Author's Note:

It is recommended that you read this with a High Contrast Dark or Ultra Darkformatting setting so as to better experience the artworks and typography.

Title Artwork by - JetXPegasus
and Typography by JetXPegasus

The Doom Slayer reappeared, suspended in a containment field. He pulled his hands up in an attempt to free himself, but the electrical chains overpowered his godlike strength. Then, he heard metal clanking on the floor, drawing his attention toward the bridge. Striding slowly towards him was a three-meter tall mechanoid, an acquaintance he hated with his whole being the moment he first met him:

Dr. Samuel Hayden.

“You've won - it's over. You stopped the invasion and closed the portal,” he announced, standing before him. “But it's comes at a price - Argent, VEGA. This entire operation. You see, I've watched you work and I've come to understand your motivation. You think the only way is to kill them all, leave nothing behind, and you may be right. But we can't just shut it all down. Without Argent Energy, it will be worse. I don't expect you to agree.”

Hayden raised his mechanical hand, it shook violently as it telepathically snatched the artifact known as the Crucible out of the Slayer’s grasp.

“But with this, we can continue our work.”

The leather glove creaks and squeaks violently as both his whole fist shakes before the Doom Slayer balled them into a fist. His chest rises and falls quickly as he glares up at him.

Hayden ignores this and continues. “I am not the villain in this story. I do what I do because there is no choice.”

Re-routing tether coordinates... Complete.

“Our time is up.” He looked down at the Slayer, and although he could not see his face, nor his eyes behind the tinted visor, he could feel his burning, hateful stare coming from beneath it.

“I can't kill you - but I won't have you standing in our way,” he declared. A bright crimson blade shoots out, pulsing with the unrefined energies of Hell, decorated carelessly with arcane symbols of Hell that cover the long blade like the plane of energy it emitted.

“Until we see each other again.”

The Doom Slayer watched as Hayden turned away, striding straight slowly with the Crucible in hand before the Slayer’s body was enveloped in an explosion of blue light. . .

It was the wind rushing past the Doom Slayer’s ears that awoke him. Opening his eyes, he was shocked to see a clear blue sky and fluffy white clouds... something he hadn’t seen in eons. There was a brief delay as his brain processed the situation he was in. He found himself falling at an intense speed, judging by the incredible volume of the air whipping past his ears. He flailed as he tried to grab something, anything to slow himself down but it was futile. His back within landing made a direct impact on the earth’s surface, creating a large crater. He felt the very earth itself shaken by his landing as it bounced and echoed throughout the area around him.

He felt the rough ground beneath him and dirt beneath the palm of his glove, and his eyes were closed. The smell of burnt wood faintly drifted through the air. He cracked his eyes open to try to get a look at where he was but was immediately assaulted with a bright, warm light—sunlight. He squinted his eyes harshly, letting them adjust slowly. Once they did he found his vision was a bit blurry. All colors began to merge into one focused image before him again. He blinked. Through the thin smoke rising around him, the clear blue sky was what he faced.

He heaved and picked himself up from the charred ground. On his feet, the Slayer bent over his stomach and with a spring he leaps out of the crater. Once he was out, he found himself in a forest but one he had never seen before. He watched in awe at massive trees that swayed gently in the wind. It looked… beautiful. It almost occurred to him that this might be heaven but he knew that was not the case. If it was, then, shouldn’t he be dead? He still felt alive and he could feel everything like his natural world.

The Doom Slayer walked straight through the forest listening to nothing but the sound of birds chirping, and insects buzzing. As he moved forward he progressively felt something odd take over. Something… feels different. He expected himself to be back in the northern part of Hell when first awoke surrounded by the legions of demons, or some remote part of the Earth where he could not get back to cities or civilization. Flowers were different, plants he didn't think existed dotted the forest floor in large frequency. What also didn’t add up was how different the trees looked. Little time to question such things, he must keep going. The Doom Slayer trudges on through the thick forest while commanding his Armor to do a complete scan of the surrounding area. While scanning he noticed on the right side of his screen of the tinted visor something that left him puzzled. The thought crosses his mind that maybe he dropped more than just the chip through the fall.

He reaches for his back pulling out his shotgun then puts it back in his storage to reach for another weapon only to be left more puzzled to find the shotgun back in his grasp. Besides the shotgun and his pistol, the few weapons in his arsenal are gone. And out of all times, this has to happen; not only does he have to find his way back to his world and find that traitorous cyborg, but he also has to go on a search for all of his weapons… again! He only hopes that no one hasn’t found them yet. Should they ever get into the wrong hands’ someone might get hurt or worse...

The Doom Slayer shook his head, he shouldn’t imagine the worst possibilities, and only focus on his surroundings. Just as the Slayer finished his thought he turned to his shoulder to see the sun was now setting over the mountain and the night now closing in overtaking the forest. As he stood he already began to hear things, large creatures beginning to stir from their daytime slumber. Wherever his weapons are he’ll have to search for them tomorrow, for now he should find shelter to sleep for the night until he can gather his bearings in the morning.

Spike paced back and forth with an expression of profound patience that was slowly wavering. Tonight was the Nightmare Night Festival where mares and colts dress up in scary costumes, scare little fillies for the fun of it, and eat scrumptious candy. He got his costume on too, a dark purple dragon with darkish green scales, pale light-green under belly, green single-lined spikes on his back and tail. It had short triangular shaped horns on each side, and pale lemon eyeballs.

He halted, taking his face into his little claws and wined. “Ugh, come on, Twilight. We're gonna be late for the Nightmare Night festival.”

Posing with her head raised with pride on the second steps of the stairs was Twilight Sparkle: the Princess of the sun’s most faithful student, the element of magic, and new bearer of the elements of harmony. She had a tall pointed darkish blue hat with a crescent moon float below the four stars looping around it, bells chimed around the edge, the tip of her hat and the ends to her robe in every step she took. She wore a fake beard, a gold amulet around her neck and a clouded robe hued in three shades of blue.

“Huh? Are you that one kooky grandpa from Ponyville Retirement Village?” Spike guessed the memory of the old pony from retirement village was the first thing he thought of.

“I'm Star Swirl the Bearded!” Said Twilight.

Spike blinked looking at her with a blank expression.

“Father of the amniomorphic spell?”

Spike’s bewilderment increases.

“Did you even read that book I gave you about obscure unicorn history?” Twilight reminded him pointing her hoof at the little drake. Spike raised a claw as his brain tried to think of any excuse for his laziness until a knock at the door interrupted him.

“That sounds important.” Spike yelped dashing by her to head for the door. As soon as he pulled the door open he jumped and felt his heart leapt out of his stomach when his mind thought he was standing before Nightmare moon only to find three little fillies and Granny Smith standing outside of the door.

The trio’s faces smiled at the little drake and began to sing the old song. “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!”

“Hi, everypony,” Twilight greeted with a smile, “Great costumes. Happy Nightmare Night, Granny Smith.”

“I should have been asleep five hours ago,” Said Granny Smith.

Twilight’s horn glowed with light as she passed down one piece of candy each for the three little fillies bags. Pushing through came a young colt with a sword in his mouth as he swung it in the air, he wore light red bandanna wrapped tight over his head, a small black eye patch over his eye with a skull stitched on it, and a buttoned up short sleeve shirt.

“Pipsqueak the pirate, at your service. It's my very first Nightmare Night.” Pipsqueak said.

“Since you moved here from Trottingham?”

“No, my very first Nightmare Night eve—” Pipsqueak was about to finish only to be interrupted by the squawking sounds of Pinkie pie bursting forth wearing a chicken suit.

“Enough chit chat! Time is candy!” Pinkie pie said, mimicking the movements of a chicken by pecking the floor.

“Pinkie Pie, aren't you a little old for this?” Twilight asked.

“Too old for free candy?” She squawked. “Never.”

Twilight groaned, lighting up her horn as her magic brought up one piece of candy out of her bowl levitating it towards the excited party pony then dropped it in her bag.

Twilight raised her hoof in a pose showing off her costume. She swirled her head around while keeping her eyes on the party pony “Do you like it?”

“Yeah! Great costume, Twilight! You make a fantastic weirdo clown!” Pinkie responded before pecking all the candy in the bowl and disappeared within seconds.

“A clown?” Twilight was irritated as she looked down at her costume taking the fabric of her robe in hoof, “Look at the borders on these robes. These are hoof-stitched!”

“It's a great costume! Huh! Grandpa!” Spike teases walking past her. Twilight growls in frustration following behind to catch up to her assistant. Suddenly she heard the sound of clanking as if her hoof stepped on something metal. Pulling her right hoof back she looked down on the ground and her eyes lit up in curiosity to what's below her.

The Doom Slayer was 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 and find a way out of the forest when he came across a large cave entrance. He slowly walks in and decides to explore the cave hoping this place could be his own little home base for the time being. It was obvious how dark the cave's interior was, however, it proved no problem for his armor as he subconsciously activated night-vision.

After about a minute of walking the tunnel opened up to a large cavern, filled with emeralds; there were sapphires, diamonds and gemstones, rubies as big as boulders. A sinking feeling came over him that told him he shouldn’t be here. But before he could think of why he noticed 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 another! Their bright yellow snake-like eyes glared at him with cold hatred. Each of these dragons had their own colors.

This 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.

“Well, well, well, looks like we got ourselves another mouse 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 glare of his own up at him.

The Green dragon chimed. “So what brings you here, you strange little creature? Come to take our precious gems, have you?”

The large red dragon added while stomping its way towards the Slayer from his left. “Because if you are then we’ll burn you to a crisp!”

The Doom Slayer just stood there, his glare unwavered. Normally if someone else heard this heed other than him they would’ve frozen in fear by the sight of these three drakes; and beg for their lives before hightailing and running. But with him however, they were no more than a small worker ant, that he could cut through like butter.

The Doom Slayer rolled his body around and walked down the path, halfway towards the entrance he stopped catching a glimpse of a long double metallic barrel, hanging in the air. With a double-take, he walked backwards to the sight and slowly turned his head. There sticking out under a pond of gems and gold laid his precious possession:

The Super Shotgun.

Well, he planned going on a search hunt for his missing guns after all, might as well start here. He began to walk his way towards it but before he could go any further his face was met with a scaly wall. The red dragon had blocked his path with his tail; It growled softly as smoke billowed from its nose, and the hatred in his eyes intensified as he glared down at the Slayer. It was already nerve racking enough that this creature entered their lair but watching him stride through their horde like it owned the place made its heart boil.

It leaned in getting eye level with the Doom Slayer and snarled. “Do I speak equestrian? Get out of our cave or we’ll make you, peasant!”

The Dragon smirked believing this little warning would surely scare this creature out of its wits. He was then left shocked when the Doom Slayer pushed his tail to the side continuing forward.

"Did… Did you just turn your back on me?" It asked in an unsettlingly calm tone.

Through its anger slowly rising it can hear the other dragons of the cave shift nervously behind it, its chest rises and falls quickly as it watches the Slayer walking while its skin squeaks violently as he balled both his claws to a fist.

“NO ONE DRAGON OR PONY TURNS THEIR BACK ON ME! NO ONE!” It roared to the heavens, inhaling all the fire he held up inside his belly until it shot a hot torrent of flames out his mouth engulfing its target. Every second the dragon increases the power of its flames ensuring that there'll be nothing left of that filthy oak. It kept this up for a few minutes before jerking its head back giving a snort, shooting out a large part of the smoke into the air, as it sat there gazing at the flames.

“Ah, serve him right. Now I feel a lot better.” Said the dragon sweetly.

It began thinking what it should do with his remains once it fades away, using his ash as another trophy to its collection, maybe as a warning to all thieves and intruders who entered their horde. It giggles at that idea; it should probably write that down on its bucket list first thing in the morning. It watched the flames dance, swirling in different angles. When it faded along with the smoke it’s pupils shrink to the size of pinpricks as it felt its heart drop down to the pits 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 fear growing from within. 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 mistake… a very terrible mistake.

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

The red drake watched as the Slayer stalked towards him, getting closer and closer. Its brain was screaming at it to run, make way for the exit and put every force of power into its wings to fly away as far as possible…

But it seemed stuck, almost glued to the spot along with its wings that are glued to its sides. This feeling wasn’t like the other monsters it saw in the forest or nightmares. This feeling was biting into the dragon forcing its feet to stay, a sensation that was piercing down into its very soul. Panicking, the red Dragon struggled to say something, only to freeze as he saw in the blink of an eye the Doom Slayer in the air right before its eyes. As he met the Slayer's gaze up close, He felt his terror increased like none he had ever experienced before. This creature’s height was small compared to the dragon’s giant head, yet the fire breathing drake felt so small and helpless as a baby.

Before it could think of anything, the Doom Slayer’s fist punched through his head creating an explosion of red mist. It’s body fell to the ground and all the other dragon’s gasped. The Slayer landed on his feet turning to his shoulder to see the dragon’s head had disappeared. He pulls his eyes away from the corpse and looks around him. He was now surrounded by snarls of almost every dragon in the cave, all of their cold hatred glares upon him deepened after what he had done to their buddy.

He closed his eyes pressing his knuckles against his left palm then smirked in satisfaction when it cracked. It was time to get to work.

In a blur the Doom Slayer lunged forward grabbing a gray scaled dragon by the throat. The drake’s throat contracted. Gasping for air until he snapped it with full force like a twig, and the dragon’s head went limp leaving its buddies stunned. He tossed the body away, and jumped to the next dragon. He smashed his fist into the side of a pale pink 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. It roared as it felt an indescribable pain explode through its whole face. It fell hard struggling on the ground but he 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 Slayer jumped high in the air over the circle landing next to the twin barrel shotgun. He grasped his hands around the barrel pulling it out from its prison taking the gun in hand. Opening up he found the bolt to be empty. He reached for his pocket and shoved two buck shells into its ejectors then snapped the gun back in place. His right hand wrapped around the grip, fingers on his left hand tightly grip the wooden polymer. He turned to his left, scanning over the threats, he whipped aiming 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 it's chest as it falls to the ground.

The Green dragon rolled its body around slapping its tail onto the Slayer’s chest pinning him against the wall. When it was about to snap its jaws at him, it screamed in excruciating pain as the Slayer elbowed its tail with full force breaking the bone instantly. It pulled its tail back giving him the opportunity to lunge in the air landing 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. It’s body collapses to the floor of gems and the Slayer lands back to the ground with ease. The blue scaled dragon stared in horror at the massacre but to its shock, it turned to its shoulder to see the other drake’s lips were graced with a warm smile.

This Dragon, its scales were as white as snow along with its belly, it was three times bigger than the blue one and its neck was contracted by a shackle locked tightly around it. The blue drake looked back watching in horror as the Slayer was now stalking towards him with his gun in hand.

“W-Wait!” The drake cried almost in a stutter with its claws in the air. This however didn’t stop him from moving forward. 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 not seek the treasure before you? A-As a gift for your noble glory? P-P-Perhaps in return for my—!” By the time it 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. Then his eyes darted to the last dragon remaining in the horde.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” said the snow dragon, smiling at the Slayer warmly. He began to slowly approach it, readying his gun. He pointed it upward at its head but before he could jam the trigger he was nearly in shock at what he saw. The drake was. . . PROSTRATING!? On both knees the drake lowered with its claws down and its head bowed in subservience on the ground.

“It is a pleasure to meet you at your arrival… my Lord.”