"So, you want to hear a story, eh? One where the very fate of a savage world hangs in the balance? If not too bad, I'm telling you anyways."
Spike was already loving this book. The voice he had given this character was perfect. It was as if it was speaking out of the book! He looked up and saw he was approaching his home. He wasn't three sentences in and he was home.
"Getting pretty close to the tree house," Spike was talking to himself again, he does this often, "I should stop reading I guess. Twi won't think too well about my purchase. I'll have to read it in private when she's asleep."
Spike made his way down to the door of his home. Funny how much has happened since he first set foot in this overwhelming library. Assigned a task by our ruler and now we practically rule Equestria, what with Twi now being an Alicorn and all, then being told she will rule over everyone soon. Might as well live it up here in Ponyville before we get a castle someplace far away from our friends.
Spike slowly creaked open the wooden door of the library, hoping Twilight wasn't home by any chance. Noticing there was not a reaction to the surprisingly loud squeak of the hinges, he swung the door open and strode in, quickly making his way upstairs to his tiny bed to hide the book.
"Well Spike, I never knew you would be so embarrassed by liking books so much. Trying to hide the book from me and hope I won't find out?" A loud nagging voice boomed from the top of the stairs. How could have Spike not seen her, she must have been there the whole time. "I see you got a new book. Mind if I see just what you intend to read?"
Twilight was very into books. As a matter of fact, she would probably fight somepony just to get hold of a book she wanted slightly. Twilight could recognize plenty of books from the cover, and just as a quick glance. She encouraged reading to everyone, but she limited my literature selections to stories that weren't and good. No action, no adventure, no fighting, no nothing. She would surely get angry at Spike if she found out about his purchased item. He knew this, and Twilight was determined, it sounded, to parental check this new tale.
Twilight used her magic to bring the book forward to her. Spike knew that it wouldn't be any use to fight against her magic. He let the book get whisked away, his face smothered with shame and regret of his actions.
"Borderlands, the tale of Pandora's greatest heroes and outlaws fighting for one prize. The Vault." Twilight read aloud, "Our four heroes, accompanied by two of their recent friends, are all searching together, six Vault hunters determined to open the Vault and claim and split it's untold riches among each other, and become famous heroes of Pandora." "Spike this story sounds a bit too much for you. Judging from its cover, it's also some weird alien story. Last time you read one of those you had nightmares for a month." Twilight told to the young dragon.
"Come on Twi! Can't I keep the book? Please? I promise, if I have nightmares, I will never read a book again!"
Twilight closed her eyes in frustration. "This is the sixth book I've had to take from you! I figured you would have at least learned these enchanted books and comics are no joke! They can be dangerous! Last book you got sucked into was in space! We both almost died in that one! What then? Would we just appear outside the book? Or be dead forever?!" Twilight was yelling now. "I'm taking these books away because they are capable of destroying our family! If you read the final lines of the book, we are sucked in, and must complete the story from the start!" Twilight walked down to the dragon, whispering to herself to calm down.
"Twi this isn't an enchanted book! I promise! You can read the story for yourself, it's a legitimate story created by an anonymous pony with a very large imagination! Please, You have to believe it isn't enchanted!" Spike knew his lie was a bit sudden and obvious, but he wanted his book back, and he wanted to go on an adventure on his own.
"Spike, I've got the right idea about this book. It's practically oozing with magic! Give me one reason how this could not be an enchanted book, and I'll take you up on your word to read it." Twilight had a glint in her eyes, one she had only when she knew she was right. Spike had to think fast before he got in trouble.
"Well...uh, Let's see here..." Spike was running out of time fast. Soon the purple pony will be all over him and maybe punish him. What if she replaces him, he thought, what if she punishes me physically? "Hmmm...Oh!" Spike had gotten his answer.
With pride, he looked into his mentors eye's and took a deep breath. Twilight waited with a smile of anticipation and doubt of Spikes answer being a good one. "Look on the very back of the book! There is no marking there for the whole "get sucked in, finish the story and get out" scenario!" Spike thought this was going to be a long shot, considering all but one of the books he brought had no print on it. Still, that one summoned some beast made of metal that kept asking about a Jarvis. It would have to be his excuse, and he hoped it was a true one.
Twilight flipped the book to the final page and there she saw the final words of the story, the authors illegible signature, and...a completely blank page.
"Ha! I knew it!" Bragged Spike, "This isn't an enchanted book! Now, if you excuse me, I require my book back." Spike held out his hand in accomplishment, looking smugly at Twi.
Twilight smiled and closed the book.
"I don't think you remember the dead you agreed to when you answered my question. I said that I would take upon your claims and read this book. If you are so sure of this being an average paper book, then I'll read it." Spike stared into the eyes of Twilight, then looked down in defeat. "It doesn't seem a long story, I'll have it finished by morning."
Spike didn't bother protesting, since Twilight was already on her way up to her study where she would begin her reading. He decided to take a walk outside and try to forget this. As he started walking, he wondered why nothing bad has happened yet. The other book with the metal thing had no mark either, but when it was opened the beast jumped out. That didn't happen here. Did the pony he got the book from give him a fake book? He decided to confront this mysterious pony in hopes he can get a refund on this fake book. It had to be fake. He made a mad dash to the Everfree forest where the vendor pony lived.
Twi made her way to her chair and pulled it out. She sat down and opened up the first page of the story. If Spike insisted it was normal, she might as well check the book for anything bad.
She began with these words
"So, you want to hear a story, eh? One where the very fate of a savage world hangs in the balance? If not too bad, I'm telling you anyways. Our story starts with our six seasoned Vault hunters. Axton, the turret wielding ex-con, who happens to be madly in love with his turret, the Mrs. Maya, the Siren, once considered a god, now on a search to better understand her own kind."
"Maya huh? Understanding her own kind, and considered a god. I seem to relate to this character well enough." Twi mutters to herself while reading along.
"Zero, the assassin and mercenary of mystery, come to find larger prey to tackle and harder foes to collect. Salvador, the gun toting badass, a little "short" tempered too, but give him lip and you meet him two favorite guns at once. Better run."
"Badass?! Spike expected to read this! Oh well. I'll keep reading but this better not have much curses in it, else Spike will have to return it."
"And on comes the Vault Hunter's friends. They met very recently, but promise and understanding of situations, they became good friends immediately and joined up forces. Gaige, the run away child and her loved Death-Trap, a modified CL4T-TP Unit designed to kill. Gaige runs from an accident involving her "DT" and a rich girl exploding. Bounties went high and she fled to Pandora in hopes of living a better life on a savage planet where her talents are better appreciated."
"An inventor who made a mistake. This "child" must be traumatized badly from that. No wonder she ran."
"Finally, our psychopath, Krieg! Hyperion's mistake and greatest creation gone for revenge against his creators! Once a normal man, taken from Hyperion and injected with a new and dangerous element, Slag! It turned him into a mutant, giving him great strength, impossible speeds, and pecs on top of his pecs! Slag has sent him into hysteria and insanity, but he still knows his right from wrong. Mostly. One of the few psychos who won't chop a civilian on sight, but share a drink with! At least if he doesn't scare you or smells too bad!"
"Poor creature. I don't know who this Hyperion is, but they sound like bad ponies. Well, I guess the term is humans or people. It's like this is the same universe as the mirror world. But I bet this Krieg isn't given many chances to get friends. I'm glad this character got a few at least."
"Now, you know the Vault hunters. They all have taken upon a train to the Vault. Now they must do one more thing. They must meet one more mercenary."
The book flew from the table, causing papers to fly everywhere as it gusted magic and wind from itself. Twilight tried to back away, but the magic had petrified her, making her unable to even blink. The book started to suck her in, but not before she let out one final scream.
'SPIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!!!"
Everything was white. Her ears rang and the couldn't see straight. Then a black blur stood over her. Then five. Her eye sight returned to normal, and above her stood the five figures, looking down on her. One masked draws a sword and says rhythmically,
"Why is there a horse? Why is it freaking purple? And How'd it get on?"
A growl came from the one next to to the masked human. "It looks to have the symbols of a siren. Oh god here come Krieg."
"PURPLE TWILIGHT PONY IS REAL!? YAY! RIB CAGE MILKSHAKES ARE ON ME!!"
Twilight's mind throbbed from the loud outburst of the shirtless muscular one. She wanted to introduce herself to these new people, being used to humans. all she could muster out was, "My names Twilight Sparkle...I'm friend..ly"
The book must have drained her magic and her strength. She felt darkness close in. She tried to crawl to a more comfortable spot but she gave in. She closed her eyes and let her instict of sleep take over.
They all stared at the pony, wondering if it died.
The female human with tight leather clothes and blue hair decided to break the silence.
"Lets get it on the seats. I bet it's uncomfortable on this metal floor."