//------------------------------//
// Code Breaker 
// Story: Now Ponies Play Doom III 
// by obake 
//------------------------------//

The tenth code led to a map titled “Leading Astray”, which Scootaloo read as “Leading A Stray.” She chuckled. Was she going to help Doomguy walk a cat?   
Her mirth was short lived. The map was a chore from the first room, where the marine was immediately faced by a Hell Knight in front, behind, and on both sides. Revenants ran to and fro on inaccessible platforms. Most of the floor was lava, with only thin walkways of rock. Escaping the first wave of enemies was a total crapshoot, but Scootaloo eventually muddled through. 
The next room was a simple, but very long, hallway of brick and stone. Luckily the door behind slammed shut, locking the Knights out. Scootaloo took the opportunity to rest. Her hooves ached.   
Amidst the cacophony of robotic clattering outside was a subtle whirling of wind. Scootaloo failed to notice, and with a breath, took the controller back in hoof. 


Betruger gawked at the numbers. His army...30 at the beginning, down to 21, then 20. Now it was 15.  He had underestimated the ponies. Most were still fighting. He had to act fast.   
He took hold of the loudspeaker. His voice boomed over the chaos. “Attention. In my mercy, I will grant the desire of those who wish to leave.”   
Twilight and a few others raised their heads. Is this some sort of trick? 
“There is no shame in surrendering when you know you cannot win.”   
The Mane 6 knew something was up. Despite this, the most injured ponies called out, begging to be sent home. Greenish smoke began surrounding them, and they vanished. Twilight stomped in frustration. How could they finish the battle now?   


Back at the castle, the Ponyville residents were getting antsy. “Are we really going to wait here all day?” asked one of them.   
“This room is so uncomfortable, and I'm starving.” 
“I hate crowds!” 
The bickering was growing worse. Fluttershy, Big Mac, and John RoMare-O (one of the lead designers of the first two Dooms) stood on top of the table. John had had enough of the townfolk's impatience. “I'm sorry,” he said, “but none of us can leave till we get word back from Princess Twilight!” 
“On whose orders?” shouted someone.   
“Celestia's.” said John.   
“Why are you even here?” asked another. Some booed. John gritted his teeth.   
He looked to Fluttershy and Big Mac. “Are your people usually this insatiable?” 
“Heavens, no.” said Fluttershy. “Everyone's just so scared of what could be happening to their friends.” 
John shook his head. “I didn't even work on Doom 3, so I have no idea what they're up against.” 
A pegasus flew above the throng. “Enough!” she said, “I say if there's not an answer in the next five minutes, then we all go home!” Much of the crowd agreed.   
A swirl of smoke appeared on the ceiling. Everyone quieted down, not expecting a whole slew of ponies to fall from the vortex.   
“Ow.” said the last to arrive. Her severe injuries from the E! Zone had been downgraded to minor burns.   
“Please get off of me.” mumbled another beneath. They were in a dog pile. The townsfolk helped them back on their hooves. Those who fell were dazed, but not seriously hurt. 
Everyone was pleased to see their friends again. They noticed something off, however. “Where's your armor?” someone asked.	 
“Armor?” said the pegasus who had nearly had his wings burnt off. He patted his head and torso. His armor was indeed gone, but his wings were back to normal. He sighed. He and the other arrivals were suddenly asked a barrage of questions. 
Once settled, the crowd listened. The details of the Eternity Zone amazed them, as well as the gruesome nature of the battles. Everyone was relieved to hear that those fighting were in no lasting danger. But their joy was short lived at the news of Betruger's plan towards Scootaloo. They went stone silent. 
Fluttershy's eyes glistened with tears. She turned to Big Mac and RoMare-O. “Scootaloo's going to make it home, right?”   
John looked down, not knowing how to offer comfort. Big Mac put a hoof around Fluttershy's shoulder. The anger the townsfolk had felt towards each other earlier was now directed towards Betruger.   


Unbeknownst to them, the mastermind doctor was becoming unglued. “No, no!” he shouted, slamming one of his monitors to the floor. His army was down to 11. 
If they somehow manage to defeat the Cyber… 
He shook his head. Don't be ridiculous he thought. The ponies would need the Soul Cube, which he did not even provide. The Mane 6 in the battle realized this from the beginning, but had been too occupied evading monsters to ponder any solutions.   
Still, thoughts raced through Betruger's mind. Going back to Hell defeated, being subject to Dave's endless ramblings. He'll go on forever about what I should have done. I'll be reminded of my failures, day in and day out, day in and day out, in and out… 
Betruger swore, and swore again. He stomped around, cursing incoherently until finally letting out his rage. “I can't let silly horses defeat me!!!”   


Meanwhile, the war outside was dwindling. The Princess and her friends surrounded a lone Mancubus. It shot at Rarity and Twilight. This time, the two unicorns used shield spells in unison, creating enough of a barrier to stop the rockets short. The explosions blasted into the monster's sight, blinding it long enough for Applejack to jump onto its back.   
It tried shaking her off, but Applejack's years of bull riding in rodeos gave her an advantage. With one hoof around its neck, she karate chopped the Mancubus in the head, sinking her free hoof through its skull. Brain matter leaked out as it stumbled and flattened into mush. “Yee-haw, another down!” Everyone cheered.   
Pinkie sidled up to Twilight. “How are we doing?” 
“Things look good,” said Twilight, “all we need to do is keep avoiding the Cyber, and we'll be done in no time.” 
“Golly,” said Applejack, cleaning gore off of her elbow, “I haven't had this much exhilaration since, well, last time we fought Hell.” 
“I know what you mean.” said Twilight. A glimpse of worry entered her expression. “I just wonder where Discord and Rainbow are. They didn't leave for home, did they?” 
No one could offer an answer.   


Betruger paced, exhaling heavily. Every time he checked the stats, his army was down by more units. If that blasted filly would just finish the map… 
	He stopped. That was it. “Time to play Doom 3 myself, again.” he mumbled.   
“What, bored by the real fight already?” came a reply.   
The doctor clutched his chest and nearly fell backward. He turned to see Dash standing in the door leading to the hall and elevator.   
“You-” 
“Can it, doc.” Dash interrupted, “I heard your screaming from outside.”   
Betruger composed himself. “You're too late,” he said, “the filly will be putting in the last code any time now.”   
“Her name's Scootaloo, and if I didn't interrupt, you'd be doing it for her.” 
The doctor gritted his teeth. “Aren't you supposed to be helping your friends?” 
“Oh, we're already kicking butt.” said Dash, “Since the injured have been sent home, we've had more time killing instead of healing!” She smirked at her sudden cleverness. It was true the ponies benefited from not having the injured to take care of, despite a loss in number.   
Betruger regretted his earlier decision. “Get out of my lair!” he said. 
“And miss an opportunity to beat you senseless?” 
The doctor rolled his eyes. “You realize you can't kill me, right? I've set myself up just like you and your friends.” 
“As long as you can still feel pain.” said Dash. She gave a devious smile from ear to ear. Betruger ordered her back. 	 
As fast as lightning, Dash tackled him. Betruger groaned, his breath taken out. He tried getting on his feet, but Dash knocked him down. “Think I'm intimidated by you?” she asked. 
“Shut up.” said the doctor. Rainbow started batting him back and forth with punches. When he stood back up, she double-barrel kicked him into one of his desks, splintering it into pieces. He quickly yanked a piece from it and stabbed Dash in the forehead.   
She yelped, but nonetheless punched him in the mouth.   
The doctor recoiled, cupping his hands to his face. Blood dripped from between his fingers. When he opened his hands, a few teeth fell out. Luckily for him none were his front teeth.   
Dash was impressed by her own strength, enough to distract her from seeing the doctor grab another piece of desk. This time Betruger swung it like a bat, nearly scoring a hit. Dash ducked just in time, rolling on her side and getting ready to charge.   
Just outside, at the bottom of the mountain, the ponies defeated a group of Hell Knights. Despite being tired and covered in dirt and scratches, they were gaining in resolve. They're down to single digits. We can do this thought Twilight. A sound of heavy stomping grew in volume. She could feel her heart racing.   
As the ponies gathered to run again from the Cyber, and as Betruger was getting the daylights beaten out of him by Dash, there was a sudden blast. Not a mere rocket, but a full cataclysm. The ground shook violently, and for a moment the entire sky was orange red. As soon as the quaking stopped, an electronic voice spoke. 
It was a recorded message from Betruger. “Tut, tut, that was the end signal. The little filly is no more. But don't worry, she's safe in Hell now.” It ended with the doctor's demonic laugh.   
Dash was too shocked to move. Those outside looked towards Twilight, hoping she had some sort of miracle. The Cyber, having just aimed its gun, slowly dissolved into a puddle, as did the rest of Betruger's army.   
The doctor got up, brushed himself off, and readjusted his tie. The bruises would have to be taken care of later. He looked at Dash. “Too bad,” he said, “you fought with real resolve, which I admire.”   
Rainbow remained frozen. Betruger went to his main desk, where he kept his loudspeaker. 
“Hello, ponies.” he said, his voice echoing across the land. “Sorry you lost, but that's the breaks.”   
All were in tears. How could this happen?   
“Don't cry,” said Betruger. He snapped his fingers, teleporting outside. Even through water filled eyes, they all recognized him. “You tried so hard, and you're rewarded with experience. And I, get a new form.”  
Their sadness turned to rage. Steam blew from their nostrils. Even if they were too late to save Scootaloo, they could still send Betruger back to Hell, where he belonged!   
The ponies charged. “Oh, such anger.” he said, dodging out of their way by teleporting out of existence and back in again. “Poor dears.” He did not care how hypocritical he was calling others angry, he was just happy his years of torture were over.   
Lightning struck him, and in an instant, he transformed into a monster a thousand times his size! It had taloned feet, giant leathery wings, and a skull for a face. The ponies were pushed back violently. Those in the air were thrown against the mountainside. One stallion was nearly crushed under one of its claws.   
“Pity you mortals have no chance now.” said the creature, “Now that I'm the Maledict, I can rule over all of you in Hell.”   
Dash, weakened by the impact, said “You told us we'd be sent home!”   
“Did I?” The Maledict stuck its tongue out. On the end of its tongue was the doctor's head, which also taunted in the same manner.   
“Cheater!” said Twilight. She teleported herself back up, revving magic on her horn. The Maledict stomped the ground with one leg, causing her to stumble.   
“Oh, give up. You lost."
“Who says?!” shouted a youthful voice. The Maledict looked up to where it had come from. Had its eyes not been empty sockets, they would have opened wide. Descending was Discord, who held Scootaloo in his arms. Scootaloo was holding a tied up paper in one hoof, and the Soul Cube in the other. 
“You-you were sent to Hell!” 
“Not so.” said Discord, holding a megaphone over his mouth so everyone could hear. “Did you really expect a dimension hopper like myself not to recognize the distinct rock formations of Nevada?”   
Nevad-what? thought the ponies.   
The Maledict thought back to the sky projection shown at the start of the battle. In it, Scootaloo was seen inside a building surrounded by mud red rocks. “It's still impossible-” 
Scoots dropped the paper and took the megaphone. “Discord followed the sound of robots, and saved me just in time!”   
Down below, ponies cheered and hollered.   
The Maledict was not about to let them get a victory. It swung at Discord with one of its wings. Discord teleported out of its way, appearing in its left eye socket. “Missed.” he said. Scootaloo wiggled out of Discord's arms.   
“You won't believe who did finish all of your codes, though.” She smashed the Cube onto the Maledict's skin, causing it to sting. “A Mr. Dave.”   
The Maledict shook its head to free its eye of the intruders, then stopped short. Dave? 
	Meanwhile, Twilight took hold of the paper, which had been weighed down with a rock and string. She saw it was the list of codes the Icon had sent, with the words “put the last in now!” written at the bottom. Twilight concentrated her magic harder than ever, until successfully summoning a computer and keyboard. It was difficult typing the code in with the Maledict's movements shaking everything, but after multiple failures, she finally got it.   
Swatting at Discord and Scootaloo like mosquitoes, the Maledict asked “How did you find-” 
Discord appeared in the monster's right eye socket. “You mentioned him in one of your messages. He wasn't difficult to get hold of.” 
“But-”   
Sudden, immense light burst from the Maledict's every pore. It roared, no longer just in bafflement, but in pain. Scootaloo slipped, plunging down. Dash swooped in and caught her.   
Panic ensued as the world began shaking worse than ever. The very tiles of the land started to shatter, shards bursting from the ground. Knowing the Maledict had reset the rules to take them to Hell, the ponies were in danger of actual death. All were about to be flattened into a pancake as the monster tipped over. 


Silence. They were seconds away from being crushed. Then nothing. Twilight and friends looked around. Darkness, yet they were being moved, but where- 
Just as sudden, light blinded them. Their surroundings slowly came into focus, and as they did, they rejoiced. They were back in the castle! Onlookers watched and whispered.   
Many tried getting up, but fell back in pain. The randomness of interdimensional travel struck again. But none were dead.   
The crowd erupted in joy. 
Scootaloo, who sat atop the dog pile, was fatigued but otherwise unharmed. She hugged her friends. Applejack threw herself into her family's arms, then regretted it. “I'm gonna need a hospital.” she said.   
The animosity between the Icon and Betruger was the Maledict's downfall. Scootaloo realized the messages the Icon had sent alluded to helping defeat Betruger. The last of its codes was an automatic kill spell, or kill code, so to speak, just like the last code on Betruger's list. The denizens of Hell are rarely fair to one another thought Scootaloo.    


Betruger's return to Hell did not reset him back to regular health as planned. His human body was still bruised with hoof prints, and two of his teeth were gone. The pain was agonizing. Worst of all, Dave was as cheerful as ever, despite being slaughtered by sentry bots. “Can you believe I finished your map?” he asked. The doctor could barely respond.   
“I know,” said Dave, “Next time, I'll design a map, and you try beating it! How about one set in a tundra, or no, a convenience store...”   
Betruger covered his head with a pillow to drown out the noise of his own cursing. 


A few weeks of recovery went by, and a parade was held for all who had fought. Ponies and creatures from across Equestria attended, cheering the heroes as they passed by on floats. Scootaloo had one all to her own, decorated in black and orange flowers creating flame patterns, and the words “DOOM 3 CODE CHAMP” written on the sides. She watched specifically for her Crusader friends, though it was hard spotting or hearing them among the ruckus.   
Luckily, Sweetie Belle planned ahead of time, using an air horn as a signal. Scootaloo immediately turned to see them, and waved enthusiastically. 
“You rock!” said Applebloom, over the crowd. 
“Go Scootaloo!” shouted Sweetie in the same manner. Scootaloo could not help but blush. She was not the only one to defeat the denizens of Hell. Though she was a part of it, and that was what really mattered.