INFECTION [DOOM EDITION]

Chapters

...
The Beginning of the End
Mountain of Perils
Desperate measures

...

Twilight is biting her nails as she walked in the castle halls. Outside there is out of control and ponies are hurting and killing one another. She's worried if the others is fine, she's using the walkie talkie everytime. Suddenly she bumped onto a cloaked figure running in the halls. They dropped something on the floor she picked it up and looked behind her to see the cloaked pony disappear.

"Weird."

She opened map like object and looked at it... "This seems to be..."

"W-why is so many places marked? O-oh Celestia" She muttered to herself, her body is visibly shaking. She rolled the map and began running to Celestia and Luna.

The Beginning of the End

.
.
"Twilight... "
.
.
.
"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash said urgently, shaking her friend by the shoulders. "We gotta leave now!"

Twilight snapped back to reality, staring into Rainbow Dash's eyes with pure shock. Rainbow Dash, with her sleep-deprived eyes, returned the gaze. "I-I don't want to leave you. Either we die here or survive with the others!"

Suddenly, the door behind them burst open, revealing Applejack carrying an axe. "Girls, the horde is approaching! We gotta get inside the bunker now!"

Twilight's eyes slowly filled with tears. "B-but Pinkie, she's out there," she sobbed as tears streamed down her face.

Rainbow Dash cupped her cheek, looking into her eyes with sadness and care. "As much as I want to go back outside and search for Pinkie, I'm not dumb enough to get myself killed. Please, we need you. You have to be strong for us!"

The words reverberated inside Twilight's mind. Her fists clenched, and her tears stopped flowing. "O-okay," Twilight said, her voice void of emotion.

Rainbow Dash held her wrist and pulled her back towards Applejack, who led the way further into the bunker. Applejack entered first, followed by the rest. She closed the heavy metallic door and spun the wheel, sealing them inside.

Twilight wobbled to the wall, leaned her back against it, and slid down until she was sitting. Rarity and Fluttershy approached her, trying to comfort her despite needing comfort themselves.

In the background, Applejack and Rainbow Dash argued about what to do next. Twilight looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath.
.

It's been three weeks since the outbreak. Ponies are dying everywhere, only to come back as creatures that kill other ponies. Everyone is against each other, and every survivor is robbing and killing whoever they find. As the virus advanced, more and more ponies got infected, and the infected got stronger.

Now, in a bunker outside of Canterlot, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Applejack are occupying the space, trying to survive.

Rarity comforted Fluttershy as she sobbed, gently wiping away her tears. Twilight sat on the floor, her back against the wall, staring into empty space. Rainbow Dash paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, the only source of light being a single candle on the table, surrounded by a walkie talkie, map, and scraps of empty cans.

Applejack entered the room, her expression tense and troubled. "Y'all... There's barely any food left," she announced in a somber tone.

Fluttershy sobbed loudly, and Rarity shot Applejack a disapproving glare before returning to comfort her friend once again.

Rainbow Dash stormed over to Applejack, grabbing her collar. "What do you mean there's barely any food left?!" she demanded.

Applejack swatted her hands away, her face scrunching up in annoyance. "Are you deaf, sugar?" she retorted.

Rainbow Dash's shoulders slumped in defeat as she turned away, casting a worried glance at the despondent Twilight. "Twilight... What do we do now?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation.

Twilight's eyes briefly met hers before dropping back to the floor. This only fueled Rainbow Dash's frustration. She marched over to Twilight, kneeling down and gripping her shoulder firmly. "Twilight! Snap out of it! We're still the Elements of Harmony, we're the-"

Twilight pushed her away, curling into herself as she spoke in a muffled voice. "B-but, Pinkie... She's..." Her voice broke, tears streaming down her face.

Applejack stood and clenched her fists, the fire in Rainbow Dash's eyes fading until her hope vanished entirely. Rarity hugged Fluttershy, covering her ears while softly singing Sweetie Belle's favorite song.

The atmosphere grew heavy with gloom, filled with nothing but silence and tears. The dim light of the candle flickered, its temporary flame symbolizing their waning hope.

Waiting to burn down.

And die.
.
.
.

A glowing sphere slowly appeared in the middle of the room, quickly drawing everyone's attention and igniting a spark of hope in their eyes.

Applejack cautiously approached the glowing sphere. "What the...?" she muttered, reaching out to touch it. Suddenly, it transformed into a large circular portal, causing her to stumble backward and fall onto her rear.

Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy stared at the portal in shock and amazement, wondering if they were hallucinating. Suddenly, an intimidating figure, standing at 6'10", emerged from the portal. Clad in bulky green armor with a visor-like helmet, he held a device in his hand that resembled a tube of some sort.

The girls looked at him, frozen, jaws agape in shock as if they were dreaming. The portal behind him vanished, leaving them back in the dimly lit room once again.

Applejack pulled out her axe and prepared herself defensively, visibly shaking in the presence of the intimidating 6'10" figure. "W-who are y'all? Speak!" she demanded, clutching her axe tightly as it trembled in her hands.

The creature growled deeply, briefly lifting the device in his hand before lowering it again.

"Speak! Or you'll get a taste of my axe!" Applejack demanded again.

Twilight slowly stood up, followed by Rainbow Dash, the blurriness in their eyes clearing.

Rarity also stood up, moving protectively in front of Fluttershy.

"Hello, my name is VEGA, Doom Slayer's AI assistant. Nice to meet you. He means no harm," spoke a robotic male voice.

The girls' faces turned to mild confusion, but Applejack still didn't lower her axe. "Who's really speaking?" she demanded, trying to maintain a strong facade.

"I am VEGA, the AI assistant of the Doom Slayer. The Doom Slayer I am referring to is the wearer of the Praetor Suit, and I serve as his invaluable guide and support system. I am speaking on his behalf because his throat is extremely sore," VEGA explained.

"What's your business here? Why are you here? Where do you come from? And what's that thing in your hand?" Applejack asked, slowly lowering her guard. She looked at the rest of the girls and nodded her head to signal them to move back to her.

"Ah, it seems there are four more behind us. Please, we mean no harm... We're here because someone sent a distress signal to the Doom Slayer, marking this exact universe. We came from another universe to help, and this is the Super Shotg- sorry, Slayer," Vega explained briefly.

Applejack fully dropped her guard, and the rest of the girls quickly moved past the Doom Slayer to join her.

On Applejack's right side stood Twilight, and on her left stood Rainbow Dash. Both of them remained somewhat alert, while the two behind them kept glancing over their shoulders.

Before Applejack could speak again, Twilight spoke up. "What do you mean by a distress signal? And help?"

"The Slayer felt something call out his name and gave him a mental image of where he should go, as if it was a sort of dream. We're here to help," Vega answered.

"Help? There's nothing to help anymore! Almost everypony is dead!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "What's a single pony like you can do?!"

There was silence for a moment before Vega spoke. "The Doom Slayer is the savior of humanity, the one who killed all the demons in Hell and the one who defeated the Dark Lord."

They were all confused; they didn't even understand what Vega was saying. "What's a demon?" Twilight questioned.

"Demons are the main enemies of the Doom Slayer. They reside in a dimension called Hell, the place where all sinners and the damned go," Vega answered.

"Like Tartarus?" Twilight said.

"Yes, similar to Tartarus. But the demons there are no mere sinners; they are all grotesque monsters. Some are the size of mountains, while others are as large as two houses stacked on top of each other. And there are many more that are extremely deadly. However, these demons have invaded his planet and killed 90% of humanity in just a month."

All their eyes widened at the mere thought of a species instantly declining to 10%. It seemed these demons were more of a threat than what they were facing now.

"However, the Doom Slayer saved humanity by venturing into Hell alone and killing every demon, no matter how big and strong they were. Eventually, all the demons died as he defeated the creator of all demons, the Dark Lord, the originator of everything," Vega continued. The Doom Slayer then placed his Super Shotgun on his back, and it dematerialized.

Twilight shook her head, breaking free from her trance, and looked back at the Doom Slayer. "T-then you're here to save this world too?" Her voice carried a glimmer of hope as the hopelessness in her eyes slowly dissipated.

"Yes," Vega answered.

Though they all wanted to question him and doubted his intentions, what was the point of doing so when he emerged from a portal? Their situation was bleak, and they had already lost hope. Now, they had a chance, their only chance, the chance for Ponykind.

Applejack stepped forward, determination etched on her face. "How are you going to save this world exactly? The things out there... the dead become stronger as the virus advances. What will you do? We've survived so far by hiding ourselves in a bunker, barely scraping by for food."

Vega spoke first. "First, you all introduce yourselves."

Hesitant, but Applejack answered first. "My name is Applejack."

Twilight took a step forward. "I'm Twilight Sparkle."

Rainbow Dash stepped forward with her usual smug smile. "And I'm Rainbow Dash, the greatest flier of Equestria."

Rarity moved to the side, with Fluttershy hiding behind her, scared and shy. "My name is Rarity, and this is Fluttershy," Rarity said, with Fluttershy peeking out from behind her.

Twilight Sparkle continued, her voice tinged with sadness. "We're the Elements of Harmony... well, we used to be. We have a missing friend, and her name is Pinkie Pie. " she added, a hint of hurt in her voice.

Applejack sighed and rubbed Twilight's back as Vega spoke.

"Ah, then good meeting you all. You said you are a pony, right? Well, the Doom Slayer is a human under his Praetor suit, but later off that topic... So what are we dealing with here exactly?" Vega asked as the Doom Slayer stood still.

Twilight took a deep breath and answered, her voice trembling. "Three weeks is all it took for ponykind to crumble because of the infected... We are dealing with a virus here that brings the dead back to life. They can run, and if they bite or scratch you, you'll turn into one of them..."

"Rumors say it started with an experiment to bring back someone's loved one. But something went wrong. The first infected attacked, and the infection spread rapidly. We tried resisting it, saving other ponies, but they outnumbered us. We possess nothing but spears, swords, limited magic, and hand weapons like crossbows. But it was all too weak. The infected are tenacious. It seems the only way to kill them is to destroy their brain, and close quarters combat is extremely risky as most of them will pounce on you..."

Twilight's breathing became short and frantic as tears rolled down her face." A-and princess Celestia and Luna" She hugged Applejack tightly, burying her face in her chest and began sobbing.

Rainbow Dash took a step forward, her eyes filled with determination. "The resistance only lasted for a week, all because of Princess Luna and Celestia. They never slept, constantly helping, healing, and protecting. They both lost energy and decided to evacuate the remaining surviving ponies to nearby bunkers. They used their last energy to give us time, and after that, I don't know what happened to them. The survivors we were with got separated, and Pinkie Pie was with them. I don't know where the rest are or if it's safe to go outside. There was a horde of them two weeks ago." She took a deep breath and exhaled. "The infected are a threat because the virus evolves, making them stronger. How are you going to save this world like yours?"

The Doom Slayer stood still and clenched his fist. Vega eventually spoke. "I, Vega, need a map of this world."

"You mean Equestria?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"Yes, Equestria."

Applejack and Rarity looked at each other. "It's on the table right next to you," Rarity said.

The Doom Slayer turned toward the table and walked closer, his steps creating metallic thumps. He moved the cans away and stared at the map, the dim light reflecting off his visor. Then he turned to them. "Thank you. I can now open portals wherever I need in Equestria."

By this point, Twilight had calmed down, though her eyes were still red and puffy. "A portal to anywhere? H-how is that possible? No pony has ever been capable of such magic," she said.

"I promise you, sweetheart, it is possible," Vega assured her. "It seems it is morning now according to my clock. We must make a move."

Applejack scrunched her face. "Move? Sugar, you don't mean you're going outside alone where there are hundreds or thousands of infected?"

The rest nodded in agreement.

"I assure you the Doom Slayer is capable of wiping out such crowds of infected. After all, he has faced the entirety of Hell,"Vega said. "Tell me first, have all of you eaten well for the past two weeks?"

The girls looked at each other and shook their heads no.

"Ah, the Doom Slayer has rations. He doesn't eat but keeps them in case," Vega explained. The Doom Slayer moved his hand to some kind of pocket behind his back, tapped a button, and in front of him, 12 cans of peaches materialized. He scooped up the cans and placed them on the nearby table. "Please eat; it's safe," Vega said in his casual robotic voice.

Rainbow Dash dashed in, took a can, opened it instantly, grabbed a nearby fork, and began shoving peaches into her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "Mmmm, this is so good~"

The rest of the girls looked at Rainbow Dash, a bit surprised. It had been two weeks since they ate properly. The rest were a bit hesitant but all they needed was a small push.

"Please eat first. I have analyzed that all of you lack enough fat to sustain a healthy body, Vega said.

Rarity turned to Fluttershy and caressed her cheek. "Let's eat, okay? You need it." Fluttershy nodded, and they both walked to the table and opened their cans of peaches.

The Doom Slayer looked at the remaining two. "Please eat and energize yourselves. The Doom Slayer apologizes for only bringing canned peaches. He loves peaches."

Twilight giggled a bit. "Thank you, Doom Slayer." She joined the three.

"I'm not eating," Applejack said.

The Doom Slayer just looked at her silently before Vega spoke again. "The Doom Slayer wants you to eat, but your choice is yours to take."

The Doom Slayer walked to a nearby wall and sat on the floor. He leaned back and stared at them silently through his visor.

Applejack stared at the Doom Slayer for seconds until she felt a tap on her left shoulder. It was Twilight holding two opened cans of peaches. "Please eat, Applejack." She smiled slightly as she offered the peaches. Applejack sighed and took it. She wanted to question why Twilight had changed, as she had never been this caring since the day Pinkie Pie got separated.

Twilight rubbed her neck with her free hand. "Applejack, I think I have to be strong for you all. I-I don't want to act all gloomy again, not after this new chance for us, for ponykind." She turned her head and looked at the silent Doom Slayer watching Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash enjoy their canned peaches.

Twilight looked back at Applejack. "Applejack, can you forgive me?"

Applejack softened and smiled softly. "Sugar, of course, I forgive ya. After all, we're friends. We all are." She caressed Twilight's cheek, and Twilight leaned into her touch.

"Thank you." Twilight smiled softly.

[Timeskip 3 minutes]

It seemed they had finished their canned peaches. The Doom Slayer stood up and walked to them. Though they knew he was friendly, they couldn't help but feel a bit of fear for the 6'10" tall muscular figure before them.

Rarity couldn't help but blush a bit.

"Now that I have the map, we need to relocate. To save your kind, we need a big base that can house many ponies," Vega said.

Twilight quickly spoke. "Wait... I think I know a spot." Twilight moved to the table and spread the map sheet on it. She then held the table and pulled it to the middle of the room, giving the Doom Slayer his own space as the rest gathered around.

"Are you sure you're capable of making portals anywhere?" Twilight questioned, looking at the Doom Slayer.

He nodded and looked down at the map.

"Places that house many ponies like Canterlot and Manehattan are literal death zones, but smaller populations in more rural areas are better," Applejack said.

"But those infected move like the wind. Low population count, but if a horde decides to move, visit, or cross by, you know that place can turn into a death zone. You know how strong those things were, destroying the barrier from Canterlot," Rainbow Dash interjected.

"You're right," Applejack said.

"I have a question. Have you used the walkie-talkie that was on the table?" Vega questioned.

Twilight quickly answered. "Yes, we had. We had contact with another supposed bunker, but we never heard from them again the next day. They were fine, but... no responses the next day." She clenched her fist but then relaxed.

"The safest place we can go to is a town on the Griffish Isles, an Equestrian island chain located between Equestria and the Griffon continent," she pointed out on the map.

Rarity quickly intervened. "But darling, you can't just suggest we take on a town full of infected, do you?"

"The Doom Slayer doesn't need all your help. For the worries, no, the Doom Slayer is immune to all diseases and viruses. Plus, you must remember that he fought Hell itself," Vega answered.

"Are you really sure?" Twilight questioned, worried.

The Doom Slayer nodded in response.

Applejack turned around and rubbed her face. "Oh Celestia, our so called savior is a psychopath," she mumbled to herself.

"Twilight, put the table back in its position. We have to get started and use the early time of the day," Vega said.

Twilight sighed, having no choice but to follow such a bold plan. She walked around the table and pushed it until it hit a wall.

"Make space" Vega said as the Doom Slayer walked to the middle of the room. "Creating portal to Trottingham in... 3... 2... 1."

A portal appeared in front of the Doom Slayer. He materialized his chainsaw and revved it up. The girls' eyes widened in surprise; they had never seen a chainsaw that big and intimidating, as if it was made to rip apart limbs. Fluttershy again hid behind Rarity in fear.

"The Doom Slayer will now depart. The portal will close, and when he returns, the place is cleared and safe," Vega said.

The Doom Slayer entered the portal. The hearts of the girls thumped loudly, hoping the Doom Slayer would be safe. Sooner or later, the portal closed and disappeared, leaving them in the dimly lit room once again.

Twilight began to move. "Girls, prepare your stuff. We're leaving this place once he comes back," she said with a spark of determination.

The girls nodded to each other.

"Yeah, let's not waste Doom Guy's time," Applejack said as she walked out of the room and disappeared.

{Music starts}

He stepped out of the portal, holding his chainsaw tightly. The blue portal behind him disappeared.

He began to walk towards the small town.

Vega announced, "Activating audio, in... 3... 2... 1."

Doom Guy's mask alarmed loudly, reverberating through the small town. As the alarm ended, disgruntled screams echoed from the village, and slowly, one infected appeared, then two, then three, then five, and then a horde.

In the first age, in the first battle, when the shadows first lengthened, one 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 those that tasted the bile of his sword named him... the Doom Slayer.

RIP AND TEAR

{Guitar rip}

The Doom Slayer ran forward as the horde closed in fast. One infected pounced on him, and instantly, using his chainsaw, he split it in half, its sides separating and flying past him.

Thud thud thud

More infected pounced on him until he was buried under a mound of dead bodies.

"RAAHHH!" The mound burst, and infected flew. The Doom Slayer used his chainsaw and began spinning very fast, heads and bodies flung side to side. Some that were on the ground clung onto the doom slayer's leg and tried biting it, but with no effort as it's teeth crumbled upon biting the preator suit armor.

The Doom Slayer stopped spinning with his chainsaw and stomped on its head, streaking his legs with red.

He put his chainsaw behind his back dematerializing it, and his shotgun materialized in his hands. He turned around, aimed at an infected, and blasted its head off like a popped balloon. Another infected pounced at him from behind. He grabbed it, slammed it to the ground, and stomped on its head, splattering its brain and flesh all over the dirt and grass.

The smell of gunpowder and rot fill the air.

More infected charged at him, attempting to pounce. The Doom Slayer clenched his fist and punched one in the middle, its blood and gore splattering behind it. He aimed his shotgun to the left and pulled the trigger, exploding the head of the unfortunate infected in front. On his right, he grabbed another infected by the head and crushed it into a gooey mess.

"Twenty more approaching." Vega announced. In the short distance, a small horde appeared from the corners of the village and ran towards him.

The Doom Slayer didn’t hesitate to run towards the horde at high speed, leaving behind a trail of unmoving bodies. He put his shotgun on his back, dematerializing it, and materialized his chaingun. He aimed and began shooting high-caliber bullets, demolishing every infected in its path.

"Twenty more approaching," Vega repeated.

The Doom Slayer dematerialized the chaingun and took out his chainsaw, revving it up again. "RIP AND TEAR!" he shouted, running towards the new horde and spinning with his chainsaw, he's body moves in between the infected like a ballet of death, gore and blood showered his preator suit as he spun more and more.

He dematerialized the chainsaw, a wide grin on his face, and extended his Doom Blade. He stabbed one infected in the head, the blade protruding from the other side. He pulled his Doom Blade out and did the same to another. An infected clung to him from behind, trying to bite his shoulder, but its teeth couldn’t penetrate the Praetor suit. The Doom Slayer quickly reached for it, turned around, and ripped it in two, its intestines and organs hanged to the sides.

The last infected ran at him and he punched it in the face, sending it flying back. Without hesitation, the Doom Slayer stepped on its head again and again, spreading its brain and flesh on the ground.

SFX: Crack, splurt

After seven stomps, the Doom Slayer stopped and looked at the village houses.

{Music End}

He entered the village and walked down the empty street. The clouds gathered, forming a nimbus cloud.

"I have analyzed that it will rain for a short period of time. I have detected no movements in the entirety of the village. I am 100% positive that this island is clear of infected," Vega announced.

The Doom Slayer stopped in front of a two-story house and looked up at it.

"It seems this is the mayor's house of this village," Vega commented.

The Doom Slayer turned around to an empty space. "Opening portal in 3... 2... 1..."

"It's been 2 hours. I-is he?" Rainbow Dash asked, worried about the Doom Slayer.

"I knew that hyoman was all hoax. He wasted our time packing these things," Applejack added.

Twilight stood up. "Girls, hoax or not, he promised he would come back. We must believe h-"

The glowing sphere appeared once again in the middle of the room. All their hearts thumped fast in excitement. Was this really happening? Did they really have a chance to survive?

The sphere formed into a big circular portal, and the Doom Slayer, covered in blood and gore, walked out of it.

The girls stood up defensively, visibly surprised and scared by the sight.

"The Doom Slayer has accomplished his task. Trottingham is now safe for habitation," Vega announced.

They all dropped their guards, and Applejack quickly answered, "Sugar, you're covered in blood!"

Rarity gagged, covered her mouth, swallowed her puke, and her knees weakened as she fainted into Fluttershy's arms.

"The Doom Slayer is fine. All he needs is a wash," Vega explained.

The Doom Slayer turned towards the portal. "I can't keep this portal open much longer. Please proceed,"Vega said.

The Doom Slayer then walked back into the portal. The others looked at each other and eventually moved, the moment reminding them of when Twilight entered the mirror portal.

They all stepped out of the portal, covering their eyes as they adjusted to the light. Though the clouds were dark, it was still bright enough to irritate their eyes. They stood for a few seconds to let their eyes adjust.

As their eyes adjusted, they saw that they were in front of a two-story house. The portal behind the five girls disappeared, and they looked around the eerie, empty street.

"Do not be worried. I am 100% positive that this place has no more infected," Vega reassured.

The Doom Slayer walked towards the house and opened the door. The girls followed, carrying their bags of belongings.

Inside, the house was a mess, with broken wooden furniture and shattered glass scattered around.

"Well... better than the shithole of a bunker," Rainbow Dash commented.

"Well, girls, time to clean," Twilight said, moving further inside the house to search for a mop.

Rainbow Dash began picking up destroyed furniture and bringing it outside.

Rarity spoke up, "Well, might as well do our part."

Rarity and Fluttershy started searching for supplies, such as food and clean water, in the house.

Applejack walked over to the Doom Slayer and patted his shoulder. "Thank you..." She smiled softly before joining the others in cleaning up the house.

Hours later, the soft rain trickled on the rooftop. The girls had finally cleaned the house. Now they were all in the living room talking. Applejack leaned against a nearby wall with her arms crossed, while Rainbow Dash sat backward on a chair, resting her arms on the top.

Rarity combed Fluttershy's hair on the couch with Twilight.

"So... are we really putting our trust in the Doom guy, huh?" Applejack asked in her usual southern accent.

"Well... we have no choice, darling," Rarity commented.

"And plus, he's so cool! He emptied this village of those infected! And don't forget about his chainsaw—it's so big and badass!" Rainbow Dash added, her face bright with appreciation.

Twilight joined in, "Plus, he said he's the savior of his species, the hoomans. I want to learn more about him. He's so strange—he hides his face with the armor, he possesses alien technology, he doesn't talk, and—"

"He's so muscular and rugged," Rarity unexpectedly said, continuing to hum.

There was silence for a few seconds. Rarity turned her face and noticed the rest of the girls looking at her oddly.

"What?" Rarity questioned with a confused expression.

Twilight cleared her throat to hide her flustered face. "Ahem... let's do what he said and stay here for the day while he scouts the area for possible danger."

"Yeah," the others agreed.

"Sure, but tomorrow I'm excited to spread my wings again." Rainbow Dash looked over her shoulder and stretched her wings. "These babies needs the air."

The front door opened, and the Doom Slayer walked inside, his armor wet, creating footprints on the floor. He looked at the girls, and Vega spoke, "We have connected the nearby water tower to only this house. The shower is now available. The Slayer will go first."

The Doom Slayer walked into another room and disappeared. The girls, however, looked at each other and back at the room where the Doom Slayer had entered. A devious smile slowly appeared on Rainbow Dash's face. She got up from her seat and walked to the entrance of the room, peeking inside.

Pink crept onto Twilight's face. "R-Rainbow Dash! Give him some privacy!"

"He took off his armor," Rainbow Dash whispered.

The girls' eyes widened, and their ears twitched as their faces turned red. "Rainbow Dash!"

"He's in the shower, duh," she turned around and looked at the girls. "Hey, this is finally our time to see his face!" she said with excitement and glee.

"...You know what, yeah, I'll join ya. I'm interested in what he looks like," Applejack said, walking over to Rainbow Dash.

"A-Applejack?!" Twilight looked at her, shocked.

Twilight glanced at Rarity and Fluttershy, both of their faces now resembling tomatoes. Rarity kept brushing Fluttershy's hair, trying to ignore them.

"T-the door is opening," Rainbow Dash said as they peeked inside.

"Oh.."

...

Twilight didn't want to question them, but curiosity got the best of her. "W-what does he look like?"

The girls didn't answer. They both turned around and walked back to their previous spots, disappointment etched on their faces.

"Bummer, the Doom guy pulled his suit inside the bathroom..." Applejack said with a disappointed tone.

"Oh," Twilight replied.

The Doom Slayer walked out of the room and into the living room. "I recommend you girls take a shower as well, to maintain a clean and healthy body," Vega spoke.

The Doom Slayer then walked out the front door and stood on the porch.

...

The sun set, and all the girls are on the second floor, laying down on a mattress.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash lay together on a mattress on the floor, while Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight lay together on a large bed.

Twilight looked up at the ceiling. "I wonder if the princesses are still alive... the moon and the sun are still moving."

"Well... I sure do hope they're still alive," Applejack added.

Rarity joined in, "And I hope Pinkie Pie is okay."

Rainbow Dash yawned, "But still... I love you girls, and I'll never stop loving you all."

Fluttershy finally spoke, hiding half her face with the blanket. "I-I love all of you."

A small smile tugged at their lips.

"Goodnight," Applejack said.

The rest finally said their good nights and closed their eyes after this tiring day. The hope in their hearts slowly grew.

[Living room]

The Doom Slayer sat on the floor, looking at a candle as the light reflected off his visor. "Rest well Slayer, you have a lot of work to do tomorrow," Vega spoke.

On the next chapter

Author's Note

(Insight on the anthro look. Plus art is from holivi, the art made from them are absolute beauty)

I decided to abandon my previous work, it's so cringe. Make sure to comment your thoughts 😁 I made this in only 2 days. And I hope all of you good mornings, good days, and good nights.

Mountain of Perils

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to the blue hue filtering through the window and the cool air of the early hour. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking at Applejack beside her, who was lying on her right side.

Rainbow Dash ran her fingers through her rainbow-colored hair and took a deep breath. She stood up and looked at Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy cuddled together on the bed. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she watched them.

She turned and walked to the nearby window, gazing outside at the village bathed in the dawn's blue hue.

After giving her friends one last look, she sighed and walked outside the room, gently closing the door behind her. She turned and walked down the stairs, her hoofsteps creating light taps on the wooden floor.

She looked at the fireplace, now filled with nothing but lumps of charcoal. She noticed the mantel and the small photo frames on top of it. Walking closer, she examined the photos.

They depicted a family—a wife, a son, and a husband—all smiling together for the picture. A small smile tugged at her lips as she looked at it, the photo reminding her of someone. "I miss Spikey," she mumbled, a bit of pain visible on her face as she remembered the time before this mess began.

After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and exhaled. She turned around and headed to the front door.

SFX: Creak

After opening the door, she walked outside and gently closed it behind her.

"Good morning, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash jumped at the unexpected voice, instantly turning to see the Doom Slayer standing at the very corner of the porch, looking at her through his visor.

She clutched her chest as her heart pounded, her breaths coming in quick and short.

"It seems your stress level and heart rate have increased. I apologize for speaking unexpectedly," Vega said.

Rainbow Dash took deep, long breaths and calmed herself down. The sight of the 6'10" Doom Slayer was still something she wasn't used to, even now.

"V-Vega, you almost gave me a heart attack!" Rainbow Dash said, clutching her chest.

"I apologize for my sudden action," Vega replied in his usual calm voice.

Rainbow Dash sighed and looked at Doom Guy's visor. "Okay, okay... I guess I know why you're here. Did you sleep at all?" she asked, puzzled.

"I have recorded that the Slayer only slept for two hours before he came to the porch to stand watch," Vega answered.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. "Two hours! You should really get some—" she started, but Vega interrupted.

"The Slayer does not necessarily need to sleep. He can go for years without sleeping and without worrying about fatigue," Vega explained.

Rainbow Dash stared at Doom Guy for a few seconds, then rubbed her face in one motion and placed her hands on her hips, probably trying to process the information. "You don't mind if I stretch my wings, do you?" she asked.

"Ah, I'm glad you brought that topic up. I'm interested in observing you fly. Your wings are approximately 3.5 feet long, and by standard aerodynamics, a being of your mass would typically require a wingspan of about 6 meters, or 19.685 feet, to achieve flight," Vega said.

Rainbow Dash was flabbergasted. "You know what, I can fly because I'm a Pegasus. If it doesn't sound logical to you, then just call it magic. Can I try my wings now?"

Doom Guy remained silent, but Vega replied, "No one is stopping you. Just don't venture beyond the island for your safety."

"Yeah, yeah..." She turned and walked down the porch steps, looking around the empty street and up at the sky. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the village.

Doom Slayer stood on the porch, watching her as she stretched her wings, displaying their full length and flexibility.

After a minute of stretching, she slowly flapped her wings, trying to lift off the ground safely, reacquainting herself with flying.

Once confident, Rainbow Dash ascended higher into the air at a steady pace. Doom Guy's visor tilted upward as she gained altitude and speed.

Rainbow Dash reached a height where the clouds were just above her. She paused to look down at Trottingham. Nearby, she noticed a small island with a lighthouse and a large recently dug site farther from the village. She guessed that's where the dead bodies had been taken, as the town and surrounding areas were devoid of corpses.

"Cool," she murmured, remembering Vega's curiosity about her flying abilities. She decided to impress him.

A smirk formed on her lips. "Let's see what you think of this."

whoosh
She dived, accelerating rapidly, adjusting her wings to produce a transparent, rainbow-colored contrail. She spun, leaving a swirling rainbow trail behind her, like a brush stroke in the sky.

With a confident smirk, she looked down at Doom Guy and winked. Then she maneuvered, flying toward him. Just meters off the ground, she shot up again, flipped in the air, and finally landed gracefully, her left hand and right knee touching the ground in a cool pose.

She stood up, smiling brightly. "I'm back, baby! Hahaha!" She punched the air but stopped when she noticed Doom Guy staring at her silently from the porch.

She quickly covered her mouth and pretended to cough. Walking back to the porch, she looked at Doom Guy.

"I am impressed. You have demonstrated an outstanding performance," Vega complimented.

A faint pink blush appeared on her cheeks. She puffed out her chest and smiled. "Of course I did! I'm Rainbow Dash, Equestria's fastest and best flier," she said proudly.

Doom Slayer stood there, looking at her through his tinted visor for about 10 seconds before Vega spoke again. "I have detected that the rest of the girls are awake and three of them are coming down the stairs."

Rainbow Dash looked at the front door and then back at Doom Guy. "Oh... Well, wanna join us for breakfast?" she asked hesitantly, hoping to catch a glimpse of his face behind the visor.

"The Doom Guy declines. I, Vega, recommend you girls eat first," Vega replied.

Rainbow Dash cursed internally; she really wanted to see Doom Guy's face. "Pshhh. Okay, fine. No one's forcing ya, Mr. Savior..." She walked to the front door and placed her hand on the knob. Before turning it, she paused. "Don't overwork yourself... I-I'm not saying this because I like you or anything, dumbass!" she blurted out, blushing. She quickly opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her.

"Peculiar," Vega commented.

Doom Slayer stepped off the porch and began walking down the cobblestone street. "It appears the ponies here have invented long-range communication. I recommend you find a radio station or a portable one," Vega suggested.

Doom Guy continued walking silently.

"Wait..." Vega suddenly spoke. "On your left, the first floor of that house. I'm picking up a subtle radio wave. I recommend you investigate."

Doom Guy turned to the side and approached the house, kicking the door open and stopping just inside the entrance. "I'm detecting it underground. Please search for a basement door."

Doom Slayer began exploring the house, which had only four rooms. He found a trapdoor on the wooden floor and opened it. A disgusting, rotting smell filled his nostrils instantly, but he was used to such odors.

"Activating filter mode," Vega said, and the smell vanished. Doom Slayer climbed down into the basement. As he descended, the ladder crumbled, and he fell, landing on his feet. The flashlight on his helmet lit up the dark basement, revealing two rotting bodies leaning against the wall, hugging each other on the floor.

The bodies seemed to be about a week old.

Nearby was a table with a complete radio set on it. Doom Guy walked over and examined the radio set. It had almost everything: a transmitter, a microphone, and various cables.

"I don't see a power supply... Perhaps the crystal on the transmitter serves that purpose, and it also acts as the antenna. I wonder if there are more crystals used by the ponies in their daily lives," Vega mused.

Doom Slayer disconnected all the wires and connectors. He took the transmitter first and placed it on his back, where it dematerialized, followed by the microphone, wires, and other components.

He emptied the table and turned to the rotting bodies, pausing for 10 seconds before the small cannon mounted on his shoulder fired, engulfing the room in flames due to the methane build-up. He remained unscathed as the basement turned into a charred mess, the table and bodies burning.

He climbed out of the trapdoor and walked back to the mayor's house.

[Mane 5]

"Are you sure it's really safe out there?" Applejack asked, as the girls finished breakfast.

"Yeah, Doom Guy let me out earlier to test my wings. Seems I haven't lost my touch," Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk. "Plus, with what Vega said, I'm confident it's safe here."

"Well, if that's the case, then—" Twilight began, but was interrupted when Doom Guy opened the front door. He walked to the living room, and the girls, who were in the kitchen, exchanged glances before following him.

Doom Guy retrieved something from behind his back and pressed it, causing a transmitter to materialize in front of him. He placed it on the table along with the other equipment.

Twilight's eyes widened in surprise. "W-where did you get this? This is amazing! We can now broadcast radio messages to all of Equestria!" she said, her face lighting up with hope. She looked at her friends, who smiled back, happy to see Twilight cheerful again.

Fluttershy seemed more relaxed around Doom Guy, and the others were getting used to his presence, though he still appeared intimidating.

Fluttershy sat on a chair while Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight stood by each other.

Doom Guy turned his head to Twilight and looked at her. "We retrieved it from a house just down the street. The place was a mess, but we found it eventually. Now, I'll leave the rest to you, Twilight Sparkle," Vega explained as Doom Slayer took a step back.

"Let's not waste any more time, Twi," Applejack said.

Rainbow Dash smiled softly as she leaned against a wall, crossing her arms. "She's gonna get all nerdy again."

"Y-yes, yes," Twilight nodded, standing in front of the table and inspecting the radio broadcasting set. "Oh wow, this is a newer model."

She began connecting the cables, connectors, earphones, speakers, and the audio mixer.

"Hmmm... The blue crystal seems to be working," Twilight mumbled as she finished setting everything up. When she flicked the last switch, the neon light turned green. "There, we're ready to broadcast. I set the frequency to default, which has a higher chance of being found. All we need to do is push this button while we talk," Twilight said with a smile.

"Hmmm... Why don't you try using your other walkie-talkie first and set the frequency to default?" Vega suggested.

"Wait just a second." Applejack quickly walked out of the room, returning 30 seconds later with the walkie-talkie in her hand.

"Thanks, Applejack. Now, I want you to set your frequency to default and listen for the words I'll say," Twilight instructed as she put on the headphones and placed her hand on the button.

"Gotcha." Applejack said as she walked out of the living room and disappeared into the kitchen.

Rainbow Dash, holding a paper and pen, entered the living room. She glanced at Applejack and then back at Twilight. "What's she doing with the—ohhhh." She realized and sat down on a chair.

"Testing in 3... 2... 1." Twilight pressed the button and spoke into the mic. "This is Twilight Sparkle, former student of Princess Celestia. I hope you’re hearing this message."

Seconds later, Applejack returned. "I hear nothin'."

"Really? Let me try again. Just put it to your ear." She cleared her throat and pressed the button again. "Hello, hello, helloooooo..."

"Nope, there's nothing," Applejack said, lowering the walkie-talkie. "Maybe there's somethin' wrong with the set."

"No, it’s working. The neon light is green... Unless..." Twilight took off the headphones and set them on the table. Resting her chin on her hand, she began thinking.

...

"Now I know why we suddenly lost connection with the other bunker..." Twilight muttered. Suddenly, she turned to the girls. "Girls... The main radio tower needs to be checked."

Everyone froze.

"D-Darling, you don’t mean the radio tower on top of Canterlot, do you?" Rarity asked with a hint of fear.

"Y-yes..." Twilight bit her lip. How could they contact survivors now? They couldn't just venture outside the mountain with no information.

"I need further details." Vega interjected.

Twilight turned toward Doom Guy and approached him. "On top of Canterlot, there’s a radio tower that connects all of Equestria. But Canterlot is extremely dangerous. Before the apocalypse, the population was about four hundred thousand ponies... Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy can fly, but they can’t keep going back and forth."

"It seems we’re in a dire situation... Perhaps I could create a portal right outside Canterlot so Rainbow Dash only has to fly to the top of the mountain and fix it," Vega suggested.

"B-but—" Twilight began to protest, but Rainbow Dash interrupted her.

"Twi, I can do it... The radio tower is only accessible by a Pegasus," Rainbow Dash said, determination in her eyes.

"R-Rainbow Dash! I-I don’t want to lose you!" Twilight shouted, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Rainbow Dash walked over and hugged her tightly, letting Twilight rest her face against her chest and cry as she gently caressed her hair.

"Shhh... It won’t be a problem. Those things can’t fly, and after I'm done, Doom Guy will be with me," she comforted.

Twilight continued to sob while the others watched, worried. Rarity approached and hugged Twilight as well. "Darling, don’t cry... Rainbow Dash will be fine... Plus, she's with Doom Guy." She gently pulled Twilight away from Rainbow Dash. "Shhh. Let’s sit on the couch, okay?"

The two moved to the couch and sat together while Rarity comforted Twilight.

As much as the girls wanted to process this, they knew that if they wanted ponykind to survive, they had to take risks.

Applejack and Fluttershy stood in front of Rainbow Dash with worried expressions. "Sugar, are you sure you wanna do this?" Applejack asked.

"Y-yeah, I do," Rainbow Dash replied with a smile, although inside, she was terrified.

Bravery isn't having NO fear, Bravery is having fear... but you do it anyway!

Fluttershy suddenly hugged Rainbow Dash tightly, nuzzling her cheek. "Rainbow Dash... Please be careful."

Rainbow Dash patted Fluttershy’s head before pulling away. She hugged Applejack, caressing her cheek with a soft smile, then turned to Doom Guy. "Let’s go outside..."

Doom Guy nodded and led the way outside, with Rainbow Dash following closely behind. They stopped and faced each other.

"I’ve analyzed that this mission has an 80% success rate. Are you sure you want to do this?" Vega said in his usual AI tone.

"Tch, 80% is good enough... Plus, I’m confident that there won’t be any infected at the very top," Rainbow Dash said, trying to maintain her brave façade despite the fear gripping her heart.

Doom Slayer materialized something from behind his back and handed her a handgun. "This is a Grolger 12 handgun with a capacity of 15 rounds. It uses butterfly bullets or dum-dum bullets. It can easily shatter bones and rip flesh. Take it."

"O-okay..." Rainbow Dash took the handgun and gripped it tightly. It wasn’t as heavy as it looked, and as she inspected it, she felt a surge of badassery. "Whoa..."

"I recommend you try it first. You see that bottle over there on the other house? Aim and shoot at it." Vega instructed.

Doom Slayer moved behind Rainbow Dash and held her arms. She yelped slightly, her cheeks turning pink.

"Use the sights and aim. It’s like a crossbow but more advanced."

He adjusted her arms into the correct position then his hands glided up to her hands and guided her grip on the handle, making her hands look tiny compared to his. At this rainbow Dash’s face turned as red as a tomato.

"When you’re confident in your shot, pull the trigger," Vega said.

Doom Guy stepped back, and Rainbow Dash calmed her breathing, squinting through the sights to ensure her aim was accurate.

She pulled the trigger, the handgun recoiled, and the sound was like a popped balloon as the bottle shattered into pieces.

She looked at the handgun in awe. "This is so cool! Imagine if ponies had this!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her face lit up with excitement. She turned to look at Doom Guy’s visor. "I think I’m ready."

The Doom Guy then faced an empty space. "Opening portal outside of Canterlot in 3... 2... 1."

A blue portal appeared, and Doom Guy walked through it first. Before Rainbow Dash could follow, she noticed the girls on the front porch. Fluttershy and Applejack were waving, and Rarity was comforting Twilight, who was still sobbing.

Rainbow Dash waved back, took a deep breath to calm herself, and turned toward the portal, stepping through it.

She emerged on the other side, and the portal closed behind her. They were outside Canterlot, right next to the mountain, shaded from the sunlight.

She looked around to see Doom Slayer stomping an infected's head, splattering its brain and blood on the grassy ground like a bloody canvas.

The Doom Slayer stopped and looked at Rainbow Dash, giving her a thumbs-up, indicating it was her turn now. With determination etched on her face, Rainbow Dash nodded to Doom Guy, gripping the pistol tighter.

"I'm just going to check... You got this, Rainbow Dash," she muttered to herself before looking up the mountain. She took off, gaining speed as she ascended. Near the top, she narrowly dodged a falling boulder. "Crap..." she muttered, heart pounding.

Eventually, she reached the summit, spotting a well-placed radio tower with a giant blue crystal ontop surrounded by fences and a small steel structure nearby. "That seems to be the electrical room if I remember correctly," she mumbled, landing on the snowy ground, her hooves sinking a few centimeters deep.

Meanwhile, Doom Slayer noticed the falling boulder heading his way. Before it could hit him, he punched it, shattering it into pieces.

[Back to Rainbow Dash]

Rainbow Dash tried to open the door but found it wouldn't budge. "Locked," she muttered. Eyeing the handgun in her hand, she aimed at the doorknob and fired. The door swung open with a kick, and she smirked, kissing the handgun. "Good girl."

She peeked inside to find the room filled with electrical boxes. Lowering her gun, she stepped inside, humming as she inspected the boxes on the walls. Opening the third one, two fuses sparked, causing her to stumble back. "No wonder why..." she muttered.

Her search led her to a table where she found two small boxes of fuses. "Jackpot," she whispered, taking two fuses and heading back to the fuse box. Remembering to turn off the power, she wedged the handgun between her thighs and began replacing the fuses. The damaged ones were tossed aside, and with the new fuses in place, she turned the power back on. "There, hope everything is n—"

"Help... help me..."

A female voice called from outside the room.

Rainbow Dash's face fell, her heart pounding. She gripped the handgun tightly, aimed at the entrance, and cautiously moved closer. Her fingers trembled, and her heart raced, but she steeled herself. Peeking outside, she saw no one. "W-who's there!" she shouted, but there was no response. Taking a deep breath, she stepped outside, checking the corners.

As she prepared to fly away, the voice called again from the rooftop. Rainbow Dash spun around just in time to see an infected pony lunging at her. She fell back, aimed, and fired, hitting the infected mid-air.

SFX: Splat

"We're so proud of you."

"We're are so proud of you."

"Our rainbow dash..."

"Ugh, my head," she groaned, opening her eyes to see the infected's body on top of her, unmoving. "Ahh!" She kicked it off and scrambled to her feet, aiming the handgun at it. After a tense ten seconds, she confirmed it was dead. She closed the door and flew to the rooftop, removing her shirt to check for any injuries thus showing nothing but only her light blue sports bra. Relieved to find no scratches or bites, she sighed.

"Oop!" she exclaimed, remembering Doom Guy, and dove off the roof and down the mountain.

.
.
.

"I am receiving radio waves from the mountain. It seems she has completed her task... Let’s wait as long as we can for her," Vega announced.

Doom Slayer turned to see an infected appear. It had a frail body, an elongated neck, and loose flesh. It screeched, and Doom Slayer instantly materialized his pistol, shooting the infected and blowing its head apart. Lowering his handgun, he listened to the silence that followed.

"Detecting movements approaching and lifeform above you... Creating portal to Trottingham in 3... 2... 1."

A blue portal appeared behind Doom Slayer. He dematerialized his pistol, took out his chain gun, and aimed at the direction of the approaching sea of infecteds.

The ground rumbled as the sea of grotesque infected ponies surged forward. Doom Guy pulled the trigger, mowing them down. The onslaught was relentless, his chain gun beginning to overheat.

"I'm here!" Rainbow Dash shouted from above.

Doom Guy stopped shooting and pointed to the portal. Without hesitation, Rainbow Dash dived into it. Doom Slayer switched to his rocket launcher, fired at the horde thus creating a big explosion, and then followed her through the portal.

...

The Doom Slayer landed on his back as the portal closed, severing the head of an infected. He stood up and approached the severed head, it's Jaws moving. Before he could stomp it, Rainbow Dash shot it, making it explode like a watermelon.

"Yeah, screw you!" she shouted.

The girls from inside the house ran out, their faces lighting up in joy and surprise.

"Rainbow Dash!" they cried out in unison.

They rushed to her, embracing her tightly. Rainbow Dash dropped the handgun and smiled, tears streaming down her face. "I-I thought I w-would never see y-you girls again," she sobbed.

[Time Skip: 6 PM]

Rainbowdash was extremely tired mentally and physically, she's now sleeping in the bedroom on the second floor while the Doom guy and the other four girls gathered in the living room.

"Are you girls ready? Let’s record this message before putting it on repeat," Twilight said with a smile.

Rarity, meanwhile, was eyeing Doom Guy beside him with a look of admiration. "H-hey~" she purred softly.

Doom Guy ignored her, focusing on Twilight. Rarity pouted, feeling slighted. How could he ignore somepony as beautiful as me?! she thought.

She tried again. "Darling~" she cooed, reaching to touch his bicep.

"Rarity! Stop yip yapping with the Doom Guy and come over here!" Applejack commanded.

Rarity rolled her eyes, gave Doom Guy one last glance, and winked before joining the rest.

"Recording in 3... 2... 1," Twilight said, pressing the record button.

(Recording)

"Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's student and the... Element of Magic. I am recording this message to reach out to all remaining survivors. I want to say that there is still hope for ponykind and all species amidst infection!" Twilight began, stepping aside for Applejack.

"My name is Applejack, the Element of Honesty. Two days ago, we hid inside a bunker outside of Canterlot for two weeks, barely scraping by with food and clean water... We lost hope. Not until a portal appeared, and a creature emerged—a human stallion in a green, intimidating suit. His name is the Doom Slayer."

Applejack moved aside for Rarity. "My name is Rarity, the Element of Generosity. I want to tell all of you remaining survivors that we are now in Trottingham. The Doom Slayer, though sounds unbelievable, has cleared all the infected in Trottingham. It’s located in the Griffish Isles, an Equestrian island chain between Equestria and the Griffon continent."

Rarity stepped back for Fluttershy. "H-hello. My name is Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness. We are calling on all remaining survivors to come to Trottingham, which is now a safe haven for all. Th-that’s all," she said, stepping aside quickly.

Twilight returned to the mic. "And most importantly, Rainbow Dash and the Doom Slayer have fixed the radio tower on top of Canterlot. Rainbow Dash is resting now and couldn't join us... Everypony, if you hear this, please come to Trottingham, or if you’re unsure, try to communicate with us via radio, and we’ll send the Doom Guy to your location."

She took a deep breath. "Cadance, brother, Pinkie, Spike, Princess Luna, and Celestia... If you hear this, Trottingham is now an infected-free island. Please come, we miss you all... For ponykind and all creatures, hope is still alive."

Twilight turned off the recorder, rewound the audio, and set it to repeat. She pressed the final button, and the neon lamp turned green.

Stepping back, she clasped her hands together. "I hope they hear this," she said, turning to Applejack. "Applejack, make sure the walkie-talkie is ready."

"Gotcha, Twi." Applejack left the room.

"Twilight, I'm excited to see other survivors! This is finally happening!" Rarity said joyfully.

"Y-yeah, me too," Fluttershy added.

Twilight smiled softly. "We still have to prepare. When Rainbow Dash wakes up, Fluttershy and I will try to contact other survivors while rarity, applejack, along with Rainbow Dash, search for supplies like food and medicine in the houses of this village."

"Okay, we'll wait for Rainbow Dash." Rarity took Fluttershy's hand. "Come on, darling," she said, leading her upstairs.

Twilight smiled and turned to Doom Guy. "Thank you, Doom Guy. Without you, I don’t know if ponykind and all creatures would survive. I promise to help you in any way I can."

"The Slayer says to be strong." Vega spoke up.

Twilight giggled softly and hugged Doom Guy, wrapping her arms around his midsection and resting her head on his chest. Realizing what she had done, her cheeks turned a slight pink and pulled away. "Y-yeah, thank you," she said with a small smile.

Doom Guy silently watched her through his visor, then walked out the front door and closed it behind him.

The doom guy began walking on the street. He noticed a flower vase on the porch of a house. He looked at it silently from the distance before he began to walk to it.

He Kneeled down and gently ran his armored fingers on the flower, careful not to damage it.

.
.
.

Pinkiepie their alive!

.
.
.

Captain this is big news!

.
.
.

Their alive?!

.
.
.

Everyone big news!

.
.
.

Try contacting them now!

.
.
.

On the next chapter

art by holivi

Author's Note

2 days publish☠️

Make sure to comment your thoughts 😁 also good morning, good day, and good night.

If you think there's something wrong please point it out :fluttershbad:

Let me cook dawg :duck:

Desperate measures

As morning came, the birds began to whistle.

“Wake up, Dashy!~” called a female voice from the other room.

Rainbow Dash slowly stirred, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She took a moment to collect herself before getting out of bed. “Coming...” she mumbled.

She walked to the door and rotated the knob, rainbowdash stepped out of her room and close the door. Now walking down the stairs she smelt the delicious scent of eggs and... butter? Maybe it's the hint of someone making pancakes or rather yet the blueberry flavored ones.

Rainbow Dash quickened her pace down the stairs, a soft smile spreading across her face as she entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, champ,” her mother greeted her.

“Take a seat with your father,” she added.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah, Ma.” She quickly sat across from her father, who was sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper.

“I’m hungry, Mom. I have to train and fly soon,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Not yet, sweetie. You’d better be patient, or you’ll end up with pancakes raw in the middle,” her mother replied sternly as she flipped the pancakes.

“Fine...” Rainbow Dash groaned.

Moments later, Windy Whistles approached her with a freshly prepared stack of blueberry pancakes and a separate plate of eggs.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes eats up the image of the food. She looked at her mother and father with a bright smile. “Thanks, Ma, Pa.”

She glanced down at the plate.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
Her smile instantly vanished, replaced by horror as she saw her parents’ faces staring back at her from the plate. Her breathing quickened, her heart pounded, and sweat trickled down her face as if she had been doused with a bucket of water.

She looked at the other plate to see a bloodied knife.

She looked up at her parents to see Windy Whistles’ head disheveled, the right side of her skull smashed in, her eyes hanging out of their sockets, dangling as she moved.

Rainbow Dash glanced at her father, who lowered his newspaper to reveal that half of his head was missing, leaving only his jaw intact.

The world around Rainbow Dash turned red as her parents glared at her.

YOU LEFT US

"Aaah!" Rainbow Dash sprang up from her bed, her forehead damp with sweat and her hands trembling. She groaned in pain, rubbing her forehead to ease the growing headache.

"It was just a dream... a dream," she mumbled to herself. Getting off the bed, she almost tripped but caught herself by leaning against the wall. Sunlight flooded the room, highlighting the morning.

Downstairs in the living room, the rest of the girls were gathered. Rarity chatted with Fluttershy on the couch, while Applejack leaned against the wall, looking out the window.

Twilight, however, was slumped at the table. She had barely slept for five hours, staying up almost all night fueled by coffee, waiting for calls from other survivors. She groaned, resting her head on her arm. Her mind buzzed with questions: Were they the last creatures alive? Was Shining Armor gone? Was Cadance gone? What about Pinkie? Was Spike... gone? The overthinking made her brain feel like it was overheating, and she groaned again.

Applejack, noticing her distress, walked over and gently patted her back. "Twi, don't stress too much, okay? Ponykind and all creatures are strong in their own unique ways. We'll still get calls."

Twilight straightened up and looked at Applejack. "I know, but I can't help but worry. Not just for everycreature but for our kind as well..."

Applejack sighed, giving her another comforting pat. "Twi, just don't stress too much, okay? I don't want you losin' your sanity."

"Okay, okay... I'll try not to stress out too much," Twilight conceded.

Rainbow Dash descended the stairs and entered the living room. The other girls turned their heads towards her, their faces etched with concern.

"Rainbow Dash, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked, walking over to her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache... Anyone got coffee?" Rainbow Dash replied with a weak smile.

The girls looked at each other and smiled softly, relieved that Rainbow Dash seemed okay. Applejack spoke first. "There's some coffee in the kitchen. The Doom slayer's sleeping there, but tip: don’t wake him up."

Rainbow Dash looked amused for a moment before shrugging it off and heading toward the kitchen.

Fluttershy walked alongside her, her tone filled with concern. "Rainbow Dash, are you hurt anywhere? Feeling sick? Is your headache still there?"

Rainbow Dash stopped and looked at Fluttershy. Given the state of the world, Fluttershy had every right to be worried. "I’m fine, Fluttershy. And if you’re worried that I’m infected, I promise I’m not. Just a slight headache from my sleep." Rainbow Dash smiled softly, gently patting Fluttershy's head.

"Okay... I'm just worried about you, okay?" Fluttershy cupped Rainbow Dash’s cheek and smiled softly, pulling her hand back and turning towards the kitchen entrance.

Rainbow Dash continued towards the kitchen, followed closely by Fluttershy. They both entered and were surprised to find the Doom slayer leaned against a wall on the floor, his body motionless.

Rainbow Dash, having had enough of the strangeness, walked to the counter and started preparing her coffee. Fluttershy, filled with curiosity, approached the Doom slayer and kneeled down. She looked at his visor, tilting her head slightly as it reflected her image. She squinted, looking closer.

"Hello, sweetheart."

"Kya!" Fluttershy jumped back as Vega’s voice suddenly spoke. She hurried behind Rainbow Dash to hide, peeking out cautiously. Rainbow Dash, not fazed, sipped her coffee, finding the situation amusing deep down.

"I apologize for the sudden response... The slayer is fast asleep, and I recommend you don’t wake him up unless absolutely necessary,"

Fluttershy nodded shyly and slowly stepped out from behind Rainbow Dash, her pink hair partially covering her face.

"Let’s go back with the others, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash suggested as she headed towards the living room.

Fluttershy glanced at the Doom Slayer one more time, concerned for him seeing him sleep in such an uncomfortable position. She sighed and followed Rainbow Dash.
.
.
.
Rainbow Dash leaned on the table, watching Twilight fiddling with the walkie-talkie. Applejack sat on a chair, cleaning her axe with a rag. Meanwhile, Rarity and Fluttershy were on the couch, with Fluttershy combing Rarity’s hair as she admired herself in a handheld mirror.

Applejack set her axe against the chair and looked at Twilight. "Twi, should we start on the tasks we're supposed to do?"

Twilight put the walkie-talkie down and looked at Rainbow Dash leaning on the table, sipping her coffee. She then glanced at Rarity and Fluttershy before meeting Applejack's eyes. "Are you all ready, girls?"

"I am," Applejack replied, with the others nodding in agreement.

Twilight was silent for a few moments before she spoke again. "Okay, Fluttershy will stay here with me. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity will go look for supplies." Twilight’s voice carried a hint of hesitation, almost as if she didn’t want them to go out, still wary of the dangers despite Vega’s reassurances.

Rainbow Dash placed her empty cup on the table, next to the transmitter. She stood up and stretched her arms. "Twilight, don’t worry... we’ll stay alert," she said with a small smile.

"Yes, darling. Plus, I know some support magic. All we need to do is be cautious and vigilant," Rarity added.

Applejack stood up and rested her axe on her shoulder. "Okay, better start early while it’s bright. I’ll wait for y’all outside." She walked to the front door, opened it, and stepped out, leaving it ajar.

Rarity turned to Fluttershy and kissed her forehead. "Thank you, darling. Make sure to help Twilight with whatever she needs." Rarity stood up and followed Applejack outside.

"Twi, see you later. We’ll gather what we can find," Rainbow Dash added before following Rarity, also leaving the front door open.

Now, it was just Twilight and Fluttershy left in the living room. They looked at each other from their seats. "Fluttershy, take a seat here beside me."

"O-okay." Fluttershy got up, moved a nearby chair next to Twilight, and sat down, smiling softly at her.

"So, what are we doing?" Fluttershy asked.

"We’re staying active," Twilight said, still fiddling with the walkie-talkie. "I’m trying to receive any signals... if there’s anyone out there." Twilight frowned slightly but quickly replaced it with a soft smile, looking at Fluttershy. "Are you doing okay?"

"Y-yeah, I’m doing fine. I’m at least happy to have you girls... and the Doom Guy," Fluttershy said.

Twilight chuckled softly, reaching over to tuck a strand of Fluttershy’s hair behind her ear. "I’m glad you’re at least happy," Twilight said in a comforting tone.

Fluttershy had also lost many loved ones, even most of her animal friends. Twilight felt a mix of relief and gratitude each day that Fluttershy, the most shy and vulnerable in the group, had not broken. She silently thanked Faust for Fluttershy’s unique strength.

"U-umm, how about you, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"Me? I’m doing fine… Trying to be strong for you girls. I'm never wasting this opportunity to save all creaturekind!" Twilight declared, lifting and balling her right fist with determination.

Fluttershy giggled softly, looking at Twilight. "Okay. And—"

The walkie-talkie crackled to life with a raspy, grainy voice.

pssst

"H-hello. Hello~" spoke a female voice with an accent.

Twilight and Fluttershy quickly turned their attention to the walkie-talkie. Twilight held it and pushed the button. "Yes, yes! I'm Twilight Sparkle. May I have your name?!"

"W-we need help. Please. My name is Anya Pri- and I have anoth- his na- is Mikhail Sta-"

The radio seemed to bug out. Without hesitation, Twilight immediately spoke.

"W-where are you?!" Twilight practically shouted into the walkie-talkie.

"Huh??" replied the buggy female voice.

"Where are you?!" Twilight repeated slowly.

"W-we're in Vanhoover, under the building—Global Medicine and - ugs Corporation..."

"Can you repeat that?" Twilight asked urgently.

tsssst

The only response they received back was static and emptiness.

Fluttershy, shocked as well, calmed herself and looked at Twilight. "I'll go get him."

Fluttershy stood up and hurried to the kitchen entrance, bumping into the Doom Guy. She rubbed her nose and looked up at him.

"We have heard," Vega said said, the doom slayer pats Fluttershy's head apologetically, not gonna lie he felt bad to see this mare hurt because of him. He then walked over to Twilight.

Twilight stood up and confronted him. "We received a radio transmission. There are two survivors. They're located in Vanhoover, under a building named Global Medicine and Drugs Corporation."

"Thank you... We'll leave now," Vega said.

Twilight grabbed his hand, stopping him from turning around to walk to the front door. "W-wait! V-Vanhoover is not a small city, and t-the population there is close to five hundred thousand!" Twilight said with worry. "C-can I trust you? P-please promise me, Doom Guy, please... promise me that you'll live." Twilight clutched the Doom Slayer's hand tighter, tiny tears beginning to fall down her cheeks.

The Doom Slayer silently looked at Twilight for a few seconds before lifting his hand to pat her head, reassuring her.

Twilight closed her eyes at the touch and calmed down. She released his hand and wiped her tears. Fluttershy walked beside Twilight and hugged her comfortingly.

The Doom Slayer turned around and walked to the front door and outside. He saw the boxes on the front porch filled with some supplies. He walked down the wooden steps, the morning sunlight reflecting off his armor.

He saw Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity approaching. Applejack held a bag in her right hand while her left gripped her axe. Rarity and Rainbow Dash were lifting a cardboard box.

The three saw the Doom Slayer, sensing something was going on. They hurriedly walked closer to the house and set the bags and boxes down in the shade.

"What's goin' on here?" Applejack asked.

Suddenly, Twilight and Fluttershy emerged from the front door, looking at the Doom Slayer with worry.

"Opening portal to Vanhoover in 3...2—"

The three exclaimed in unison, "V-vanhoover?!"

Rainbow Dash quickly stepped onto the front porch stairs, looking at Twilight with worry while holding the rail. "T-Twilight, what's happening?"

Beside the Doom Slayer, a portal opened.

"T-the Doom Slayer is going to rescue somepony," Twilight said, her voice filled with hurt, as if she didn’t even want to talk about it.

Rarity stepped forward with Rainbow Dash by her side. "D-darling, you’re sending him out on a s-suicide mission?!" Rarity said, worried and in disbelief.

Twilight clenched her fists and looked away. Fluttershy stepped in front of Twilight to defend her. "G-girls, it's true, b-but the Doom Guy promised he'd come back."

"B-but it's... Urgh!" Rainbow Dash turned around in frustration and walked away.

Fluttershy visibly shook at Rainbow Dash's frustration, clenching her heart, questioning herself if she done something wrong. Rarity walked up the front porch and hugged Fluttershy, pulling her head to rest on her chest. "Shh. Darling, you don’t have to talk now."

Before the Doom Slayer could step into the portal, Applejack held his hand. "Are you sure you’re doin' this, sugar?"

"The Doom Slayer said yes, and that all of you must not worry," Vega reassured in his usual AI voice.

Applejack hesitated but then pulled back her hand. "Be careful..."

The Doom Slayer stepped into the blue portal, which closed and disappeared, leaving the girls alone on the island of Trottingham.
.
.
.
The Doom Slayer emerged on a building rooftop in Vanhoover. The portal behind him closed and vanished. He walked to the ledge, looking out over the city.

The sight reminded him of the first demon invasion, fueling his anger. He wanted to leap down and rip and tear every last one of those ants.

"I have detected your heart rate is increasing rapidly... I suggest we prioritize our rescue mission first," Vega said.

The Doom Slayer stood motionless, staring down at the streets littered with infected, buildings on the verge of collapse, and the sky covered with nimbus clouds.

The Doom Slayer leaped to another rooftop, using his meat hook to traverse the buildings swiftly. He shot the hook at a distant structure, pulled himself up with great force, and dehooked, landing on another rooftop before running to the edge.

"Wait... I am receiving faint radio waves from that building with the planet logo... Though I am not sure, I suggest you get closer so I can decipher if the radio signal has an active user."
.
.
.
“Cuka blyat.” An earth pony with light green fur and short grey hair, appearing to be in his twenties, cursed in annoyance as he kicked the table. He wore a lab coat over a white shirt and long pants. He then turned to look at his sister.

His unicorn sister, also in her twenties, had light purple fur and a blonde mane. She wore the same clothing as her brother. “Calm down, Mikhail. T-they said they will save us,” Anya reassured him, though she herself was hesitant to believe that rescue was possible.

"Who? Vy znayete, chto etot gorod - beznadezhnoye delo." he responded.
Translation:You know this city is a lost cause

"M-mikhail... I—" The walkie-talkie in Anya's hand crackled to life.

"Hello, I am Vega, the Doom Slayer's AI assistant. The Slayer is inside the building. Please provide me your location.

The two siblings exchanged disbelieving looks. They had only just spoken to Twilight, and now, in under half an hour, the Doom Slayer was in Vanhoover. Mikhail nodded with determination at Anya.

Anya spoke into the walkie-talkie. "Privet, we are in a lab under this building, but the elevator is not working." She said in her Prussian-English accent.

A disgusting splat sound came through the walkie-talkie, followed by Vega's voice. "I apologize. The Doom Slayer has killed three infected. Any other ways we can find you?"

The siblings were in disbelief. This pony had killed three infected alone. Anya composed herself and spoke again.

"Da, there is another way, but the stairs are blocked and locked. If forced open, it will trigger an emergency alarm. I suggest you wait for us by the other side, and we will open it..."

Mikhail, worried and fearful, approached Anya. "Sestra, this lab has ten infected roaming. It's dark and tight. It's dangerous to get outside this room."

"I-I know, but... we have to, brat," Anya replied, though she too dreaded the thought of leaving the room and encountering the infected.

They looked at each other with brief sadness and care until the walkie-talkie spoke again. "We are now in front of the orange double doors."

Anya and Mikhail nodded to each other, hesitant but resolute.

"Blyat... Guess we're really doing this, huh," Mikhail said, smiling sadly as he caressed Anya's cheek.

Anya put her hand over his. "Mikhail, I love you... I love you so much. We'll die of old age, okay? Obeshchat?"

"Obeshchat," Mikhail promised, kissing Anya's forehead before pulling back. He searched the cabinet and retrieved two hatchets, handing one to Anya.

"Here, take one," Mikhail said, tossing her a hatchet, which she caught.

He then grabbed another hatchet for himself. "Mister red emergency hatches... If he's alive I could pecker his face with kisses."

Anya huffed and rolled her eyes, a small smile on her lips. "Oh, you... Mikhail, you'll stay by my side, watching the back, while I take the front. If something happens... we're in this together."

The candle began to dim.

Mikhail approached the door, holding his hatchets ready. Anya followed, her horn glowing brightly in a light purple hue. She peeked around the corners, seeing nothing but blood streaks on the walls and a faint rotting smell similar to rotten egg mixed with decaying rat.

Anya nodded to Mikhail and walked out first. Mikhail quickly followed suit, walking alongside Anya, watching over his shoulders to ensure nothing was behind them.

They passed a dead body laying around, the smell of rotting almost made them throw up. They walked past it and continued walking.

Their only source of light was Anya's glowing horn, illuminating a limited proximity in the long, tight hallways. They walked faster, peeking around the corners to ensure the path was clear.

They needed to take two more right turns before reaching the door. The clacking of their hooves on the tiled floor echoed in the silence, the only sounds being their slow breathing and hoofsteps.
.
.
.
"A-Anya, run!" Mikhail shouted in alarm.

Without hesitation, Anya began to run, followed closely by Mikhail. The sound of footsteps behind them grew louder and more frequent.

"Ru!" Mikhail stopped and turned around, gripping his hatchets tightly.

Hearing Mikhail stop running, Anya turned around to see him standing in the middle of the hallway, confronting the incoming infected.

"Mikhail!" Anya cried out, using all her magic to light up a large area of the hallway. She directed her magic at Mikhail, causing his body to glow with her aura. As an infected pounced on him, he dodged and beheaded it in a single slash. "Vy, ublyudki!!" he yelled.

Mikhail turned to the other infected, screaming in rage. He blocked a bite, pushing the infected aside, and then beheaded another that was coming his way. The infected he had thrown aside almost bit his face, but with Anya's help, she accurately threw her hatchet at the infected's neck, decapitating it and spraying a bit of blood on Mikhail's face.

"I can't leave you, Mikhail," Anya cried.

Mikhail turned towards the approaching infected and slashed at them, severing their limbs and drop-kicking one, sending it back into the others. The infected at the back screamed ghastly, the sound echoing through the hallways.

More distant screams responded, sending both Mikhail and Anya's fear into overdrive. Mikhail bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. "Anya! The sooner you get to this Doom Slayer, the sooner we get to safety. Idti!"

Anya, exhausted from using all her magic to support her brother, bit the inside of her mouth for strength. She created a levitating ball of light and left it near Mikhail. "I-I'll be back!"

"Hehehe. Idite ko mne, ublyudki!" Mikhail taunted, as more infected approached. One particularly large infected leaped at him, knocking him to the ground before running off towards Anya.

"No!" Mikhail shouted, quickly standing up to chase after the infected, but the others behind him were closing in fast. He turned around and screamed in fury.
.
.
.
SFX: Clack, clack, clack.

Her breathing is short and gasping, her adrenaline is running through her blood.

Anya ran as fast as she could towards the double doors leading to the stairs. Turning the last right corner, she saw the door's window illuminated with a white light. A hopeful smile crossed her lips as she sprinted towards the door, bumping into it before quickly opening it.

She flung the door open to reveal a 6'10" tall creature wearing green, bulky, and intimidating armor. In its hand, it held a tube-like object, she can see what's inside.

SFX: BANG!

Her ears rang from the loud noise, and she stumbled to the side. The Doom Slayer lowered the tube, the light on his helmet visor shining directly into her eyes, causing her to squint.

Behind Anya the infected that was gaining on her has its head obliterated by the combat shotgun.

"Where is the other named Mikhail?" a voice asked from the armor, barely audible over the ringing in her ears.

"Behind," Anya replied weakly, pointing back down the hallway.

The Doom Slayer stepped past her, closing the double doors to protect her from the infected outside. He then moved quickly, heading further back to search for Mikhail. A faint, raging scream grew louder as he jogged, turning a corner to find Mikhail pinned to the ground. His left arm was missing, and his right arm protected his neck as six infected tore at his flesh.

The Doom Slayer's face contorted with anger. He dashed towards the infected, grabbing one by the neck and lifting it effortlessly with his right hand. His left arm's Doom blade extended, stabbing the infected's head before he slammed it against the wall, painting it with blood.

The other infected stood and leaped at the Doom Slayer. He stabbed one in the face, grabbed another's head with his other hand, and squeezed until its brain and flesh oozed through his fingers. Regaining his footing, he punched another infected's head, obliterating it entirely.

An infected pounced on the Doom Slayer, who caught it mid-air and inserted his fingers into its eye sockets, ripping its head in half. The last infected clung to his left arm, trying to bite his forearm, but its teeth shattered against the Praetor suit's armor.

The Doom Slayer grabbed its head, lifting it high, while the infected clawed desperately at his arm. He threw the infected against the wall with such force that it crated and flattened against the surface.

[Music end]

"Mikhail!" Anya cried, running past the Doom Slayer and kneeling on the floor beside her brother. She gently cradled his head, tears streaming down her cheeks and onto his face. "Oh no... please, Mikhail," she sobbed.

Mikhail was severely injured. His right arm was gone, and his left arm and other parts of his body were covered in deep bite wounds and torn flesh.

He smiled weakly, reaching up to caress his sister's cheek, smearing blood on her skin like a canvas. "Anya, I love you... Since I was adopted, I've been afraid to say this, but I love you so much, more than a brother should. I want to be with you forever, moya lyubov."

Anya's sobs grew louder. "Stay a bit longer, please, Mikhail. Stay with me." She leaned down and connect their lips in a gentle emotional, kiss, tears still streaming down anya's cheeks.

The hand that caressed her cheek fell to the floor, lifeless.

Mikhail's body slowly went limp in her arms.

Anya pulled back, her face filled with sorrow and tears. "Mikhail! M-Mikhail, please!" She shook him as if trying to wake him from a deep sleep. "No! Please! You promised we’d grow old together. Please!"

The Doom Slayer watched silently, his rage simmering as he observed Anya clutching Mikhail's body.

"Creating portal to Trottingham in 3... 2... 1,"

A blue portal materialized behind the Doom Slayer. He approached Anya and gently patted her back.

"We have to leave now. There's a chance that Mikhail will turn into one of them and hurt you. If you two made a promise to each other, then you must fulfill it for him."

Anya's sobs gradually subsided. She gently laid Mikhail's head on the floor, kissed his forehead, and stood up.

"Proceed to the portal," Vega instructed.

Anya looked down at Mikhail's body, noticing the hatchet beside him. She picked it up, clutching it tightly as if it were her lifeline.

She looked into the Doom Slayer's visor, the light from it illuminating her face. "Spasibo," she whispered.

The Doom Slayer nodded. Anya walked through the portal and disappeared. He glanced at Mikhail's body one last time. The cannon on his shoulder fired a molotov grenade, engulfing the body in a fiery explosion.

"Farewell..." he muttered, his voice heavy and gruff.

The Doom Slayer turned and stepped into the portal, which vanished behind him.
.
.
.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat on the front porch, waiting anxiously for the portal to appear. The others were still inside, gathering supplies from the shops and houses.

Suddenly, a blue portal materialized near the house. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash jumped to their hooves.

"Um, girls! The portal is here!!" Rainbow Dash called out.

The front door burst open, and Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy stepped outside. They all moved toward the portal just as Anya stepped through. She smiled at the girls, but her eyes closed, and she collapsed.

Rainbow Dash quickly caught Anya, supporting her in her arms. "She's not moving."

Applejack rushed over and took Anya from Rainbow Dash. "I'll carry her to the guest room," she said, lifting Anya into her arms.

"W-where’s the other? There should be two," Twilight said, her voice filled with worry.

The Doom Slayer emerged from the portal, and it vanished behind him. He turned to face the girls.

"W-where is the second one? T-there should be two of them," Twilight repeated, looking at the Doom Slayer with concern.

"I apologize, girls. Due to the circumstances, we had no choice but to wait outside a door and let them find their way to us and open it from their side. If we had opened the door ourselves, an alarm would have gone off, and the infected would have swarmed inside," Vega explained.

The girls’ faces fell into expressions of disbelief and sadness, realizing that the other pony was likely gone. Their ears drooped low.

Applejack nodded somberly and carried Anya back to the house. Rainbow Dash followed closely behind. Rarity stepped closer to the Doom Slayer, placing a hand on his chest. She felt the cold metal of his Praetor suit before pulling her hoof back and looking up at his visor. "You did what you could, and that’s what matters," she said softly, then turned and walked back to the house.

Fluttershy looked worriedly at the silent Doom Slayer. Her instincts screamed at her to comfort him, to ease the pain he carried, but fear held her back.

Twilight spoke gently, "We’ll wait for you back at the house." She mustered a small smile for the Doom Slayer before turning around and heading inside.

Gathering all her courage, Fluttershy hugged the Doom Slayer, feeling the cold material of his suit on her skin. "It's okay," she whispered.

Twilight glanced over her shoulder, smiling softly at the sight. Fluttershy slowly pulled back, giving the Doom Slayer a sweet, gentle smile before jogging back to Twilight.

Now alone, the Doom Slayer looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. "If we had opened that door, we wouldn’t have had enough time to search for Mikhail and Anya. I calculated that before we could find them, thousands of infected would have gathered inside, and the chances of saving them would have been almost zero, as the infected were strong enough to break down doors."

The Doom Slayer clenched his fists, looking down at the ground. His posture was stiff and trembling.

"I understand if you’re angry. I suggest you take a nap while the girls attend to Anya," Vega said soothingly.

The Doom Slayer relaxed and began to walk towards the forest. Once there, he sat down and leaned against a tree. The sound of birds filled his ears, and he could see the small town in the distance.

"Shall I turn on anc mode?... No? I understand,"

The Doom Slayer closed his eyes, his body relaxing as the tree provided shade and the birds offered a soothing melody for his rest.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

The sound of childlike laughing entered his ears, the shine of the morning light hugging his skin gently. Feeling the grass brush against his legs. He glanced down and smiled softly.

"Papa! I wuv you! One day I wanna be like mama and be with you forever!" A little girl innocently said as she smiled brightly. She then turned around and began running in the grassy fields.

A woman stood by his side, trailing her fingers on his chest. Feeling his muscles through his shirt. "Honey, be strong for our pumpkin okay?" She turned her head towards the child and giggled softly. "She's our world, our life... And our memory."

The woman turned towards the him and cupped his cheek. He felt the ring on her ring finger touch his cheek. Her gently hands bringing him comfort. "And I wonder why everyone keeps calling me the quiet one... Promise me okay?"

I promise

On the next chapter

Art by Holivi

Author's Note

Can I have your thoughts on the story?

Also, while the story is early and no romance is being made.

Should I include sex and romance? Or romance only? Or nah?