soar away as far as possible.

But it seemed stuck. Almost adhered to the spot along with its wings that were affixed to its sides. This sensation was unlike the other creatures it encountered in the forest or in its nightmares. This sensation was gnawing at the dragon, compelling its feet to remain rooted, a feeling that was penetrating deep into its very essence.

It had never felt afraid like this, never!

The crimson dragon felt overwhelmed as the Slayer approached. Its elongated snout parted to utter something, only to freeze as it caught sight of the Hell Walker suspended in mid-air right before its eyes. As their gazes locked at close range, the dragon's terror intensified like never before. This being's stature was diminutive compared to the dragon's colossal head, yet the fire-breathing drake felt as small and defenseless as a newborn.

Before it could think of anything, the Doom Slayer’s fist punched through his head creating an explosion of red mist. Its body fell to the ground and all the other dragon’s gasped. The Slayer landed on one knee before glancing over his shoulder to see the dragon’s head had disappeared.

“Well don’t just stand there, you fools!” Doom Slayer heard the lead dragon shout. “Burn the little cretin!”

One pale lime purple dragon retracted its head back. Inhaling all the fire it held up inside its belly. The Slayer cracked his head, reaching down quickly, retrieving a grenade from his waist utility belt, flicking a small pin from the top with his thumb before chucking it into the now wide open maw of the line dragon. The radiating glow in its neck fading rapidly. The drake brought its claws up, grasping around his neck as his throat contracted, causing him to cough and gag.

The Doom Slayer took advantage of its vulnerability and lunged into the air. Reaching over his back, he held his super shotgun in hand then aimed it at the dragon’s head, a loud boom, like a small explosion, sounded, this was followed by two flashes coming from the tubes, causing the purple drake's head to explode in a cloud of red, his decapitated cadaver falling to the ground with a thump.

Breaking the two tubes open, the creature slammed a small red cylinder into each tube before slamming the tubes shut again, it then whipped the weapon around behind it, propelling itself forward through the air by firing a couple shots towards the green tinted dragon, its face exploding in a cloud of gore. The creature then threw the weapon to the side, disappearing in a flash. Cocking its right fist back, bawling tightly into a fist, the creature plunged it through the forehead of the lemon yellow drake, creating an explosion of bone, flesh, and brain. His body fell on its back leaving the five other dragons stunned.

The Slayer landed on one knee, turning his head in time to see another dragon charging towards him with its maw fully agape. The Doom Slayer rolled his body to face the winged lizard, bringing both gauntlets up and taking a step back, curling his fingers into a tight fist. Right as the flaming orange dragon was inches from snapping its jaws, the creature sidestepped, and a loud spine-chilling crunching sound broke through the air.

The Slayer effortlessly landed the might of his fist straight into his assailant’s neck. The drake’s pupils shrunk as its windpipe was crushed, his forward momentum being canceled by the equal stopping force of the punch. His body betrayed itself and swung itself free of the ground, its whole being shifting out from under the overwhelming power of the punch and hitting the ground with a hard thud.

The drake jerked and twitched on the ground. Trying desperately to get air through its broken windpipe, only for it to be filled with blood that now also poured freely from his mouth. He squirmed and jerked, as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. It lasted for a few seconds though until its body finally stopped squirming as life finally expired from its behemoth shell.

One of the dragons among the group, colored in dark pink, stared in horror as the monster stood with blood dripping from both bawled fists. Rather than face the wrath of this bipedal freak of nature, he spread his wings and decided that it was time to flee but he wouldn't get very far with this plan. With speed faster than Rainbow Dash herself, the Slayer jumped up and grabbed the poor drake's tail, hurling him into the ground. The dark pink dragon had time to scream before the unchained predator punched his fist clean through the poor firebreather's head with a practiced ease. Gore oozed and dripped from the gaping hole.

In a blur the Doom Slayer lunged forward grabbing a chubby, black scaled dragon by the throat. The drake’s throat contracted. Gasping for air until the Hell Walker subconsciously extended his blade then removed the dragon’s head off its shoulders with a quick cut akin to slicing butter. He tossed both the head and body away, and jumped to the next dragon.

The Slayer smashed his fist into the side of a yellow dragon’s face. The drake landed with a thud just outside the ring of the circling dragons, laying dead with its head under a pile of gems. Another dragon took the opportunity of the distraction by leaping at his back but the Slayer anticipated this.

He swung his other fist straight into the drake’s eye, prompting the latter roar as it felt an indescribable pain explode through its whole face. It fell hard struggling on the ground. But the Slayer didn’t give it time to recover as he bowled over the dragon with a bone shattering kick to its left hip, sending it flying in the air and out of the circle.

The Doom Slayer turned to his left, scanning for any more threats, whipping his arm and aimed at one dragon flying towards him and pulled the trigger. Powerful twin buckshots shot the dragon's head exploding into a crimson mist. The Slayer reloads another set of shells before whipping the weapon around to blow away another dragon that tried to jump at him with a second shot. Blood leaks from the gaping, smoking hole in its chest as it falls to the ground.

The Doom Slayer grunted when another dragon suddenly rolled its body around and slapped its tail onto his chest, pinning him against the wall. The behemoth was about to snap its jaws at him, until the Slayer elbowed its tail with full force, breaking the bone instantly. The assailant screamed as pain exploded through its whole being.

It pulled its tail back, giving the Slayer the opportunity to lunge in the air and landed on its snout. His fingers jammed down the trigger, hot shells exploded from the barrels. Launching forward, piercing through its right eye socket of the drake’s head. Its body collapses to the floor of gems and the Slayer lands back to the ground with ease.

There was silence.

The Doom Slayer slowly stood upright. He turned his cold gaze towards the last remaining dragon. The blue drake stared in horror as the Slayer started stalking towards him with his super shotgun in hand.

“W-Wait!” The drake cried almost in a stutter with its claws in the air. This however didn’t halt the Hell Walker’s advancement towards the latter. The Doom Slayer snapped the ejector open reloading it with another set of shells whilst continuing power marching towards the horrified blue drake.

“Do you want the treasure before you? Go ahead and take it! A-As a gift for your glory? P-P-Perhaps in return for my—!”

By the time the dragon could finish its sentence the blue drake’s head exploded to a mist by the shells that shot it. Steam billowed out of the twin barrels as the Slayer stood there watching its body slowly collapse to the ground.

The Doom Slayer lowered his arm and surveyed his surroundings. The cave was littered with blood and guts of all those he slaughtered.

He’s got some cleaning up to do.

A large hourglass slowly flips over its side. Particles of sand trickling down and into the bottom. Its motion slow and steady as small grains are carried through the air in a perfect circle. Celestia passes by said glass before climbing up the swirling stairs, reaching for the top.

She makes her way towards the balcony overlooking the silhouettes of the mighty mountains. She donned a simple side-slit evening white gown that fitted her curvaceous body with matching gold arm bracelets, high heels, and her usual crown. Her cutie-mark insignia plastered on the side of her dress and her wings were folded behind her.

The sun hovered at the base of the sky. It bathes a deep orange glow onto Canterlot, its rays stretching outwards to reach the city below, illuminating the buildings and ponies that reside there. The shadows cast by the massive stone pillars stretch long across the roads and streets, making a path between each building.

An ocean of ponies walk through their own paths. Few rich ponies walk around carrying suitcases with their magic while those that were earth ponies carried them with their hands. Some Pegasus’ flew over Canterlot’s buildings before landing on the ground and began walking along the sidewalk.

Celestia takes note of this as a gentle smile graced her lips. The scene has always been like this; lively and vibrant no matter which season it is. This will be something to remember. Celestia stares back at the sun as it was slowly setting just above the mountains.

Celestia channeled her magic as her horn lit up brightly in yellow. She closed her eyes, subconsciously controlling the sun by descending it behind the mountains and allowed room for the moon to illuminate the sky. Stars dotted the sky akin to sparkling glitter sprinkled on a piece of cloth.

The stars were shining brighter than ever before tonight. Celestia found the scenery beautiful. She was happy she had the privilege of seeing such beauty every single day of her life.

A sudden anomaly appeared in a magical poof. Said anomaly landed on Celestia's hand as she caught it just in time. She found it to be a wrapped up scroll, and if Celestia had to guess it’s probably another one of Twilight’s notes.

Celestia unfolded the scroll and carefully stretched it wide enough for her eyes to land on the written letters. Her smile fell immediately upon reading the message.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I’ve done some investigating like you ask of me, and what I found is quite troubling. It appears there’s a secret terrorist organization going on here and from the looks of it it’s a big one. I don’t know what they’re planning, but what I do know is where this mysterious organization is going next: Fillydelphia. I’ll write to you more if I get any more leads and learn more about them.

Your special agent,
Agent Bon Bon.

Celestia folds the scroll back up and places it over her heart. She glances up at the moon with worry plastered on her countenance.

She prays to Faust for Bon Bon’s safety.

Author's Note

And that was chapter 5 my little shimmerings! in case anyone of you is wondering, the secret terrorist that Bon Bon was talking about is not Djunnark and his group. We’re not gonna get to them just yet. I am slowly getting better but still can feel the atom seed embers of COVID 19 in my system. But hopefully (if God wills), I will get better but I’m healthy enough where I can still do some normal routines, and of course write chapters for stories such as this one. I’ll be going now, I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are.

See you all in the next chapter my little shimmerings!