Tales of Arcania

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: New Game?
Chapter 3: Learning the Ropes
Chapter 4: Hopeless Abandon
Chapter 5: His Hero
Chapter 6: First Day Off
Chapter 7: Pride
Chapter 8: Half Dragons
Chapter 9: Thoughts...
Chapter 2: Still alive

Prologue

Prologue

Before the beginning, there were three ponies. The first, a being of pure love and compassion, Legion. The second, a being of pure hate and insanity, Tyran. The third, a being that came from after the beginning, the Unbelonging.

Legion came first, he created everything and loved it, and all was well until the universe became unbalanced with far too much good. Legion didn't like the fact that he and his subjects could feel the universe’s imbalanced energy, so to rid himself of it he used a spell to restore the balance.

The spell birthed Tyran. Legion welcomed Tyran with open arms, not knowing Tyran was evil.

`Tyran used the opportunity to attack legion in an attempt to kill him, and he would have succeed if it hadn’t been for the arrival of the Unbelonging. Tyran fled at the sight of the Unbelonging, for he feared that the Unbelonging could have ended his short life.

The Unbelonging helped heal legion, and in doing so, they became friends.

The Unbelonging came up with a spell that would destroy Tyran, but Legion would have to die in order to perform it.

Legion would comply if the Unbelonging agreed to one condition. Legion tore a piece of himself away and sealed it with the same, foreign, magic that the Unbelonging was surrounded in.

The Unbelonging would have to raise this life force once it took form, alone it would die. The Unbelonging agreed.

It was a spell that took some time so legion used that spare time to steel himself for the end. And when It was finally the hour, Legion accepted his fate, but Tyran would try and fight.

Once legion used the spell, it destroyed himself and mortally wounded Tyran.

Feeling pity, The Unbelonging approached Tyran during Tyran's final breaths so that he wouldn't have to be alone.

Tyran stole some of the Unbelonging's magic and quickly transferred a piece of himself inside using the same spell Legion had used in order to preserve himself. The last of his life was given to perform the spell.

In the event of both of their deaths, the universe collapsed. Everyone and everything in it was destroyed, save for the Unbelonging and the pieces that were sealed away.

The great energy that collapsed the universe also set the next one into existence.

Upon the creation of this new universe the Unbelonging was finally home, the pieces of good and evil were released, and the center of the universe was created as a solid mass.

The planet at the center of everything was full of untamed and very powerful magic that usually couldn't be controlled. But it was none the less home to the piece of good, and the Unbelonging.

The Unbelonging decided to name the piece of good Purity in honor of Legion. The piece of evil, not having a caretaker, had died.

The Unbelonging raised Purity like his daughter.

She grew into a beautiful mare, but with only the presence of her father, she felt lonely. After some time, she took notice to her father creating machines and artificial life for the universe. She wanted to be like him, but she didn't like machines, she prefered how her and her father were flesh and blood.

So one day, Purity stumbled upon the very spot that Legion and Tyran had died, she knew this because of the great energy she felt in the area.

Using her raw power, and the great power of the past being's essences, she created her first children.

The first one she created, she named Retro; of all of her children she loved Retro the most.

She thought she had used all of Legion’s essence to create her son, but realized that all of the power into a single being was not something she had the power to do.

So using the last of the power, Purity created another life. This one, she named Blaze.

With The essence of Tyran, she decided to create four great beings she came to call the four ancients.

Unlike their siblings, Retro and Blaze, they weren't created to look like and be children. They were born powerful, wise, and seemed to be full of experience with their power.

The ancients loved their mother, they would do anything to please her, and they tried their best to do so.

The first ancient, Equinox, stabilized space and time to make it safe for creation to begin. She also created many dimensions and universes for her mother to explore.

The second ancient, Zexel, shaped the matter into the planets and stars everypony knows today.

The third ancient, Sere, created the cycle of life for these planets and some stars.

The fourth and final ancient, Ryet, created free will for these creatures, but also the power to judge and punish in case the will was misused.

Equinox and Zexel worked together to create matter and immaterial objects. Equinox laid out the canvas, and Zexel painted the masterpiece we call our universe.

Sere and Ryet worked together to create everything living. We owe the lives we live to them.

Finally the four of them decided to work together to create a "perfect world" for their mother’s, favorite children to live in. And once the project was completed, Retro and blaze, were placed in the world.

Retro, being Purity's favorite, got to choose the name of the world the four had created. But not wanting to be seen as the favorite of the children, Retro gave the honor to the ancients.

They thanked him and together, named the world Arcania.

Later, when Purity told the Unbelonging about the ancients, he was pleased to see what his “daughter” had created, and what potential they had.

But once the Unbelonging learned of Retro and Blaze’s existence he became furious with purity; that she would give such power to children.

In The Unbelonging's anger, he ordered Purity to bring them to him so that he may take their power.

That, is where the story begins.

Chapter 1: New Game?

Chapter 1: New Game?

Hi uh… hey, my name is Retro, this is my story. I guess before I just start talking about my adventure, I should probably explain my world a little. First off, lets talk about my brother and I.

I am a white coated stallion with a blonde mane, topped off with sapphire blue eyes. My brother Blaze is the same, except for his crimson eyes.

Mom made me first, and 'accidentally' put a repulsion field on me. But SOMEHOW she put an attraction field on blaze. She says I'm her favorite, but I think she hates me. So yeah, while everyone cheers when they see Blaze, I get bricks thrown at me and that's not an exaggeration, I literally mean bricks. So until The Unbelonging can reverse the field, I'm the town's target practice... well, most of the town anyways. Some people are completely immune to the effects of the fields.

Now, about my world. It's weird, and it's very new. Well, supposedly new. It seems like there are ages of civilizations and knowledge. I think it's part of the ancients magic though... Yeah, that would explain it. For example, my town Continume was named after a hero that existed decades ago, but the world has only really existed for a few weeks. And it seems that everyone is oblivious to this. they all actually think its millions of years old.

Oh, and before I forget, I think I should tell you about Stagnant magic.

Essentially, Magic that has spoiled, it's what happens when a spell, potion, or ritual is performed incorrectly, the magic that was supposed to have gone into it is left in the area. That magic loses its desired effect after so long and then becomes pure untamed magic.

This magic has any, and I mean ANY type of effect you can think of. It could turn you to gold, or maybe even kill you just for standing around too long. Or of course, it could turn you into a large repulsive death creature of death.

Yeah that actually happened! It started with... wait a second, you'll hear about it up ahead, sorry.

And that sums it up I think.

It was nice meeting you. This is my story...

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Cut scene 1: Wake up Retro

Blaze enters the room to see Retro lying in bed asleep, he walks up to the side of the bed. Now standing over Retro, he looks down at his brother and tells him to wake up. Retro gives a displeased look and rolls over in bed. Blaze rolls his eyes and smiles. He nudges his brother.

"What do you want?!" Retro shouts.

"We have to get food, we're all out." Blaze says in response.

Play

I woke up to Blaze being mean, giving me the news he ate all of our food. He left my room now though.

I might be able to go back to sleep... I could do it, I could go back to sleep... Or I could just go with him. Hmm... Ill get up for him, at least I could make his day easier.

As I sit up I notice he left the door open. I give myself a mental note to tell Blaze to close doors when he leaves a room. While I do this, I think back to last night when I was eating the last of our food... Dang that was some good food.

I drag myself out of bed and stumble for a short distance, only for Blaze to stop my stumble by catching me. I thank him.

"I came in to see if you were going to wake up, and I have to say, i'm surprised you actually did." says Blaze. We leave my room, and well, the house.

After exiting the building a mare flirts with Blaze, and when I wave and say hello to her.

I hear her brother say "Don't talk to my sister, freak!"

I look to where the voice came from, when I narrowly get hit with a stone. Thankfully, I was quick enough to envelope the brick in a telekinetic field. The aura around the brick was sapphire blue, matching the aura around my horn.

I threw the brick down as we walk away from the two towards the market. And thankfully the walk is a short one, seeing as how the town we live in isn't so big, and even though we've only been here for about two weeks, we know how to get around quite well.

I go to talk to a cherry vendor when Blaze stops me and points out the fact that no one really likes me. On that point, I agree and let him do the shopping.

While hes doing that, I find a nearby bench to sit on while I wait for him.

I almost fall asleep on the bench when Purity finds me, hugs me, kisses me, and all kinds of mom stuff. Then after all of the unnecessary love display, she tells me that the Unbelonging wants to see Blaze and I. I tell her I'll go see him if she gives me the directions to his home. She point towards an area to the left of me.

"Uh, thanks." I say.

She smiles, hugs me again, and tells me that she has important business to attend to. Then walks away gleefully shortly after... Right... more important than her kid, love ya too mom.

Blaze finished whatever the hell he was doing. I tell him what Purity said, and he gives me a look that just shouts "dammit". He hands me a bag to carry and I take it.

Nibbling on some of the bag's contents, I think about what the Unbelonging wants from us. Maybe I did something wrong... Maybe Blaze did something wrong. I look over to Blaze. Never mind, he wouldn't do anything wrong. Oh wait, maybe he found out how to make ponies like me.

"Retro!" shouts Blaze, interrupting my train of thought.

Making me fumble with my words as I respond. "Huh? I um, what?"

"Stop eating our food. We aren't even home yet." Blaze says demanding.

I say "I've only eaten an apple."

"Or three" Blaze says, as if finishing my sentence for me.

I apologize to Blaze as we arrive to a sign that states "Talk into the intercom for entry." and I see a steel horizontal door in the ground.

The Unbelonging's... Hole in the ground? I look over and ask Blaze "He lives Underground?"

Blaze answers with a sarcastic growl. "Why wouldn't he? Mysterious everlasting being, why the hell not?" He sounds a bit agitated.

I wondered if he was still mad about the apples.

I ask "Whats wrong blaze? Afraid of going underground?" And to my surprise, he said yes.

Normally I would tease him about something like that, but I decided not to this time.

I press the intercom button and talk into it. "Hey, you said you wanted us. So open the door... please?"

As I finish my sentence, the steel trapdoor started to slide open much quieter than I had expected.

I gesture for blaze to go first. He gives me an 'Are you kidding me?' look, and I respond with a 'yes I am' smile. I go down first like the fearless leader I am, and I'm surprised to find that its not a cave, but instead, its a whole facility. The walls, and floor were a blank, featureless, sterile white. The ceiling was the same, save for very bright lights lining it. We were in a hallway that ended at a steel door. I was preparing to knock on it, when it opened as we approached.

The door lead to a large room with all kinds of strange liquids and potion bottles of strange designs.

I say "Oh Blaze, it's a-"

A monotone voice deeper than my own cut me off "Its not what your thinking, its a laboratory." The voice said

"Unbelonging? What did you need us for?" Blaze asks.

As we approached where the voice came from, I noticed a white coated stallion, with purple eyes. His mane matched his coat, save for the few visible grey streaks that signified age. He wore a clean brown trench coat, and... What the hell are those things on his back? Metal legs attached to a backpack?

"What your thinking is wrong yet again" he said, still not even sparing my brother and I a glance. "They are artificial wings." he finished.

"Why do you need fake wings?" I asked dumbly.

He answered in a tone that made me not want to question him again, as if insulted. "They're artificial, not fake. But that is not what you are here for, you're here to be drained of your magic."

Whoa what? Okay, on second thought, THAT made me want to question him again. "yeah, how about 'no' to that. And you need to explain why, Unbel... No, I dont like that name. I think Ill call you 'Varo' instead. So explain Varo"

He stayed silent for a moment with a questioning look on his face, as if processing something. "Your renaming me... Varo? As in "fly"? Because of my wings?"

I responded with a simple "yes."

He said "I respect the creativity you've shown."

I thought he was going to smile, but didn't. Instead, he continued with his blank stare and monotone talking. "For that, I will answer one of your questions."

"Alright Varo, why do you want to drain us?" I asked.

Varo answered with the boring, even voice I was still getting used to "You both hold the essence of my companion, Legion. That is far too much power for children, and the two of you are children."

Feeling somewhat insulted, I responded "Hey, Ill have you know that I'm-"

He interrupted again "I dont care how old you think you are, its nothing compared to how old you should be to wield that magic. So without further delay lets get started with the extraction."

And with that, he pressed a button. Machines grabbed Blaze and I and strapped us down, our backs down, facing us up to a light that I thought to be far too bright for my liking. I saw Blaze struggling to get out as I started to think of a way out.

I thought that I had pieced together a well formed plan, but before I could set it into action, a syringe Varo had been holding found it's way into my right front right leg.

Everything is fading to black now... N-no! I cant die yet! There's still so much..! I dont... want... to...

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Chapter 3: Learning the Ropes

Chapter 3: Learning the ropes

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Cutscene 3: Already tomorrow?

Retro wakes up to Blaze nudging him. Blaze is caught off guard when Retro is now swinging violently at him. Blaze runs to the door to evade his attacks and starts to shout for Retro to get up. From under his blankets, Retro feels around for something to throw. His hoof finds a lamp. He throws it at Blaze and it clangs off the wall behind where Blazes head had previously been. Blaze yells out that hes making breakfast. Retro's ears perk up.

Play

Breakfast?

I yell out as I get out of bed quickly and gallop to the kitchen. "There better not be syrup on it, or so help you Purity!"

To my surprise, there is no breakfast at all, just Blaze talking to Spender... "And plenty of water?" Blaze asks.

"At least three bottles sir." Blaze salutes to Spender, and Spender salutes back as he disapates.

I say "You lied to me Blaze" as I get into a charging stance.

He slowly starts to back away "Now Retro, its ok, I only bent the truth a little."

I charge him when he flings open the front door and gallops out. I gallop after him of course.

By the time we reach Varo's hole, I catch up to, and tackle him on top of it. I start to pin him down when the trap door opens, catching me off guard. We drop and tumble down the stairs. Blaze recovers faster than I do and continues into the main chamber.

When I catch up to him moments later, I notice that Varo had laid out an apple for him... But some kind of pill for me.

"Oh c'mon Varo. Im hungry too!" I say, disappointed

Varo, looking at me like an Idiot tells me to spit on it.

I give him a questioning look "ummm."

With a hint of frustration in his voice, he tells me to "Just do it."

I shrug and, without further hesitation, proceed to spit on it. Almost instantly it poofs into an apple of my own...

I would probably 'pomf' if I had wings right now.

Varo clears his throat after I ate my apple to get our attention. Using a long stick, he points towards the hologram of a map of our local area.

Blaze is giving Varo his undivided attention while I am looking at Blazes apple. I already finished mine and his was looking delicious. Positive he wont mind if I take it, I focus my magic on the apple.

My horn starts sparking in an attempt to do magic that it had previously lost. It was hard work, But my efforts weren't in vain! After about five minutes of trying, I was able to lift the apple, and after I did so I was able to keep it in the air with ease. I may have re-learned my simple levitation spell, but the real prize was the apple!

Update:
New spell learned- Telekinesis: You can pick up objects that are in sight with your magic.

"Retro" Varo said calmly, breaking my attention with the apple, Making it drop to the ground. "Have you heard a single word Ive said thus far?"

The guilty expression on my face made it clear that I had'nt.

Varo said "I thought as much, Blaze could you plea-"

An idea popped into my head, and that idea was to make it up as I go so I interrupted as quickly as the idea came up "Wait! You said that um... You were going to give us some more of those apple sugar pills. And that we were supposed to go in the woods and-"

Varo, clearly annoyed at the interruption but also pleased to think I had been listening to him said "Ah, so you have been listening, good. No need to have your brother explain it to you then. Now please, get to work."

Varo tells a strange plasma looking pony-like creature to give us the apple pills. It hands Blaze his and makes its way over to me.

Once it reaches me, it says in a voice not so different than a normal mare's "Here you go sir."

Now, I might have been fine with the mares voice... If the creature had a mouth to say it with, rather than a dissembodied voice.

Whoa, no, no, no, this is creepy. Walking away now, dont look back Retro.

Once we leave, Blaze tells me that what I did back there was rude.

"I know Blaze, but if I tried to talk, I may have panicked and yelled at it." I say

"Her" he corrects.

"What" I asked.

"It is a her, Retro." he says again.

Feeling bad, I keep quiet and remember that I have no idea what we're doing. "Hey Blaze, what did Varo say we were suppose to be doing?"

He looks at me, and asks me if Im serious, to which I smile and nod. He calls me an idiot, shakes his head in disapointment, and trots a few feet ahead of me...

We've been walking for a good amount of time now and he still hasn't told me what we're doing nor have we reached our supposed destination. We stop when we reach a clearing in the woods.

He says "Retro, Ill set up the tents I-"

I interrupt "You brought tents?"

He continues, ignoring my outburst. "So could you please go and find some firewood?"

I say "Of course." and happily trot off into the woods to do as he asked.

Fast forward

I tell myself, "Dang, this is some difficult work" as I look at the three sticks I've collected.... When I go to pick up a fourth stick, my ears perk up as I hear the faint sound of... A bird? No, birds have been constantly chirping, that sounds nothing like a bird, why would I think that.

I decide to investigate the strange sound. As I approach its range, I hear its a cry for help... not a bird...

I start full on galloping towards the sound. What I see is three earth ponies chasing a whoa... is that thing a demon? Why in purity's name would somepony chase a demon, that's just stupid! I start to back away when I notice the demon cowering away from the three, and one of them looks over at me.

"This is our lucky day guys, we've got ourselves another meat sheath" The middle one, that saw me, says as he turns to face and walk towards me. "Hey there little mare, how kind of you to just deliver yourself to us." he continues.

Mare? Thats gotta be an insult. They dont really think im a mare, do they? Oh wait, No time to think about that now, he's charging me. I lower my head and try to concentrate on levitating a rock nearby when I'm almost knocked to the ground by the brunt force of him against my head. I struggle, but I catch myself after a short stumble...

Did the dumbass just impale himself on my horn? I feel a warm wetness as his blood runs down from my horn and drips off from my snout. Oh fuck... he did...

I look forward, surprised, dumbfounded at what I had just done...

I just... did I just kill him? I did that... I just stopped another ponies life.

I shakily push him off of my horn and look at the body, and back up to his friends when I notice that the other two have turned their attention towards me.

"Ooo, this one has some fight in her. That should make this more fun." the second one says as he starts walking towards me.

Some of the last ponies blood trickled into my eye, distracting me as the two approach.

I quickly resort back to picking that rock up with my levitation and panic-kingly hitting the second one in the face with it repeatedly. Its a good sized rock, so it stops him on the first hit, and the hits after bring him down quickly. The third one watches me beat his friend momentarily and then charges me. I bring the rock down on his head for the last time as the third one overtakes me and starts to beat me mercilessly.

Everything starts to fade to black...

I wake up to the demon... not eating me? I was honestly surprised to find that it wasn't.

"Im sorry to leave you in this condition ma'am, but um, I have to go." It... Wait no, he says to me before trotting away.

I shout to him "Wait. I'm not a mare! I'm a stallion!" As I shout that, he stops, turns towards me, cocks his head, and gives me a confused look.

Well fuck, I guess I actually do look like a mare... "Yeah, I just... I have a unique body structure. Thats all"

When I finish my sentence, he turns around and starts coming towards me.

He says "Oh, well, um. I uh, I think I have some time to spare if you still needed help." as he sits down in front of me and his face turns a light shade of red as he gives me a sheepish smile.

I see his horn glow, and before I can say anything, he envelopes me in his aqua colored magical aura. Now, normally I would say something to be modest and try to stop him, but this spell just feels sooo good after getting decked in the face and ribs a by a crazy douche pony.

He must be embarrassed by the confusion, and is trying to make up for it by helping me relax.

I let out an extremely pleased sound of satisfaction, to which he gives me a nervous smile and his face gets a more noticeable shade of red.

After he was done treating me to a very nice... whatever that was, he asks my name. I answer proudly with "Retro, Son of existence! What about you little demon?"
Poor choice of words

"Demon?" he questions.

"Yeah, your a demon right?" I respond.

"No... Im a bat pony." He says with a tint of agitation in his voice.

Quickly thinking, I tell him that he had mistaken me for a mare so now we're even. He seemed like he considered that a fair trade. I called him a demon, he called me a mare; even enough I think.

After we get that settled out, he asks me if I'll help him with something. I agreed of course, though I realized that I hadnt actually observed him very well. So I took a bit of time to look him over.

He's pretty small, maybe four and a half feet, I'm at least five feet... well five-ish... but who cares anyways? Hes got a grey coat with some darker spots under the coat, white hair with black tips, I really like that look. Oh, and his eyes are aqua... Wow, those eyes really pull the whole color thing together nicely. His wings arent like normal pegasi wings, they're leathery and similar looking to that of a bat, or dragon. His horn really looks nice. The base of it is the same color as his coat, but as it reaches the tip the color of it ends up being black, kind of like his hair. Oh, and another thing about his horn, it curves! Really! Like a rhino horn, but you know, not on the nose, on the head, where normal unicorn horns go.

I'm brought back to attention when I notice him waving at me and pointing to something behind me. My eyes widen, and without hesitation, I turn around quickly swinging my hoof around with a goal to bluntly hit whatever it is.

My hoof collides with Blaze's face... Whoops. "Oh Blaze! Im sorry."

Apparently, in the time I fought those crazy ponies, got knocked out, and got healed, I had been gone for a few hours. Blaze got worried and came looking for me. Guess that was a slight mistake on his end.

He quickly gets back up, shakes it off, and says "I dont care. Who were these ponies? Why are they dead?"

I explain the situation to him and when I finish, he yells at me. "This Retro, is exactly why you need to listen more! Those ponies were griders! They are extremely dangerous and irrational. They are ponies who have spent a little too much time in stagnant magic, it screwed with their minds, Varo explained these guys while you were off having fantasies with my apple. They could have killed you, or worse! Next time Varo gives us details on a mission, PAY ATTENTION!"

I look away from my brother as he shouts at me. I guess I deserve this.

"And what is that hell spawn?" He asks angrily.

The bat pony raises a hoof, as if to block himself from the insult, and looks offended again when Blaze asks that question.

I answer him angrily, in defense of the bat "That Blaze, is a bat pony. Now stop insulting him with your rude accusations."

"Bat ponies do not have horns! That is some type of abomination, get away from it. We still have a mission to do, and since its obviously not safe enough to sleep in this forest, we're going to have to push through the night." He says scoldingly.

"No..." I say "He asked me to help him with something, and I agreed. Varo's mission can wait, my new friend can't." I then turn and walk away from Blaze to follow my new companion. I hear nothing more from Blaze except for the sound of him walking in the opposite direction of me.

As we walk to our destination, I feel guilty for leaving Blaze alone to do the mission.

The bat turns his attention towards me to ask me a question. "Did you mean that Retro?"

Confused by his question, I ask him what he means by that.

"You said that I was your new friend. Did you mean it?" He asked nervously

"Of course I did... um... Whats your name?" I asked. He got my name, I thought I should get his.

He didn't seem bothered that I took this long to ask. He actually seemed pretty happy that I had asked.

"My name is Dirge" He responded with a smile.

I explain "Of course we're friends Dirge. I saved your life, you saved mine, and you gave me an amazing feel-good spell session. That sounds like we're friends to me."

He smiles and after giving it some thought. He tells me that if I'm tired, that I can go to sleep, and that he'll keep watch over me if I do. I accept his offer and he makes a bed out of leaves for my comfort.

This guy is just full of kindness, first a massage, and now a bed. I should keep him around, I like him.

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Chapter 4: Hopeless Abandon

Chapter 4: Hopeless Abandon

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Cut scene 4: Real breakfast

Dirge is hiding in a bush when a small boar walks by. He lunges out at it to kill it. He lands a perfect shot into the creatures neck with his horn, causing it to flinch, squeal a little, and die. After cleaning and piercing it on a stick, he starts to build a small fire to cook it with.

Play

I woke up to Dirge cooking some kind of pig. I haven't the slightest idea if i'm even allowed to eat that, but I am definitely going to try, it smells heavenly.

"Good morning Dirge. Hope you slept well buddy." I say as I stretch with my flank in the air, and my hooves ahead of me, like a cat.

He gives me a smile and tells me that he didn't sleep, he's is a bat after all. Well that's odd, when does he sleep then?

"Dirge?" I ask "If its not too personal, why do you have a horn?"

He looks at me and starts telling me like its not personal at all. "Well I've never had any friends except for a dead mouse up until now. So naturally I got pretty lonely. When I got tired of being alone, I started to get depressed."

I cut in momentarily "Thas okay buddy. Ya got Retro now, he'll be the best of friends ever!"

He gives me his signature Dirge smile and continues his story "So one day, while cleaning, I found a book with very dark magic under a bed. After taking, and studying it for some time, I used it, because well, I was lonely, like I said. The book gave me all kinds of magic, but to use it, I had to make a deal a very dark creature. I agreed to its contract and boom, I got this magic horn!"

Interesting. "Wait Dirge, I have two questions." I say

"Go ahead" he says.

"Alright. First one, what did the dead mouse have to do with anything?"

He thinks a moment before answering. "The book taught me how to raise the dead, so then the mouse was alive again, being my friend."

Holy hell, that IS dark stuff. "Okaay... um, question two, what was the contract?"

He seemed to have to think about, but after a few moments he answered me. "The thing gave me the ability to use magic for the price of constantly feeling pride, it didn't seem so bad since pride isnt such a bad feeling."

After the questions, I think to myself, time to change the subject. "So can we eat that thing now Dirge?" I say, pointing at the fire.

With a bit of worry in his voice he tells me he forgot and quickly went to attend to it. That's when I notice the smell of something burning, and the sight of the pig on fire. Once he puts the fire out, he looks at his half burnt pig with disappointment in his eyes.

I comment "Oh come on Dirge, its only half bad, we can pick the blacker bits off. I'm sure it will taste just as good."

He cheers up a little after my comment and asks if I want some of the "good parts".

I say "Hell yeah" as he hands me some tasty charred mammal flesh. I say "This is so good Dirge, dont lose your cooking skill, ever." after taking a small bite of it.

He gets a panicked look on his face and starts to gallop away as he yells for me to follow. I look down at my pig, kiss it goodbye, and tell it how sorry I am that I didn't get to love it more.

I drop the pig and gallop after him and see that we're approaching a barricade against a large rock face. More bat ponies, the kind without horns I might add, and they're guarding the front of that barricade.

The one on the left looks to us and demands a reason as to why he should let us in.

Dirge says quickly while looking at the ground "I'm a servant in the red sector and this is my escort."

The other body guard looks him and I over suspiciously before he looks to me for confirmation on what Dirge had said. I nod my head slowly and they let us pass into the barricaded area.

The interior of the barricade is decorated with a few market shops, and one of them is selling fruit. I wander over happily to the bat mare sitting at the fruit stand, grab a mango, and drop the bits in front of her. She looks at me like I'm stupid, and then tells me to pay in bolts. I look down at my bits, give her a questioning look, and she tells me to take my joke money and leave. So I put the mango back sadly and Dirge continues to lead me towards the rock face, which seems to have a large opening in it.

Dirge goes in first and I hesitate to follow. But trusting my new friend, I steel myself to go forward.

Its a narrow and slippery path that's dimly lit. Every so often, droplets of water drip from the cave's ceiling above, onto my head.

We walk for a bit, and Just before I ask Dirge how much longer there is to go, I notice a faint red glow ahead. The narrow path we're in opens into a massive air pocket underground. When we had arrived in the area, I noticed that it was bathed in a red light. A half-mile or so further ahead the lights fade to orange, and it does the same for the colors yellow, green, blue, and ending in purple. Like a rainbow, a very large, underground, rainbow.

"Dirge, where are we?" I ask him.

He answers, telling me the name of the place "We are in the Buried Spectrum, largest bat pony city you'll ever find."

He leads me up to a door that goes into the cave wall, when he stops and turns to me and says "Retro... I know its a lot to ask but... Will you... Please... buy me?"

I give him a questioning look and I ask him to elaborate.

"I am a slave... Its the business that keeps a large amount of the money flowing down here, and I happen to be part of it."

When he said that, I realized that the darker patches under his coat weren't just cute spots..

"Dirge, those dark spots under your coat. Are they bruises?"

He didn't answer me, he only looked away in shame. With that, my opinion of this place went from a stunning, beautiful city, to a pile of garbage with flashy lights in seconds.

He says "I've saved them up my entire life." as he hands me a sack of two hundred smokey gray colored bits and tells me that those are what I need to buy him with. Then, he doesn't say anything else, he just walks into the door and I follow after him.

Its another tunnel, though shorter and better lit this time, and not quite as damp as the last one. It opens to a somewhat large room. The room is decorated with sharp sophisticated designs on the structures. There's a big table with four seats on the left and right sides, and two seats at either end of the table. The half of the room the the table isn't in, has the decor of a kitchen.

To my right, I hear the voice of a young mare ask me what I'm doing here. I turn to face her. There are two mares; The one closer to me is an older mare, a bat pony that looks good for her age, or the age I assume she is. The mare further from me is a normal unicorn mare with a bubble gum pink coat, and a blue mane and eyes.

The older one talks in a language I dont understand, and the younger translates for her. "Answer or be escorted out by the guards."

I hear Dirge's voice from the kitchen "I'm sorry mistress. Griders attacked me and my escort after I delivered the days package. My escort was killed so I ran. The griders almost caught me when this stallion showed up and saved me. He agreed to escort me back safely."

She speaks to Dirge in that language again, I dont understand it, but I think she is yelling at him. She points to me and Dirge trots out of the room.

She turns her attention towards me and starts talking again, calmer this time. The unicorn translates "He is one of my prized slaves. He does far more than the rest, and he does it well."

Dirge walks back into the room with a maid outfit and starts making a meal. I do everything in my power to refrain from laughing at him and his ridiculous outfit.

The unicorn continues talking "I ask you to stay with us for dinner tonight; As thanks for saving Dirge."

I look to Dirge to see what he thinks, but he is too busy or too afraid to look back at me.

So I turn back to the mistress and I say yes with a smile.

She seems to understand me since the unicorn didn't translate for her. She gestures for me to sit and then leaves the room with her translator.

I sit where she told me to and talk to Dirge. "Hey Dirge, why is there a unicorn down here?"

Dirge looks around cautiously, then answers hesitantly. "Well every so often, slavers get desperate when they run out of stock, so they go to the surface and kid nap a few of you normal ponies to sell, because your more exotic."

I feel a fire lighting up in my chest as he gives me this information. How could somepony own another pony? That's just... wrong. Its not fair.

I hear voices coming from outside the room as I think to myself. I cant make out what they're saying, though even if I could they're probably speaking that bat language.

Six bat ponies, and the unicorn translator come into the room and sit at the table. At the left end of the table, sits the mistress and who I assume is her husband; he looks far older than her though. To the right of the mistress and next to myself is the translator. To the right of me, sits an older looking bat pony, maybe he's a guest as well. To the left of the master, a young rich looking bat pony, a bat pony much larger than myself sits across from me, and a beautiful young mare to the left of him.

Their conversation jumps from bat to common Arcanian. From what I can pick up, the young bat is the son of the guest im sitting next to. The pretty bat is his older sister. And the big one sitting across from me is the mistress's and the master's son. I guess they're arranging a wedding between the big guy and the pretty one.

Oh wait, they're looking at me, what did I miss?

"uh, y-yes?" I stumble with my words.

The pink mare asks "What is your name escort?"

"Who me? Im the escort?" I stumble again.

The pink unicorn face-hoofs to my question.

"Well of course I am. My name is Retro, son of existence." Trying to impress them, I added my little 'existence' title.

The large one introduces himself "Good to meet you Retro, my name is Hopeless Abandon, king of the slavers, owner of the Buried Spectrum."

Okay, I might be some kind of demi-god or something, but come on, how am I supposed to compare to someone that owns an entire civilization?

I respond with "Well that's one hell of a feat." as Dirge brings a classy looking meal to the table.

The meal is a pig all classed up with a single apple in its mouth, and lettuce sitting around, and under it on its plate. On both sides of the pig there are various fruits and vegetables. Dirge serves us, pours our drinks, and sits by the table awaiting orders. They start to serve themselves, so I guess its alright to just take some. I put an odd looking fruit and some strips of the pigs meat on my plate when I remember what Dirge asked me.

"Excuse me Mistress" I politely interrupt her conversation with the pretty bat. "I was looking to purchase one of your stock." I felt dirty after calling Dirge stock, evil even.

"Oh? Well its fifty bolts per slave." She tells me happily.

"Actually ma'am, I was looking to buy Dirge." It got quiet for a few moments after that.

The mistress looks over to Dirge as if calculating his price, and then looks back to me and says "One hundred fifty bolts, no less."

I say "Ill accept that offer" as I lay the sack of bolts on the table. Hopeless Abandon finishes eating, wipes his mouth with a napkin, and starts to count my bolts. When he finishes, he hands me my bolt bag with fifty left over bolts, along with some papers.

"These papers are the rights to Dirge, he is your slave now. Thank you for your business escort." He says in his intimidating, deep voice. I look over to Dirge to tell him hes mine now, but when I do, I notice he had left the room and was coming back in with a book. He sets it down on the ground and starts... Is he singing? I didn't know he could sing, its actually quite nice, even if not in my language.

Every pony claps and congratulates Dirge on his new master. He looks confused by this, and I tell him that I officially bought him when he left the room.

"When do we leave?" He asks me.

"Now if you like Dirge, dinner is done so I dont think it would be rude to go. Pack your things, then Ill be ready." I tell him.

Abandon gives me a confused look and asks me "Which of the two of you is really a slave?"

I ask him to explain what he means.

"Well you just took an order from your slave, its a disgrace!" He says

"Whoa, whats with the sudden hostility Abandon?" I ask cautiously.

"I'm just trying to help you stay in command as a stallion." Is what he responds with.

I state firmly that I am in charge as a stallion, and he tells me to prove it....

About twenty minutes later i'm in an arena facing off with Hopeless Abandon.

"The rules are simple, escort. The first one to get the other in my branding machine, and brands them, wins." He says out loud, as if talking to the crowd, even though there wasn't one there.

I look around and think to myself. Well that's a way to lose a fight, get branded, why the hell not?

I notice that there are columns, a few of them look damaged. As well as a lot of seats surrounding the arena. The arena has a large steel machine in the center, that must be the branding machine, it looks like it has nearly twenty openings.

Then a bit quieter, he tells me that he built it himself, and he built it so that the slaves had to press a button to brand themselves, in order to exit the machine. That made that fire in my chest come back...

It made me angry that he would do something like that. That he not only owns other ponies, but that he forces him to agree to it.

Giving into my anger, I charged him, and it was a very short fight. There were three hits, he punched me, back hooved me, and then I hit the ground really hard...

I woke up to a burning pain on both sides of my flank, as the searing hot metal retracts. He branded me while I was unconscious, what a cheap ass.

I really thought that I could win that...

He says "You would make a lot of bolts for me as a slave. With an exotic body structure such as yours, I might even sell you as a whore. And if I take you as one, I'll even get Dirge back as a bonus."

Oh fuck no. I may not have fought back if my life was the only one on the line here. But Dirge just tasted freedom, he is NOT going to become a slave again!

I look around frantically, hoping to find something to grasp with my magic. To my luck, I notice that the column closest to us has a fairly weak looking point in it. I waste no time concentrating on loosening the support of the column. Abandon hadn't expected this, and looked confused that I had been trying to use magic.

"What are you doing?!" He demanded to know.

I had taken hold of a particularly weak part of the column. But even though It was weak, it was still stronger than I could handle so I put more concentration into it and focused more and more, until a second layer of magic overlapped the first layer on my horn, making it a deeper blue aura. And thanks to that, the part of the column I had hold of loosened greatly.

"I demand to know what your doing, or I WILL have you executed!" He shouts at me just before the column gives in and starts to fall towards him and I. I smile, and the look on my face urges him to look. He almost doesn't dodge the falling debris.

I on the other hand was stuck in braces, and was left to the mercy of Arcania.

When the column crashed down, it forced the sand around us into a dense cloud.

"Did you think that could save you?! Did you think that would hurt me?" He shouts out as he tries to find me in the now dying cloud.

The debris was able to knock me free but forced a piece of metal through my left side, and my dazzler told me that one of my ribs were broken.

But the moment I saw Abandon he asked me if that was all I had; It wasn't. I quickly brought up a piece of the debris that was beside him and threw it against the side of his face. He stumbled as I continued to barrage his face with it until he could barely stand.

I took a moment to compose myself before picking him up with my magic and strapping him in one of the still operating branders. It was a tight fit, but I got it to work none the less. I waited for his consciousness to catch up to him before taking action. I see him open his eyes completely and look around.

"Good morning Hopeless Abandon" is the only thing I say to him before I slam his face against the button that turns the brander on.

The amount of sound he makes is far less than I expected from that much pain. All he did was cringe and look into my eyes with hate, and I looked right back into his. After the machine had finished the parts that had branded him retracted, and the burnt X that it had left behind was satisfying to me. Thank Purity that the part that held him in place seemed to be malfunctioning, and didn't let him go.

Without me noticing, Dirge had made his way to us and nudged my shoulder. I looked at him and realized that I felt light headed from the gash, it was much larger than I previously thought, and it hurt far more as well.

"I've got your back buddy" is the last thing I say before collapsing and everything fades to black again...

Level up!
Level: 2
Exploit Gained: Magical Overdrive - You can now extend the power of your spells by putting more concentration in them each turn. Your spells can be up to 2x more effective, but you lose that much more in magical stamina.
15 skill points added

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Chapter 5: His Hero

Chapter 5: His Hero

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Cut scene 5: Saved by your slave

Dirge works at healing Retro's wounds for some time as Hopeless Abandon looks at him, but Dirge doesn't look back.

Dirge picks Retro up with telekinesis and tries to carry him on his back. After a losing battle of attempting to carry Retro physically, he decides to give up and carry Retro out of the cave magically.

On the way out, Dirge donks Retro's head on a stalactite and drops him. Noticing this, he walks hurriedly to Retro, brushes him off, checks for any further injury, and continues carrying him out of the cave. They pass the fruit stand again and leave the barricaded area. Its still mostly dark out when Retro wakes up again.

Play

"Ugh... oh purity what happened?" I mumble

"Retro!" A worried voice beside me says. I turn to face it, and I'm happy to see that Dirge is the source.

I say "Oh hey Dirge, why does my whole body ache?" and he answers me by explaining the situation.

"You really flipped his pancakes!" Dirge says happily

'Flipped his pancakes'... That is about the silliest, and the cutest way of putting it. I couldn't help but laugh. It hurt to laugh with my broken rib.

"Aahha-owww... Would you mind if we made our way home? This hurts, and Id like to get it properly healed, not that you did a bad job of course. It feels much better than earlier" I say.

"I don't know where 'home' is master" he answers me.

"Oh right. Gimme a second." I tell him.

Hmm, how do I open that map? OH! Wait! My AI! Ha ha, yes! I forgot about it. Now how do I...

I press a button and a command screen pops up. Ah there we go! Type in the AI command and... Ooo, look at that. Shes a pretty mare. Her mane, coat, and eyes are all sapphire blue. Oh well, my favorite color.

"Good morning sir, my name is Holly-Gram, how may I assist you?" she says.

"OK so, one, your pretty, and two, Varo told me you didn't have a name, so I thought about it, and I'm naming you Butter Muffin! Go ahead and forget Holly-Gram." I say with a smile.

I glance over to Dirge, and the clueless look on his face says that he doesn't have the faintest clue as to whats going on. Guess he doesn't know much about tech.

She draws my attention back to her by saying. "Well there goes two days worth of planning my name just to have it dashed by you. OK, fine, I get to re-name you Glass Cannon then."

"Why glass cannon?" I ask.

"Why Butter Muffin?" she asks in return.

And after I realize that I dont have an answer for her question, she sticks her tongue out at me.

I glare at her and tell her that shes "gonna get it."

She responds by getting close to me and saying "You wont do anything."

I go to push her back a little to find that my hoof goes straight through her.

"Oh, I get it, 'Holly-gram' ha." I say.

She seems entertained by my just catching on to her word play.

"Muffs, pull up the Arcanian map." I command, and she obeys.

A hologram of Arcania is set out on the ground before me. Well, the blankness of Arcania anyways.

"Hey Muffs? Whats with the serious lack of area on this map?" I ask.

She tells me "It has only recorded the areas that you've already been to."

Oh. I guess that makes sense. Well home is on the map at least.

"Close map Butt Muff." I tell her.

She follows her order and does as I say. I look over to see Dirge is ready to set out to my house. And it seems Muffs is just waiting on more orders. I tell them both that we're leaving if they're ready. They both nod. I turn to face home's direction, and start trotting away happily as they follow behind me.

Flash Forward

After a few hours of walking, and me chasing a butterfly around, I'm not trotting so happily anymore. As a matter of fact, I'm practically dragging myself along. Dirge is carrying half my weight with his telekinesis, and boy don't I feel like a hindrance to him.

"Hey... Hey guys, can I catch my breath for a little bit? Please?" I ask them.

Butt Muff rolls her eyes, but Dirge smiles and nods at the idea. But they both agree to it, thankfully.

Muffs looks to me and says "Next time you want to chase a 'floating magical orb' through the forest, think about the consequences."

Geez.

"Its not my fault that I thought I might learn a new spell if I caught it."

I respond to her. "It was a butterfly, cannon. A normal, unimportant butterfly."

I guess she was right...

Dirge cuts into our argument "I hear something." He says.

I stop talking, and my ears perk up as I hear some voices. "I hear it too. You two stay here, it could be griders." I say.

Both of them look at me confused.

"What?" I ask.

Butt Muff tells me that "It would be much more strategical to have one of us go instead. I don't have any physical mass, so I cant technically make sound."

Dirge cuts in "And I'm very, very light on my hooves."

Muffs finishes for him "And you aren't. As a matter of fact, you kind of suck at the sneaking thing."

I get disappointing at how much sense they were making. I sit back on my haunches and tell Dirge to investigate the voices. He nods and seemingly disappears in the shadow of a tree.

After a few minutes of boredom, I see him coming towards us from where we heard the voices.

"So?" I ask.

"... A moth gave me directions to a big tree." He says looking straight forward.

"Um... Dirge... Is that supposed to be code for something?" I ask him, confused.

"Nuh uh. It is exactly what I said. A moth gave me directions to a particularly large tree." He answers me again.

Butt Muff interrupts and lays out the holo-map. "Show us where it said the tree was."

Dirge thinks for a moment and starts to point to a spot on the map, but he brings his hoof back, second guessing himself. And a few moments after that, he points to a spot on the map a few miles away from our location.

"Are you sure?" Butt Muff asks.

"I am." Dirge answers. "She marks the location as 'Big Tree' and closes the map.

"So can we go?" I ask somewhat excited.

Butt Muff dashes my hopes when she tells me "no" firmly, and explains that we have to get back home before night-fall. Knowing she has a point, I don't argue with her. I get up, having my energy back, and start going towards home once again.

As I walk behind the two through the forest, the sound of the birds catch my attention. Their song is pretty. So pretty that it makes me stop and take in my surroundings.

"Wow", I say to myself, "the forest is actually quite beautiful."

The birds singing in harmony. The little family of rodents nestling in the bush. The lone sky blue flower...

That repulsive smell, followed by the glowing green eyes in that shady spot over there... Wait...

I lean in closer to try and get a better look at what it is, when a wolf made of wood lunges out with the intention to eat me. I dodge it, but only barely. I quickly look to where my friends were, just to realize they didn't notice that I had stopped. I was alone with this wooden creature.

It just stood there, observing me. And I looked around trying to find a way out of this. I see the old, husk of a tree towering above us.

"That should do nicely." I say aloud, and it starts to charge me.

I run away from it, and while fleeing, I notice a nice stick that could be used as a good club. Still galloping away, I grab it with my telekinesis and swing it around. Eventually, It meets with the wolves face, and the creature stops in place. Perfect, I bought some time for myself. I turn and gallop past it as I continue to beat its face with my stick.

I make it back to the dead tree and start to pull it down with telekinesis when the wolf catches me off guard, sinking its teeth into my lower back. It drags me to the ground with it. I grasp around with my telekinesis for my stick, and once I find it, I swing it at the wolves snout. The wolf let go and cried out in pain as the stick collided with its snout. The collision with the wolf's snout drove its teeth deeper into my back, but it quickly let go afterwards.

As its shaking the pain off, I get up and start to pull at the tree again. I can feel it beginning to give, but the wolf seems to be recovering now and I dont have the time to let it give. I need it now! The wolf growls, and lunges at me again. Out of panic, I fall back, and try to use my telekinesis to push it away. I hear a "ptch" sound when I try, and notice the wolf being forced to the ground.

"That wasn't telekinesis was it?" I ask myself.

Well, whatever it was, it saved my life. No time to think of that now though, back to the tree. I start to pull on it again when I think about using that telekinesis spell on the tree. I look up to the tree and start to concentrate, when a burst of energy strikes the top of the tree. The top makes a loud "crack" sound before giving in to the force, and comes plummeting down towards me and the wolf. I smile, hit the wolf again with my new spell, knocking it down, and leaving it to the mercy of gravity.

I try to get out of the way, but when I attempt to lunge, pain shoots through my rib and I collapse next to the wolf. Quickly thinking, I roll to the left. And when I do, I feel the tree bark scratch my back.

I barely dodge it but, It crashes down loudly onto the wolf behind me. The wolf lets out a very brief and loud yelp of pain. Then there is only silence. But after so long, the birds continue their melody. Its a nice change from the 'Ima murder you and eat your body' that I assume the wolf was saying.

I hear my friends call out for me.

I yell out "I'm okay." and start to head towards the sound of their voices, when I notice the club I was using next to the fallen tree. I smile and pick it up.

"I'm gonna name you Trauma." I say to it before de-atomizing it into my inventory and continuing. The holo-screen designates it "Trauma" and places it in the "weapons" category of my inventory.

Update:
New spell learned - Force Push: You can now have your telekinesis collide with anything physical, knocking it off balance and dealing 1d6 damage.

New weapon gained - Trauma: You have found one of the unique weapons of Arcania. This particular one cannot lose durability and deals 1d8 damage

Continue

"I'm sorry, I got distracted and attacked by a wolf made of wood." I say as we approach Varo's lab.

Butt Muff tells me "Alright, I accept your apology, but no more distractions without us there. And the thing you fought was a timber wolf, your lucky it wasn't with its pack."

I stop walking and think of how that would have went if it had been. I cringe at the thought, and then the realization hit me.

"Timber wolf?! Pffft! 'Timber', as in wood! Ha! I have to shake the hoof of the pony that thought that one up." I say before laughing for a few minutes, and falling to my side from the pain in my rib.

Butt Muff looks at me, smiling like she is amused by my pain. Dirge on the other hoof, doesn't seem to get the humor.

After that ordeal we continue into Varo's lab.

I notice him across the lab, working frantically on something. He looks back at us and disappears in a white light. He reappears in front of me, and grabs me, bringing me with him when he teleports again. We end up on the side of the room that he was working at moments ago and he starts talking quickly.

"Blaze has been captured by the king Blood-lust. He'll be eaten soon, and its your fault for deserting him Retro. Take this potion, if you can get there in time, it could help you stop Blood-lust if you can get him to ingest it. At least you'll be able to stop him from eating anyone else" he says as I interrupt.

"Slow down! I didn't leave Blaze, we just didn't go the same path. And why the hell am I going after a blood hungry king? And how did you just teleport, your an earth pony."

He picks back up with his quick talking. "You left him, he messaged me through the device on his neck. Your going after Blood-lust because if you had been there in the first place, Blaze wouldn't have been captured, and ergo, not going to be eaten. And to answer your last question, I have a displacer button, it lets me teleport."

"Well... why cant I use the displacer button to get there now instead of later?" I ask.

He pauses for a moment before looking at me with a smile.

"I hadn't thought of it." He says as he boops buttons and then tells me "I've put in the coordinates to get there and then back. Don't screw up."

Then he hits the button...

Moments later I find myself standing next to an in-operable fountain, the center-piece has crumbled, and the part that is meant to hold the water is fractured from the top of the wall, down. I take a brief look around and notice that the streets are strangely quiet, and empty. Though thankfully, I ended up roughly a block away from a castle. Thats where they'll be.

I mean, I hope they will.

With no thought in my mind other than to save my brother, I start a full gallop towards the castle. I look to the sky to notice that its a red-orange color as the sun goes down.

And as I run up the many steps towards the large gold-plated doors, I slip on one of them and I slam the bridge of my nose on the corner piece of another step. I cry out in pain and put pressure on it with my hoof, hoping to make it hurt less. Then I remember that I had never actually taken the magical bandage off of my head from when Equinox healed me. I thank lady luck for my forgetfulness, and start to wrap myself up with it.

As I lay the bandage over the new wound, I can feel it start to hurt less and seal up the skin. After so long, I found a way to wrap it without covering either of my eyes; I feel like i'm wearing a scarf, I like it, and I didn't notice how much colder it got with the sun going down. I thank the bandage for its bonus warmth as well.

I continue and reach the golden doors. This is it Retro, you can beat a pony named Blood-lust. Doesn't sound too difficult, I say to myself as I struggle to force the huge doors open. And when I finally do open them to a long room with four columns to each side and a long red carpet leading up to a red and golden throne with a rather large pony in it...

`OK, so that may have been an understatement, this pony was more than large. Bigger than Hopeless Abandon even. I look next to the throne to notice that Blaze is lying there, tied up.

A deep voice comes from the large pony "Good evening Retro, how good of you to join us for dinner. Your brother here was certain you would come for him before it turned night, and here you are."

I cant get over how large this pony is... Just... Wow...

I should probably say something though. "I... uh... um..." I clear my throat "I'm here to get my brother from you Blood-lust! Let him go, and let us walk away, and we... No... I wont have to hurt you!" I say bravely.

He starts to laugh, get up, and walk towards me. By the time he reaches me, his laughing dies down. He is standing two and a half feet above me, and looking at me with a smile. I observe him and notice his sharp teeth, white coat, black mane, and various red stripes around his body. One red stripe going down each of his eyes, and one going down either of his sides from his chest to his flanks. He hasn't got a cutie mark either.

I wonder if -BAM- He hit me where I had previously slammed my nose against the steps. I fight trying not to cry out in pain as he strikes me again and again. His laughing picks back up as he knocks me down. He goes to step on me when I force push his hoof upward to knock him off balance. It looks like it works, and I roll away.

He came back down quicker than I thought, and pain shoots through the left side of my body as the right side is forced violently against the marble floor when he brings his force down onto me. I feel my rib break under his strength, and two more join it...

I think to myself 'did I even stand a chance?'... Everything is fading to black now... I guess its -BAM- He hit me especially hard this time, bringing me out of the darkness with a new-found pain. I fly about four feet before hitting the ground and rolling another foot.

He just stands there looking at me as I try to get up.

"Why are you able to stand? I'm sure I broke one of your bones just now." He states with a slight grin.

I say "Three ribs" I cough and finish "and fractured my skull. But that wont stop a demi-god. I just want my brother..."

He raises an eyebrow and slowly walks to me again. I try to summon the strength to attack him, but its all going into holding myself up, and even that is starting to fail me. I glance behind him to notice Blaze has untied himself and is using his crimson colored magic on something. But before I can see what it is, I get back-hooved to the ground once more. He licks his lips, and I get a glimpse of his unnaturally sharp teeth.

I think he wants to eat me... What a terrifying thought...

I stare up at him, and see that a shadow has enveloped him. By the expression on his face, I was guessing he noticed it too. He quickly looked up as the throne he was sitting on dropped onto him. It hits him directly in head, and he threw it off of him. He looks to Blaze and starts to stumble towards him. Lying on the ground, I pull open my inventory screen and choose trauma.

I say "I'm your enemy asshole, not him." and as he turns to face me, I swing trauma with my telekinesis to meet his face. It drops him to the ground with a loud thud.

Blaze rushes out of the room and into some other room, leaving me there on the ground... broken, and bleeding. The pain starts to fade away as the room goes black around me.

Some time later, I open my eyes and search my surroundings. I see Blaze and two other ponies. One of them is a unicorn male, and the other is an earth pony female. Blaze is talking to the unicorn while the earth pony tends to my cuts and bruises.

"Shes awake." The earth pony says.

There is no way in hell I look that much like a mare! Blaze laughs and walks up to me.

"Good morning little lady." He says.

I respond with "Fuck you."

He just keeps laughing at me. The unicorn male trots up to me and starts talking.

"Thank you for incapacitating lord Blood-lust, now we can execute the tyrant while hes still asleep."

He says. I cut in quickly, hoping to save the king "Wait, don't kill him. I was supposed to give him this um, potion to make him better."

I stumble with my words as I have a very difficult and painful walk over to his unconscious body. I tell the dazzle device around my neck to give me the potion...

Nothing happens. I tell it a few more times, and wonder if its broken, or if Butt Muffs is okay. No time to worry now though, I press the inventory screen open and tap the 'expellment potion' icon. It materializes in front of me, I put trauma away, and I quickly administer it to him.

His eyes shoot open at the taste. He starts gagging and eventually pukes... a lot. Its a pitch black color with the texture of tar... Or maybe syrup? Oh Purity do I hate syrup. He continues until he starts dry heaving and then slumps to his side again when he finishes.

I turn to the group and say "Thank purity, I thought it would never end." with a smile.

Their eyes widen when they hear me say that. I would have said something else, except for the fact I could hear something behind me. I turn to face it, just to be greeted by the sight of the syrupy liquid changing, and taking form.

The form it takes is that of a nightmare. Its skin is black with purple detailing, and has seemed to have hardened. It doesn't have a coat or mane. It has a jagged horn, and its ears seem like they could tear flesh. It looks as if its smiling, but only because it doesn't have any real skin covering what I assume to be the skull. I think this because of the teeth being completely visible from their roots to their sharp points. Its black bones stick out in various areas. The most noticeable area is the spinal column. The spine sticks out from the base of the skull to its flank, exiting the body and forming a rigid tail. Its chest looks reinforced with some more bone. There's one hole near the bottom of each leg, and hook-like spots at the tips of both front legs. And finally it's wings look like scythes with holes in them, making them rigid as well.

I back away from it slowly and bump into the earth pony mare. She seems to studying the creature, but the unicorn looks terrified of it. Blaze gets in a battle stance, ready for anything.

As it looks at me with its pitch black eyes, it starts to form into the goo again, then the goo starts oozing towards us. I hit it with my new force push spell and it stops momentarily. Then it gets in a stance similar to a snake ready to strike, lets out a shriek that chills me to the core, and comes at us in the form of large spikes.

Oh Fuck! The first thought in my head was to use myself as a body shield for the mare. Blaze's first thought was to slam a telekinetic shield spell down in front of himself to stay safe.

I notice as it got close to me and Blaze it was forced to the side, as if something was in its way. Thankfully, Blaze, the mare, and I were completely safe. The unicorn though... He wasn't so lucky...

The creature went straight through him as it flew out the door. I chased after it as it flew off.

"Wings!" I yelled at my dazzle device. "Pegasus!" I kept yelling at it. "Turn me into a Pegasus dammit! We cant let that thing free!"

The dazzler didn't listen of course, but I can say I tried. I hear the screams of the unicorn behind me inside the castle so I galloped back to check on him. He had three holes through him. The first one went through his right shoulder and continued on through the right flank. The second went straight through the center of his chest, I could see right through him... That's just wrong. The third hole was the worst. It went through his skull right above his left eye, and through the back of his head.

I could see a blackness in each hole that resembled the color of that thing. The blackness seemed to be spreading... Crystallizing inside of him. He thrashed about and screamed out of pure fear.

He broke free from blaze holding him down and ran towards the room Blaze had gone into earlier, only to be stopped to the now conscious, but swaying Blood-lust.

Blood-lust had caught him off guard and slammed him to the ground.

"Be quiet! I have a headache and you are not helping!" He says angrily

He then placed his hoof onto the unicorn's head, and applied pressure until the skull gave in. Blood-lust's hoof meets the floor again as the unicorn's head turns it into a bloody mess of thick goop across the marble floor. I tried to gallop after him before that could happen, but I just couldn't with my injuries.

"There we go, one less carrier. And as a plus, peace and quiet!" Blood-lust said happily.

"What the fuck Blood-lust?!" I yelled at him.

He walks towards me and asks "What?" like he hadn't done anything wrong. My anger towards him turns to fear as he gets closer to me, and I remember just how I got into this state.

I back away but I continue to shout at him. "You cant just kill what you want you dick!"

He looks at me, surprised I was reprimanding him. "Even after your so badly injured, and I'm in mint condition, you still shout at me?" He starts laughing again in that deep voice of his and says "Ha ha! I cant even take you seriously right now! I respect your bravery to face impossible odds, but come on, do you really think Ill listen to you?! Your a pathetic runt!"

Out of anger, I force push punch him in the face and he laughs a bit more.

"Alright fine, let me explain. That is the first stage in becoming a grider, and also the most violent way to become a grider, so I spared him from it. Its better to die than be a grider, or I think that at least.

I think for a moment before I calm down from what he says.

"Oh." I say

"That explains a bit. And I guess the-"

He interrupts me "I should also thank you for getting rid of wrath for me. You saved my life, and the lives of hundreds. You'll always have a place in my kingdom hero. But I think I'll be going to bed now. Id like another chance to fight you some other time, so don't die." He finishes his sentence as he walks out of the room.

"ehm, excuse me ma'a- erm,... sir." The earth pony behind me begins to say as I turn to face her. "I apologize for calling you a mare earlier, I hadn't realized that you were a stallion. Id also like to say thank you for saving me twice in one day." She says in a classy, class filled voice, full of class.

"Of course! Who wouldn't want to save a mare like you?" I respond.

She smiles and continues "And I suppose your a hero, so if you find yourself back at Predicipal anytime soon, please look me up. My name is Harmonic Melody, and I work in the music industry. I should be easy to locate, so it shouldn't be too much trouble for a hero like yourself."

"Of course not. My name is Retro." I say.

"Well I should go now. My friends are probably wondering where I am and if I'm safe. Goodbye Blaze, and thank you Retro, It was good to meet the two of you, even if under these circumstances." She says before trotting out of the golden doors.

I smile, and feel the familiar darkness creeping up to take me. I collapse, unconscious... Again...

Level Up
Level 3:
Exploit Gained: Fast casting - Spells now take one less combat turn to perform.
15 skill points added

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Chapter 6: First Day Off

Chapter 6: First Day Off

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Cut scene 6: Heading back home

After Retro falls unconscious. Blaze starts to carry him with his crimson tinted magic.

From the room Bloodlust had exited, two pegasi commanded by Bloodlust come out with a sky wagon hurriedly and tell Blaze that they have orders to take them back home. Blaze thanks them as he gets in, sets Retro down carefully, and he gives them directions to Continume.

The Pegasi carefully leave through the pair of large golden doors. As the first closes the doors, the second pegasi waited patiently.

The first pegasi finishes, saddles up, and they both take flight towards home. Everyone is silent on the long flight home, until Retro wakes up.ee

Play

"No! Stop! Dont let the chapter end yet!" I yell as I jolt up from my sleep.

Blaze looks at me and tells me "We just started chapter six."

Damnit!

"Every single time!" I yell out in frustration. "I wont fall asleep at the end of this chapter!" I shout out, determined.

"Yeah, keep saying that brother." Blaze says, trying to dash my determination. But it wont work! Ill be awake at the end of this one!

"Hey Retro?" I hear Blaze ask beside me.

"What?" I asked in return, assuming that I was about to get a scolding lecture. To my surprise though, he thanked me for saving him, and told me that I was his personal hero. And as he tells me, I see home in the distance, Reminding me of my displacer button.

"Hey Blaze?" I ask him.

"What?" He asked me

Right before I said "First one home wins!" quickly.

I saw him give me a confused look before I slammed my hoof down on the button.

Next thing I know is Varo taking the button from me, and asking how it went. I tell him exactly how it went, and he looks prideful of my successful mission.

"You did well... But you are very lucky that you survived. Here" He said as He injected me with a syringe faster than I could react, and I blacked out again.

I'm getting sick of the darkness...

Where am I? I think I'm dreaming again... I'm in the dark, that's all I know. I cant see anything. I cant even see my own hoof in front of my face... Wait... I cant even MOVE my hoof in front of my face. I cant even feel it, or anything else for that matter. Wait... Something has come into sight. Two strange purple things. They seem to be radiating in this darkness. They're getting closer...

When I awoke, I felt better than I had in the past few days, like all the pain that I endured had never even happened, it felt great.

I see Blaze talking to Varo, but I could hear nothing as a mechanical arm went over me, and I blacked out again. I woke up, this time in a comfortable bed.

"Good morning Retro" Varo says and continues "I repaired your ribs, your skull, your pelvis, and repaired the scar tissue on your flank. You are now fully healed. This was a gift, so dont go getting yourself injured again. Im not going to do this every time."

I ask him where Blaze is and he tells me that he went home to rest while I healed. He also handed me five hundred bits.

"Wow." I said in response to the amount of money.

"That is your pay for the first job only." He said. "And if your a very good boy, and do well, I will accept a request from you and/or Blaze, and Ill do my best to follow through with it, consider it me trying to help my employees live a good life. I've already accepted Blaze's request."

I think for a moment before asking about Blaze's request. "Varo? What was it Blaze asked for?"

"Well he asked that the two of you work separately from now on. So I said yes. You could get things done faster that way, and I like efficiency."

What the fuck? How could he think that's a good idea? "He nearly died! And so did I! Why would you agree to that?!" I shout at him angrily.

He answers me calmly. "You and him had finished the desired mission and you alone somewhat finished the next one . You were brilliant. It was his choice, not mine, so direct your anger towards him."

Dammit, he was right.

"Wheres Dirge? And why isnt my AI active?" I ask angrily because I was starting to worry about them.

"Dirge stayed for a short study of his structure and then went home with Blaze. And I'm going to assume you forgot to let the device around your neck cool down?" He asked like I was an idiot...

I guess I am an idiot...

I forgot about that part of the dazzle manual. "Must let it cool down." I say out loud without realizing it.

Varo snickers at me and starts working at his table like he usually does.

"Hey. What about my request?" I stop and ask him before leaving his laboratory.

"What about it? Ask and Ill grant it. Stop wasting my time." He demands.

"Can I have the directions to a place called Predicipal on my holo-map?" I ask, remembering the offer from the Harmonic Melody.

"Of course." he said.

I hear a "T'ponk" from my dazzler. How did he...? I pull out the holo-map to notice that Predicipal isnt so far from my home town, Continume. I could buy a two way train ticket, and be back later today!

"Okay get out Retro." I hear him say as I find myself outside of his lab again...

How does he do that?

I walk myself home without any troubles, thank Purity for the break. I notice that the sun is rising now. I must have slept through the night.

I opened my door as the smell of freshly cooked dough and fresh lettuce pours out and hits me right in the face. Well, Blaze got me my breakfast finally. Then I see Dirge baking the bread.

Or you know, Dirge got me breakfast... Good enough.

"Hello Dirge." I say, startling the bat pony, and he drops the pan hes holding. I catch it with my magic and save the bread with it.

He flusters and thanks me. "H-hey Retro. I didn't expect you home yet." He says as I look him over.

"Ya... I see you kept that maid outfit." I say to make fun of him a little.

His face flushes more and he calls out to Blaze to tell him breakfast is ready. At first, his voice was broken, but he recovered his voice. Cute, I embarrassed him. That bread looks good though, so Ill make fun of him more later. For now, some food.

Blaze entered the room and said "Nope" as soon as he saw me and left the house.

"Well then." I say to Dirge. "Whats up with all that?" I ask.

He answers me with "I think he wanted to continue onto his next mission. He said something about you being two points ahead of him."

Well then... Oh wait, I'm winning. Haha. I'm a winner! I'm beating Blaze!

Dirge gets my attention by placing a plate of bread and lettuce. Before I start devouring my food, I set my dazzle to cool down so that it will function properly later. Dirge makes his own plate and sits on the floor with it.

"What are you doing Dirge? You can eat at the table. You aren't a slave any more." I tell him, trying to be thoughtful. "And the maid outfit isnt mandatory either." I tap my hoof against my chin "I mean, unless you want it to be." I say, trying to be funny. I guess it worked telling by his smile.

Then he tells me that my statement is false.

"Whaaat...?" I say out loud.

I try to figure out what he means by that when the idea of sitting next to him on the floor pops in my head.

So I bring my plate on the floor next to him. I sit beside him, and bump his flank with my own to get his attention.

He looks at me and I tell him "You should come with me to a place called Predicipal. I was invited to dinner by a beautiful mare, and I was thinking that maybe she had some pretty friends you might like to meet."

He looks away and stares off as if thinking. He took too long to answer so I tried to persuade him some more. "It'll be alright Dirge. If you got into any trouble there back when you were doing your courier thing, then Ill protect you. And if you feel bad about money, then Ill just pay for you, gift for saving my life. It'll be fun."

He thinks a bit more before smiling and nods his head in agreement.

"When do we leave?" He asks.

I look to the clock on the wall. Remembering the times I'm used to the train sounding off.

We have... seven minutes... Fuck...

"Right now!" I answer his question as I scarf down my food and start to rush out the door.

Dirge looks at the mess on the table with a worried face, trots in place, then decides to just leave it and follow me.

I rush to the train station, and say "Two, two way tickets to Predicipal for the train about to leave." as I get my bits out from my inventory screen.

"One hundred bits please." he tells me with boredom in his voice.

I take out a fifth of my bits, and hand it to the stallion, and in return, he hands me two tickets and suggests that I hurry. I thank him and notice that Dirge isnt far behind me...

No, wait...

I'm not far behind Dirge.

Actually I am.

Hes on the caboose of the train... And its starting to go. Couldn't I just have been thirty seconds faster?

Dirge grabbed me with his telekinesis as I was running for the train, and had floated me onto it before I realized that I could stop running.

"Thank you." I say to him.

As we walk into a cart with more passengers, I notice that he didn't have time to get out of the maid outfit.

"Bahahaha" I laugh at the bat pony.

Confused, he asks what it was that I was laughing at.

"I uh, well..." I had nothing but the truth to tell him, so like the good friend I am, I changed the subject. "Here's your ticket." I think to myself 'Nice save Retro' when he asks how much it was. I lie to him, telling him that it was only a tenth of its actual price.

A stallion that works on the train comes down the isle, punching holes into the train tickets of other ponies.

He comes up to us and says "Tickets please." We both cooperate and hand him our tickets. He punches holes in them, then he hands them back to us and says "Thank you." and continues down the train cart.

Dirge seems to be enjoying the ride. He keeps looking out the window for extended periods of time, feeling the seat that we're on, and is smiling the whole time. Im happy to see that him being a slave didnt effect his abilities to be happy. If of course, that could effect happiness.

That gets me thinking. How old is Dirge? I look at him and try to guess when a mare with a metal cart goes down the Isle, catching my attention. Shes asking if anyone wants food or drinks. Dirge responds quickly and points towards a basket of biscuits. Then he checks his maidly pockets. Nothing in them. He looks at me and gives me a sheepish smile.

"Of course." I tell him as I buy two of the biscuits, and hand them to Dirge.

"Thank you master." He says to me. I would have said your welcome, but he caught me off guard and I couldn't find any words to say.

Why would he call me that? We're on equal grounds... Right? Does he think hes less than me?

I feel a biscuit nudge against my front right leg, and I look to face Dirge offering it to me.

"What?" He holds it out to me. "Oh, no, they're both for you silly." I tell him, and he gives me a confused look. "I bought them both for you. Specifically for you. You dont have to share them... All yours... For you only."

His eyes seem to glow with thankfulness just before he devours the second biscuit. He rubs his belly, and continues staring out the window gleefully. I look out the window as well to see that our destination is still a while away. I decide that it would be better to sleep the way there.

As I nod off, I think about what Dirge called me earlier...

I can't feel again... I'm in the darkness once more... I quickly look around for the purple things... I'm caught off guard when I see them right next to me. They look like... Eyes.. Eyes without pupils... Oh... They are eyes... They're looking right at me, maybe even into me... A form starts to fade in around the eyes. It looks like a pony the size of an alicorn... it's slim, and has no mane, tail, horn, or wings... It's pitch black... It looks kind of creepy... It has no mouth...

"Retro." A voice with an echo following it says.

"Retro" I hear again as I feel something touching my side.

I woke up to Dirge nudging me again, not with a biscuit this time, but still nudging.

"Were here." He says to me gently, as if not to bother me in my still half asleep state.

I shake my head, trying to wake up a little. Once I wake up a bit more, and get to walking, we leave the train.

Standing on the train platform, I take a look around. Well, for the capital city... its a bit dirty... Wait, no, that's just the train station that's dirty.

I say "Welp, lets get started Dirge" while stepping off of the train platform, and onto the grey bricks that make up the walkways of the city.

I wait for Dirge, and as I do, I see Harmonic Melody standing by the train station. Well thats nice, she was waiting for me.

I trot over to her and greet her. "Good..." I stop to look around for a clock tower, and give up when I cant find any means of telling time. I finish my greeting with "Afternoon-ish? I guess?" as she covers her mouth with her hoof and giggles. I kind of do too.

Before I continue talking to her, I look for Dirge in the small crowd, and signal him over to us. I ask her why she had been waiting, or how she had known that I would even be coming in soon.

She answers in that, oh so class filled voice again "Well, hero's have tight scheduals. They cant afford to be late, they have a title to live up to. So I thought that perhaps you would have to come back soon."

Well that answers it.

She says "I see that you have an assistant."

I look back at Dirge approaching us. "Oh, him? Hes more of a follower than an assisstant." I say as he walks up besides me.

I notice that a unicorn mare came out of no where and put her front right leg around Melody.

"Hey." The new mare says while messing up Melody's mane. "I missed ya Mel." Melody's face looks like she completely enjoys life right now... or you know, hates it completely.

Melody talks to me again "She is also the reason that I am here."

Awh... And here I thought I was being especialy waited for.

"Hey, who are these guys Mel?" The mare asks.

"An acquaintance that I had Invited to dinner, and this is his plus one." Melody answers.

The mare starts talking again "We'll introduce everybody later. Right now, we need to get home. I havent washed myself since I left, and I really gotta."

"Pleasant." Is Melody's responds to the statement in a barely concealed look of digust.

The other mare continues once more "Though we have to wait for the bag carrier to grab my stuff first."

Dirge and I offer to carry it for her.

"That'll save some time." She looks over to Melody and smiles. "I like these guys already Mel." She says as she guides us to her bags and we lift them with our magic. She says "Alright, if you two have it down, just follow me and Mel home." as she nudges Melody and we start to head deeper into the city, towards their home.

Flash Forward

"So guys, whatcha wanna do first?" The mare named 'Glitzy Light' asked.

I learned that, that was her name from their conversations on the way here.

I also took the long walk as an opportunity check them out....

Not that kind of check them out though, to see what they look like...

You dirty thought-ed reader, you.

Melody has a grey coat, deep blue mane, deep blue eyes, and a deep blue colored musical symbol as her cutie mark.

Glitzy Light has a charcoal colored coat, two different shades of neon green colored mane and tail, green goggles, and a similar green musical note cutie mark. Haven't seen her eyes yet though.

"Well?" she asks, looking at me.

"I'm sorry?" I ask.

She takes her goggles off and suggests that Melody entertain us. I notice, her eyes are green too. She starts to walk towards what I assume is the bathroom after spreading the contents of her bags around the living room, and puts her glasses on a red pillow with golden trimming. Shortly after, Melody comes in from another room and stops at the sight of the room.

"Glitzy!!" She yells out in anger at her roommate and storms into the bathroom.

I hear the shower head pouring water, and Neon laughing. The door closes and I hear it lock. I dont hear much more after that.

The silence is interrupted by someones voice behind me. I turn quickly, startled. When I do turn I find a box on the table with sound coming out. I hide behind the couch because I think it may explode. Dirge is on the ground laughing at me.

"What? It could explode! I haven't had the best of luck lately! How am I supposed to know what it is?" I ask embarrassed as I get up from behind the couch.

"Its a radio silly. It lets people talk into microphones and their voice travels through the radios to be broadcasted. Usually for playing music or for entertainment but sometimes there are emergency broadcasts that help out too. DJ's are the ponies that run the stations that broadcast the stuff. Like this guy." He says as a smooth voice comes on.

"Good evening ladies and gentlecolts. Id like to welcome you again to my station, and thank you for being on it." The voice says

This guys voice is heaven. I cannot divide my attention from him.

He says in his heavenly voice "The news of the evening is that the heroes are raising their hire prices again. Come on you stuck up ass holes, that is not the way a hero is supposed to be. Heroes risk their lives without expecting something in return, get your shit straight. Oh, and on another note, Im sorry to be so selfish and sign off early today, but my baby sister is back in town, and I havent seen her for some time. This Is your host Mix Master Scratch, Signing off. Enjoy the music."

Music starts to fade in after his voice dies out.

"Awh." I sigh and sit back on my haunches. "I want a radio." I say to Dirge.

He smiles a bit and rolls his eyes at my dissapointed statement.

Glitzy and Melody come out of the bathroom, in that order, with towels on, talking to each other. Melody is telling Glitzy to clean her mess in the living room, and to make the table, while she changes and starts dinner. Both of their manes and tails are still wet, and it's a good look.

NOW I'm checking them out in the way you were thinking earlier, reader.

Melody walks away into the other room, but Glitzy is still in the room searching her scattered mess for something to dress formally in.

"You know, I'm diggin the maid's outfit you've got on." She says to Dirge while shes searching.

He stays quiet and then looks at me.

"What? No one is stopping you from talking, go ahead." I say, and he smiles at the statement.

"We were in a rush to get on the train, and I was making breakfast. I didn't have time to change." He explains.

"Oh" Glitzy says "Ill give you some clothes if you trade me that outfit."

"Why do you want an old maid's outfit?" I ask curious to know the answer.

"Why was he making breakfast in a maid's outfit? You know what? It doesn't matter, that's besides the point." She says as she guides us into another room.

She tosses her towel on the floor of the room and opens the closet. Its all stallions clothes for some reason, but I dont question it. She gets him out a grey suit, and an aqua tie to match his coat and eyes.

"Classy" I say to him as he hands his outfit to Glitzy, and puts on the suit and tie.

"Alright, hurry up you two. We dont wanna get caught in here." She says as she trots hurriedly out of the room.

Dirge and I look at each other and follow after her. I wasn't paying attention, so I bumped into her. She had a guilty look on her face.

My eyes followed hers until I saw a red unicorn stallion with a silver colored mane and tail, and golden eyes. His mane and tail looked like they were made of very fine strands of chrome. And his eyes were a neon gold, or yellow, and they glowed like they were too.

"Your home for barely a day, and I'm already cleaning your mess?" He says in a familiar smooth voice.

"I was about to clean it." She responds.

"I'm sure you were little lady. Who are these two? More club buddies? You should really be careful of who you bring home." He says with a hint of concern in his voice.

She responds by telling him that we are Melody's guests.

His eyes widen and says "Oh no. I better be on my best behavior then." In a fake scared tone.

I ask him "Are you Melody's special somepony?"

He answers me by looking at Glitzy and laughing. "Hahaha. Ask her during dinner. She'll have a nice answer for ya." He tells me.

I would think hes screwing with me, but that voice of his is so alluring, hes got to be serious.

"Ahem" Melody clears her throat from the kitchen doorway. "Our meal is ready and waiting on the dinning room table." She says as she takes off her apron and trots to where I assume her room is. "Ill join you shortly." She finishes.

"Sounds good to me." The stallion says as he happily goes into the dinning room.

Dirge, Glitzy, and I follow him. The table with our food on it is round with a seat for the each of us. We sit with Dirge to my right, the stallion to his right, and Glitzy to my left, leaving an available seat in between the stallion and Glitzy, for Melody. Our plates have stir fried vegetables, arranged to have an eye catching design, I assume its to look more exquisite.

The stallion is talking to Glitzy aboutt her trip to a place called 'Collesum' when I finally recognize his voice from the radio.

"Your Mix Master scratch aren't you?" I ask trying to hold in my excitement.

"Only to strangers, yes. My real name is Strobe Light." He answers as he holds his hoof out to shake mine.

I feel honored and shake it.

"I'm Retro" I say, introducing myself to him.

Melody comes back into the room with a dress that complements her colors beautifully. She sits at the table with us and allows us to start eating.

"Strobe Light, have you met my little hero here?" Melody asks.

He chokes a little bit before swallowing. He looks at me, and then to Dirge. His expression goes from happy to uncomfortable when he sees Dirge as my follower. "Hero...? Like 'hero' Hero?! I didn't notice he was a hero." He says to her in a not so happy tone.

"Yes. I'm not aware of who had the money or the care to hire him, but I'm very happy that they did." Melody says back to him, seeming as if she didnt notice that he was angry.

What does she mean pay me? Im not that expensive... I didnt even know I was getting paid for that job. "Excuse me?" I cut in to their conversation. "Why would I be expensive?" I ask them both.

Strobe Light answers first. "Because your organization is full of stuck up, pompus, ass holes."

Melody answers second. "Because the work your organizition does is very dangerous, and therefore, expensive."

Strobe light cuts in again. "Oh yeah, and your slavers." He finishes.

"Stop it Strobe Light. He saved my life, and was gracious enough to accept my invitation. Be nice to him." she says.

Now I have no Idea whats going on. "Im not part of an organization. I was hired by a guy named Varo. My brother was too. I bought this guy from some underground slavers, and... I'm sorry for any confusion I caused."

Strobe Light's expression changes to happy once again as he asks me questions. "So you aren't a part of Hero's guild?" I tell him that I am a hero, but only in the sense that I saved Melody's life. "And you almost died for her, without promise of being payed?"

I tell him that I almost died a few times without the promise of getting paid.

"Did you free that guy of his slave papers?" he asks, pointing to Dirge.

"Um... Free of his papers?" I ask. I also open my inventory screen to find that his papers are still in there from when I bought Dirge. "I guess I forgot about it until now." I say to him.

"Do you want him free?" Strobe Light asks me.

"Hes my friend, of course I do." I tell him, being completely honest.

"Good." he says. "Your turn Melody."

Oh good, now Melody gets to do some questioning... All these questions...

"Why did you claim to be a hero?" she asks.

"I thought you meant it by me saving you, not as an occupation." I answer.

"That's all I had to know." she says and continues eating.

Glitzy and Dirge had already finished their food while listening into our conversation. As we eat, I wonder why no one ever questions my dazzle device.

"Hey you guys? Why aren't you curious about this thing?" I ask, pointing to the dazzle device.

"What? Your Dazzler?" Strobe Light asks.

"Yes... Wait, Dazzler? Its actually called a dazzler?! I've been calling it a dazzle device!"

'So Close.' I think to myself.

"Wait, how do you know what its called?" I ask.

"They aren't very rare. Oni co. put them on the market a very, very long time ago. I wasnt even born when they were released. Though of course, yours does look different from the Oni co. models." Strobe light says.

I ask "Oni co.? Who are they? What do they do? And what does their Dazzler do?"

Strobe Light seems to be easier to talk to, knowing I'm not a hero, and answers me happily. "Oni co. is a tech based company that has been around hundreds of years. They create all kinds of awesome tech that is extremely helpful, and hurtful to our world. They help during wars, but they're also probably half the reason for said war in the first place. And their dazzler does four things. It shows a map, has a journal, has an inventory, and some of them are durable enough to be armor."

Ha! Mines better than theirs!

We dont talk much after he explains the Dazzler to me. Other than one last question that I asked Melody.

"Hey Melody?" I ask.

"Yes Retro?" She responds.

I ask "Is Strobe light your special somepony?"

To which she laughed and said "No dear, hes Glitzy's brother. Glitzy is my lover."

And then they kissed.

Whoa, plot twist.

I help Melody with the dishes and we talk some more while the others clean Glitzy's mess in the living room.

"So Retro, you dont have a problem with filly foolers do you?" She asks an unsuspecting me.

I feel a strange feeling and smile as I answer her "Of course not. As a matter of fact, I'm a colt cuddler." What... did I just say?

She stops scrubbing the dish that shes holding "Oh my, I wouldn't have guessed... Is Dirge your lover?" she asks.

"Yes!" I answer brightly... What am I saying?!

"You havent shown any affection towards him this whole time, dont you think he might feel a little neglected? You dont have to feel shy here, you can show some love, we dont mind." She says.

I say "I guess I should." without thinking...

I'm thinking to myself 'I hate you Retro, I hate you so much, just stop talking.'

I try to tell her that I didn't mean what I had just said, but instead, I turn around happily and walk out of the kitchen, into the living room. I come up behind Dirge and tap him on the flank.

He turns to face me and asks "what?"

I look him right the eyes, smile, and kiss him deeply.

He looks confused or maybe panicked for the moment.

When the kiss is over, he then turns a new shade of red that I had yet to see, stares blankly for a moment, and goes back to working on cleaning the room with the others hurriedly.

"Whoa dude, I didn't know you rolled that way." says Glitzy.

Strobe Light bursts out laughing as the strange feeling leaves me.

"Retro."Strobe light stops talking for a moment to compose himself from what he thought was a hilarious kiss. "Did you want to free Dirge and celebrate it tonight?" Strobe Light asks.

I'm somewhat flustered myself from the situation, and from Strobe Lights open laughter. "S-sure. I... Uh... Alright, yea."

I take the papers out and hand them to Strobe Light. I mean, I try to hand them to Strobe Light, but they combust into flames and turn into a pile of ash on the nice, clean carpet.

I notice the glow on Strobe Light's horn die down as he says "There you go kid. Dirge, let me allow you to make Retro your first official friend in freedom."

Dirge smiles weakly at me, as if hes about to cry out of happiness. "Th-thank you friend..." Is all hes able to say before falling on his side...

I think I temporarily broke him from the kiss and freeing him.

Strobe Light says "Get your newly freed friend and lets go." As he heads towards the front door.

I tell Melody and Glitzy that we're leaving, and to have a good night. I get Dirge, who is still quite flustered from the kiss, and lying on the ground, and we leave with Strobe Light.

I wonder where he's taking us?

Oh well, at least I'm not unconscious this time.

Pause

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Chapter 7: Pride

Chapter 7: Pride

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Cutscene 7: The Tavern

After they leave the building, Strobe Light takes Retro and Dirge to a local tavern. Strobe Light offers drinks to Retro and Dirge. Retro refuses, but Dirge happily accepts his offer, ready to play with his new-found freedom.

After Strobe Light and Dirge have many drinks, Strobe Light admits to using a light manipulation spell to make Retro say what he said, and influence him to kiss Dirge.

Retro laughs at the joke Strobe Light played, and thinks it would be nice to apologize to Dirge by getting him a biscuit. He asks Strobe Light where a bakery is, and after he gives detailed directions to Retro, Retro asks him to watch the drunken Dirge for a moment.

Once Retro leaves, Strobe Light thinks its time to lie Dirge down in one of the taverns up stairs bedrooms.

"C'mon kid, we're going upstairs." Strobe Light says. Dirge agrees happily and while stumbling, follows him.

As they are about to enter the room, Dirge stops Strobe Light to ask him for a good time.

"Sorry kid, I have a policy against drunk partners." Strobe Light states firmly.

"But... Your not drunk!" Dirge whines. "And I promise it will be fun." Dirge says as he bends over for Strobe Light.

Strobe Light pokes Dirge's cutie mark, and Dirge falls on his side, passed out. Retro finds Strobe Light carrying Dirge with telekinesis into the room.

"What happened?" Retro asks. Strobe Light explains the situation, sets Dirge on one of the two beds in the room, and goes to sleep on the other.

Play

I start to leave the room when a hear some music behind me start playing. I turn to see where it was coming from when I see Dirge smiling, in a relaxed position on the bed with a radio beside him, playing the music.

In a voice that wasnt quite Dirge's, he says "Good evening Retro. How about I treat you to a good time?"

Well that's not like Dirge to be so forward about stuff like that.

"How about no?" I say.

Without phasing him at all is seems, he asks if we can go get more drinks. Before saying no, I notice that his eyes aren't the same shmexy aqua color. Instead, they were orange. So I tell him that I'll get drinks with him if he likes.

"The more, the marrier." He says in his suave voice.

He turns the music off and we leave the sleeping Strobe Light to go back down to the bar part of the tavern.

"So Dirge, whats with your eyes?" I ask him.

"Please Retro, call me Pride. Right now I am enjoying the body of Dirge, that is the deal we made after all." He says.

"What deal?" I ask, very curious to know the answer.

"The one he told you about. He gets to have a horn, and lots of power. And I get to use his body to have fun from time to time." He answers.

"He said the deal was to constantly feel pride?" I ask.

He answers with "Well then I suppose he lied." as he turns away from me to a unicorn mare... Wait no, pegasus mare... An alicorn? I thought that my family and Dirge were the only ones?

"Good evening dear, how about I show you a very good time?" He asks her.

She smiles brightly and says "sure" to my surprise.

He turns to me. "Wanna join?" He asks me.

I tell him no, so he shrugs, says "See ya later then.", and walks back up to the room.

Nearly half an hour later, Strobe Light comes down. "Did you enjoy the show?" I asked him sarcasticly.

"Enjoy the show with suave-filled Dirge and that hero bitch? Of course I did, I even joined. At least heroes are good for something." He said with a nicker.

I asked "So wait, you fu-"

"Yep." He cut me off and answered the question I was about to ask.

"So wheres Pride?" I ask

"Who?" He asked.

"I mean Dirge. Wheres dirge?" I corrected myself.

"Oh, hes on round like, eight or something. I gave up after one go. I dont wanna have anything more to do with any heroes." He says as he looks at the clock. "Oh crap. Ive got to get some rest. I gotta go. Come see us again Retro, your pretty cool." He says as he trots out of the tavern

Flash Forward

When I woke up at the bar that morning, Strobe Light was missing and Pride came down the stairs with his decency magic still off, leaving his um... Stallionhood just swinging around as he trotted...

So that's how big Dirge is...huh, not the large I was expecting from a pony that small. I think to myself as I get cut off by Pride's voice "Were going home Retro, I did some naughty things, and we have to go right now."

He says gleefully with a teeth showing smile.

"Can you at least turn your decency magic back on?" I ask, not really caring whether he did or not.

"Jealous?" He responded with a smirk.

"What? N-No. Its just, you know, decent is all." I tell him with a studder.

He laughs and says "Ill give you some later. But right now, we have to go." He tells me, his voice getting a slightly more worried.

I say "Alright let me just-"

He interrupts me, and grabs me with a very powerful orange telekinetic field. "No, no, lets go beautiful."

He rushes us back to the train station, with me in his magic the whole way, and we we're lucky enough to have it depart shortly after. His decency magic is still off while we're sitting on the train. I look at his um... for... research? Ya, I feel like that's believable; for research.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom." I say

"Ill follow you." He responds.

I go into the males bathroom, and he follows me in, locking the door.

"Excuse me Pride?" I ask, looking at him.

"Just a gift. For letting me play all night without trying to stop me. Trust me, you'll enjoy it!" He says as he casts a spell that turns my own decency magic off, and holds me exposed, and his eyes go back into being aqua.

"W-Where are we?" Dirge asks, looking around.

An orange aura envelopes Dirge's horn and he smiles and starts to look me over.

"W-What are you doing?" I ask, nervously as he gets closer to me, making me shift nervously.

Chapter 7.5 Coming when I feel up to it

Aaaand about a half hour later, I'm helping Dirge wash his face off.

"Im so so so sorry Dirge. I really am. Pride offered it, and well, your kinda cute, so how could I refuse; That, and I was tied up. Though of course the orange eyes were a turn off, well until they went back to being aqua, then I just couldnt help it." I say as my voice goes from apologetic to nostalgic.

Neither of us have stopped being red since the climax... He clears his throat to get my attention, or maybe just to... um...

"You have magic. You could have stopped me." He said scoldingly as he points to my horn.

Now I feel like a dick... I think to my self 'wait, he could have stopped himself if he wanted to.'

"You liked it didnt you?" I ask as I look him in the eyes.

"That's... Well I... Well yes... I... really enjoyed it... And then the taste afterwards was... very good..." He says with a look of shame on his face.

"Oh c'mon Dirge. Your sexy. I'm happy you gave me my first... Other pony experience." I say encouragingly with a reassuring smile.

He seems to brighten from what I said.

"I'm happy to be the first one to do such to you." He responds with a smile.

We leave the restroom, and sit back down at our booth.

"Hey Dirge?" I ask.

"Yeah?" He asks.

"I didnt know you went both ways." He looks at me and tells me that he only goes one way.

Then why did he just...? oh... OH! Then it hit me, hes not straight.

Flash Forward

"Dirge?" I say as I remember the biscuit I had gotten for him. "Here you go bud."

He looks at me with an expression of pure unadulterated happiness, and devours that biscuit like the last two.

I start to fall asleep on the way back home.

Back into the darkness...

"Retro... Listen..." The echoing voice, coming from the black pony said. "I need you... I need your help..."

I try to speak but nothing comes out.

"You cant talk yet... Your body Isnt used to this place... So for now... Just listen to me..." It says "I need your help... Your a good pony... You'll help me... I'm trapped here... In this dream...

Dirge softly nudges me awake.

Those dreams are odd... I'll think I should keep it to myself though. I dont want anypony thinking that I'm crazy.

"Hm?" I ask.

"We're home." He tells me.

So we get off the train and head towards Varo's hole in the ground. When we enter the lab I find Varo talking to Blaze.

"There is nothing you can do for them. Just accept it and move on. Heres your pay." Varo says to Blaze. Blaze takes the money, a slip of paper on the table, and tells me that hes only one point behind.

"Hey Varo." I say "So kind of important. Dirge here has a guy named Pride inside of him, and we gotta get him out somehow, I'm worried for my friend."

Dirge looked at me happily, and Varo worriedly.

"Pride? Pride is alive?!" Varo asks with a look of panic on his face. "No! You, stand under that, now!" He shouts worriedly, as he points towards some kind of machine with strange mechanical arms and knives.

I cut in, worried for Dirge "Whoa hold on Varo, will he be okay?"

"None of us will be 'okay' if Pride gets out, none of us will be safe." He says with complete seriousness.

His voice convinced me. So I allowed him to put Dirge in the machine, and it instantly goes to work. One half started to weave what looked like an earth ponies husk of a body. The other half, holding Dirge, looked like it was tearing away orange colored smoke from him, and fusing it with the husk.

The machine drops Dirge, I quickly rush over to him and he struggles to breathe. I give him my own air, and thankfully, he picked up his breathing again.

"He stopped breathing Varo! He could have died!" I shout to him.

He pays me no attention as he talks to the husk. "Hello Husk, do you remember me? My name is professor Varo. Your my lab assistant, welcome back."

The Husk answers in a calm, creepy monotone voice "I... think I do remember you professor... It's good to be back." before going to work and mixing chemicals like Varo usually does, though it looks like he is just mixing random ones, rather than certain ones, like Varo.

Varo looks to us. "You cannot mention anything from the outside to him ever, Understand?" He commands

"Yes, I fucking understand. Dont you dare, ever, risk the life of any of my friends again!" I shout, demandingly. "Who the hell was Pride, and why did we put him in that husk?" I ask.

Varo explains "Pride is one of four very, very, evil beings that live around Arcania. Pride was the strongest, and until I figure out how to kill him, he stays trapped in the husk."

"Really? Who are the other three beings?" I ask

He answers me again. "After I answer, you leave, and I'll send you your next mission, but you have to go, very soon. Wrath, Avarice, and Insanity. All very powerful, And all very corruptive. Now go away." He finishes, shooing us away like stray animals.

I carry Dirge all the way home.

"Thank you Retro." Says my bat pony saddle bag friend. A.K.A. Dirge, from on my back.

When we get home, I notice Blaze on the couch taking a power nap. I set Dirge down in a dinning room chair, and without asking him, I take out some dough, and make an attempt at baking biscuits for him.

I noticed Blaze had left, and Dirge had fallen asleep by the time I finished cooking. I also noticed that a message was left in my journal from Varo.

"Open message?" the Dazzler asked.

I tap the hologram's "yes" option on it's screen and I start to read the message.

"There are two groups of longma battling for whatever stupid reason they have to battle. Normaly I would let it settle itself out. But its unervingly close to a gooble village. Do whatever you have to to stop the dispute, and keep the goobles safe."

Shortly after clicking the "Show location" Icon, it pulled up the holo-map, and cleared a small spot of a blank area.

"Its go time" I say to myself after putting Dirge in my bed, petting his mane, writing a note that told him that Ill be back soon, and left the biscuits on the nightstand for him.

"Goobles" I say out loud to myself. "What sane pony could proudly call themselves that?"

Pause

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Chapter 8: Half Dragons

Chapter 8: Half Dragons

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Cut scene 8: Now we're even

Retro trots a short distance and remembers his helpful AI. He stops to get Butter Muffin out when he notices the brick stallion. Retro shouts out to him, trying to get his attention. He looks to Retro and goes to fisticuffs him, just to have his hooves swept out from under him by Retro's force push spell and then hit once by Retro's club, in the face, knocking him unconscious.

Play

"There we go, now we're even." I say to the unconscious douche stallion and turn to the objective and start walking. "Conjure AI" I command my Dazzler. Butt Muff materialized in front of me. "Good morning lady." I say to her.

She rolls her eyes and asks what I want.

"What type of tree is that over there?" I ask.

"That's an apple tree. You needed my help to tell you what an apple tree is?" she questions.

"Well I mostly just wanted company." I say

"I'm sure." she says sarcastically.

After a very long walk, I decided to be a pegasus, since muffs obviously doesnt want to hang out. "Make it reconstruct me as a pegasus please Muffs." I ask my AI.

She responds and shortly after, I've got my shmexy wexy wings back, at the cost of my horn of course.

I told Muffs to come back into the Dazzler, and when she did, I spread my wings, and took flight. I had forgotten just how much I loved and missed my wings. I forgot how free you get to feel while your flying, the wind, the speed, the wordl below...

It is amazing.

I feel bad for the wingless creatures of Arcania.

While feeling pity for the poor earth-bound creatures, I noticed that there was a shimmer of blue in the forest. I looked directly at it, and noticed a large crystal field.

That's really cool, so I'm flying to that huge chunk of awesome. When I land at the edge of the field, I hear a "t'ponk" from my Dazzler, signifying that I had discovered a new location. I also heard light electricity dancing from the tips of some of the larger crystals, and feel the eerie feeling of being watched.

"Reconstruct Unicorn." I command the Dazzler, as I enter the field. My wings dissipate for my horn, and as soon as It does, I feel my muscles tense in pain. I think the field sees me as an electrical conduit, since I just reconstructed, but I wanted to be able to defend myself, no matter how limited my spells are, or how unnoticed my threat was. I hear the crackling of some of the smaller crystals, sounding like they were trying to create electricity, but failing.

I started to wander around the crystal field, and after some time I look the the sky, and when I do, I notice that it looks as if its night time. Strange, seeing as how its almost noon, the field must have some kind of magic enveloping it. A particularly long and slim "t" shaped crystal catches my eye. I touch it with my hoof... Big mistake... I feel sharp electrical pain surge through my entire body, and I collapse on the ground in front of it. The crystals beneath my belly poke at it uncomfortably, and are sending a numbing electricity through me. I get back up, trying to shake the numbness off. I see a figure approaching me pass the crystal. I try to open my inventory to get trauma, just to find that its a jumble of letters, symbols, and static.

I charge my horn just in case its hostile. When it gets close enough, I notice a pony with a dull silver leathery skin. It has blue lines running down its body, only to have some of the lines stop at certain parts of its body to make circles. Its skin looks as if its tightly pulled around small muscles around weak bones. It has red eyes.

No mouth...

Purity dammit...

"What do you want?" I ask it nervously as it shambles closer.

It doesn't answer me, but some others are coming around me now. I tell myself its time to act, and hit one of them in their legs with my spell. I hear a loud crack come from where I hit it, and it falls to the ground, squirming in pain.

They others horns flicker in response on and lightning is hurled from their curved horns at me.

Many of the bolts miss, but the ones that do hit, hit about half as hard as the crystal rod I touched a bit ago.

Though about three of the bolts hit me... so I went down just the same. I find myself twitching from the electricity, as they continue to shock me until I black out.

I wake up to a red lined one talking to the rest through a voice hes making with his horn.

"This one is super charged, we can eat for months if we keep him alive." Then he looks to me.

"You are a very valuable and tasty morsel, so you wont die too soon." Then he laughs.

I search for something to use against him, and off in the distance, I notice the slim crystal that shocked me earlier. My horn starts to glow as I pull at it with telekinesis, a useless effort. So instead, I concentrate to overdrive my force push spell against it.

The red leader questions what I'm doing, but I ignore him.

And just before he has the chance to strike me, both of our attentions are attracted by a great beam of lightning shooting out of the largest crystal in the field, and striking a low flying pegasus, and it hits them dead on. They pure grey pegasus plummets out of the sky, and hits the crystal rod at an angle, breaking it, and probably hurting the pegasus greatly. That was my goal. The breaking the crystal part, not hurting the pegausus.

So instead of using my overdrive spell on the crystal, I use it on the now unsuspecting red leader. I strike him in the back, and much like from the one I hit in the leg, I hear a sickening crack come from his spine, and his horn sparks with some red static and stops... and I think... hes... dead...

Oh god...

That feeling is back...

Don't give in to it now Retro. That pegasus may need our help. If you can save the pegasus, maybe you can make up for your murder... Ya... I'm sure thats how it works...

I notice a large amount of the blue ones are going after the pegasus that I now thought was surely dead.

I take the opportunity to look for a way out so that I can just leave the place. But that's when I notice the pegasus get up as if it was unharmed, and then I also notice that it is not a small group of those things going after it, it looks more like a small army making its way towards him... Fuck.

I start a full gallop towards them when the pegasus starts to fire beams of energy from their sides, skillfully killing a small number of the creatures, but not enough.

As I get closer, I notice the pegasus is in a full suit of armor, with Varo's 'battle assisting exoskeletons' built into it, with two guns fit into its sides. The creatures fire at the pegasus mercilessly, striking its metal armor with multiple lightning bolts, sending the pegasus to the ground again. They keep striking it with lightning for good measure.

"No!" I yell out to try and avert their attention towards me.

To my surprise, and to my dismay, it works... Too well I might add. They're starting to run at me now. I quickly pick up the Pegasus and the crystal rod with my telekinesis. I lift the pegasus above the crowd and put the pegasus behind me, so that I'm standing between the pegasus and the crowd.

I use the crystal rod to take in most of their electricity. I swing at the closest one twice, It dodges the first swing, and I hit it in the face on the second.

A red spark envelopes its horn like the red boss, and it turns to blue. Its eyes also fade from red to blue and It turns towards the others and starts firing lightning at them. With each bolt of lightning striking them, their eyes change back too blue like the first one.

I follow its lead, and turn more to blue. I get shocked a few times in the process, though it doesn't hurt as bad as earlier. It actually feels kind of good!

I start to hit harder as they strike me more and more with their electricity. It feels so good!

I drop the pegasus and start galloping through the crowd, just swinging left and right gleefully.

"WOO!!! The feeling of redemption!!" I scream out as I drop my crystal and fall to the ground.

The electricity coming from my enemies stops after a while...

And once it does, I open my eyes... Awesome! I can see my heartbeat! And I can taste it!!!

...Wait... thats not good... I hear a staticy warning beeping from my dazzler, It wont open, but I'm pretty sure that means that I'm probably pretty close to death... I should really calm down.

Deep breath in... And out...

As I regulate my breathing, the first one that I attacked walked up to me after the battle.

Update!
New weapon gained: Electric Crystal - You've found a natural conduit, and generator of electricity! This weapon deals a 1d8 + 2 electrical damage!

"Thank you for freeing us from the red one." it says to me before walking away.

"Wha? Thats it?" I say out loud

That was... Anticlimactic.

I think to myself before turning to the pegasus. I go to take it's helmet off when it does some combat move and pins me against the ground.

"Hey, how ya doin?" I ask it, trying not to piss it off.

In a deeper than my own, stallion's voice, the pegasus asks "Whats going on?"

'He.' Definitely a 'He'

"I saved your life, and I was going to check for injury when you woke up and, well, this." I explained.

He was about to say something when barrage of fire based spells come from the woods, striking some of the creatures, and making the others flee. The pegasus gets off of me to face the spells when a white coated, blue maned mare comes out and tackles the pegasus in the full outfit of armor while Shouting.

It was kind of funny to watch her try and bring him down, shes much smaller than him and her struggle is entirely useless.

"First you Fly away! Then you get shot down and almost die! Then your getting with random mares?!" She yells at him, reprimanding him.

He cuts into her questioning as I approach.

"That's not a mare, its a stallion." He says.

She continues. "So your getting with random stallions?! What the fuck Atlas?!" she yells out.

"Stop now Dragon Fire." He roars. "I am the leader of our group, and I will do what I think is necessary. And hell no! My barn door dont swing that way!"

She looked at him angrily, and then broke into tears."I thought you were going to die!" She says with hurt, weak words.

He hugs her to ease her sadness. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to listen to the group argue, They're almost as annoyin as losin some bits in a game of cards against some dogs, so I left. It was immature of me, and I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for what I'm gonna say next."

She looked at me, standing next to him, and then looks back up at him.

"You are now the temporary leader of our group, and I cant travel with ya any longer. I'm joining him." Atlas says as he points to me.

"What?" Dragon fire and I say in unison.

"He saved my life, and I now owe it to him." He says.

"Oh that's okay, you dont owe me. You can keep leading your team." I tell him.

"See? You dont have to stay with that ass hat. Come back before our team gets lost in the woods." She tries to convince him.

"No" he roars.

"I order you to go back to the group, and finish the job. And you have no permission to speak, now leave." He says commandingly in a tone of finality.

She looks at him with an angry, and somehow disappointing expression mixed into one. She accepts her orders, and walks back into the woods.

"You know you dont have to do this." I tell him, giving him another chance to leave.

"No. My loyalty is towards you now, you were brave enough to charge in and save a stranger, and I must pay you back. Now, what is your name?" He asks.

I give him my name and welcome him the the team. He gets into a less hostile stance, and takes his helmet off.

"Good to meet you friend. Happy to be a part of this team." He says as he takes my hoof and shakes the hay out of it.

"Good to meet you too Atlas." I say, hoping to get him to stop shaking my hoof, and when he does, I thank Purity for her unfathomable mercy and kindness.

"So whats our first mission?" He asks happily.

I'm caught off guard by how quickly his mood changed from when he was talking to that mare, hes much more up-beat than before.

"I uh. We have to go stop a small battle between two groups of longma to protect some goobles." I say

"Could we not? I really dont like goobles. Highway robbery is all they're good for." He asks with an obvious distaste for the goobles.

"Sorry Atlas, I'm getting paid for saving them." I say as I gesture for us to move on.

He shrugs and knods like he understands the payment part. I decide to try and conversation with Atlas on our walk there.

"So ehm, Atlas?" I say

"Yeah boss?" He asks

"Who was that mare back there?" I ask.

"Who? Dragon fire? Well shes mah sister. Shes also co-captain in our small division of Rapture company mercs. Well, now captain, cause I quit."

He confused me on that last part. "I'm sorry, Rapture company?" I ask.

The look on his face was asking if I was that stupid. "Are you kiddin me?! Rapture company! Ponies pay us, and we do dangerous stuff for them. But we will stay loyal to the first client that hired us, not the highest paying." He states proudly.

"I thought the Heroes were the only ones that did that?" I question.

"Sorry for this, but were you born last night?" He says in a completely serious tone.

"Well uh, I kind of, oh look at that, the map says we're at the destination." I say, trying to avoid looking stupid.

He raises an eyebrow to give me a questioning look when a little bipedal bunny hops up to us.

"You vere sent to stop zeh battles, ya?" It asks in a strange high pitched tone, and accent.

"Yes, were here to stop the longma from hurting any goobles." I state to the little bunny.

"Ya, ve are the goobles. Zeh longma aren't so far away. zey are taking a break right now." It says, and I notice the small village up ahead. And no, I dont mean a lack of buildings as "small village", I mean the building are sized for dogs, or well, bunnies in this case.

This is a joke...

Varo is fucking with me...

I bet the longma are miniature land fish or something...

"Please point me to the longmas, so that me and my associate can finish the job." I tell it in a slightly annoyed tone.

It holds its little fur covered hand out, and points to the left of the village.

"Thank you." I say, leaving the little guy behind.

"Did you see that little thief take anything from me?" Atlas asks, suspicious of the gooble.

"No? I was talking to it the whole time, looking right at it." I say with a confused look

"Well they're sneaky little bastards. I just had to ask... It could have taken our clothes without us noticing" He tells me, looking back at the gooble.

It waves at him and he sticks his tongue out at it.

What the hell Atlas...

Fast Forward

We walk up to a small piece of the forest with some scorch marks on the trees and forest floor.

"Hello?" I ask the empty forest, just to be greeted with Atlas's hoof pushing me away from a bullet that zooms passed me.

"Stop firin! We're not the bad guys!" Atlas yells out to the attacker.

To our luck, they listen, momentarily at least. A pony with a snake like tail, leathery wings, and scales covering its entire body comes out from behind its cover.

"Whoa." I say, looking at the creature.

"Leave the battlefield strangers. The battle will pick up again soon, and I'm making sure that this WILL be the last round." He says with an emphasis on the "will" as he talks.

I say "Listen, I cant just leave. I HAVE to help, its what I was sent here for, and its what-" I get interrupted by a clank from Atlas's armor.

"Ah shit!" he says after the bullet clanks off, and he hurriedly put his helmet on and runs for cover.

I figure he knows what hes doing, so I follow swiftly behind a fallen tree.

"This is it!" the longma beside us says.

"There's three. One for the each of us ah suppose." Atlas says

"How do you know there's three?" I ask. We just got shot at, how could he know how many there are?

"Oni co. full body exo skeletons! They have a threat scanner, pretty nifty." He says about his armor proudly. "We can talk about it more later. I'll take to the sky to flank em. Go team." He says as he gallops out from behind the cover and takes flight.

That armor looks pretty heavy though, he must be pretty strong to be flying with that.

A piece of the tree next to my head explodes into small splinters when one of the opposing team's bullets hit it. Damn that was close!

I peek over the tree when the shooting stops. They're reloading!

I jump over the log and charge one as I pull out my crystal. I charge the middle one as I swing the sharp end of my crystal at him. He's dodging it fairly well, seeing as how I'm only nicking him here and there. The other two longma finished loading their guns. I hear a 'click click' and turn to face it.

I see two green beams of light go through the longma's neck, and it slumps to the ground. I look up at Atlas, flying back around to give more cover fire.

I look back at the longma that had been doging my attacks, and then to the one pointing her gun at me, and I try to think of something to do.

Think, think, think! Your life is on the line here Retro!

After a few seconds, I notice that nothing is moving. Everything has stopped...

"What is this?" I think to myself

"It's battle assistance." I hear Butter Muffin say.

"Battle assistance? What do you mean?" I ask

"I'm using the dazzler's magic, mixed with your magic, to help you in battle." She says

"You stopped time?! Thats awesome!!!" I say

"What? No you doofus. Your just thinking really, really fast. Though, I suggest you hurry, it wont last forever. Here. Now hurry." She tells me.

All kinds of numbers and symbol appear around, and near everything, as if calculating possibilities, and equations. I look at them, and somehow understand them. So I get to work, using them in my plan to fight theses longma.

Wow... That should work quite nicely... Yes!

Everything starts to speed back up as I set my plan into action. I shove the dull end of my crystal into a tree nearest to the longma that was dodging my attacks, and I go to hoof fight him.

He's far better than I am, but I'm just trying to wait until he gets in position.

I punch at him, he dodges, and hits me in the ribs.

I back up by the crystal and try to punch him again, he dodges of course and hits me in my other side

he dodges of course, and decks me in the nose...

I put my hoof on my nose to try and make it hurt less. "Fine! Dodge this asshole!" I yell out as I hit him with my force push spell.

When he gets hit, he looks around, confused by what had just happened, then he looks at me worried. I smile and hit him a few more times. Then when I knock him off balance, I overdrive my force push into the side of his head, driving it into the crystal. Light electricity dances across his body as the crystal finds its way through the other side of his head.

And I killed another one... but this time I was defending myself. Not like last time, where I wasn't directly threatened...

My train of thought is interrupted by a bullet that goes through my right ear from the mare behind me.

"Fuck!" I yell out in pain and look back at the longma mare.

She's wearing one of those lightweight exoskeletons Varo had, and has one small gun on her left side. I look over to the body of the longma that Atlas shot earlier, and grab the gun it was going to use on me.

The mare fires again, and again... Her aim, is atrocious...

I run behind a tree as she fires, and as I try and figure out how to use the gun. I look it over, and put pressure on areas of it with my telekinesis until it fires. It startles me when it does so I jump a bit. I shake it off and jump out from behind the tree and fire until it stops shooting stuff out...

Oh purity...

The longma mare stands there with a sad look on her face, and then falls to the ground. I gallop to her. She she has a few bullet holes in her torso...

From me...

I hold her and tell her "It's going to be okay. Just hang in there." as I hurriedly open my inventory, searching for something to help her with. She's breathing quickly, and brokenly...

She looks so afraid...

She looks into my eyes, her pupils start to grow, and she breathes more quickly, and then she stops...

The breathing stops...

Her eyes close...

Her life ends... Because of me...

"It's okay Retro, we can make up for it." I tell myself as I try to shake off the feeling.

I get up and walk over to where the longma behind cover was just to find Dragon Fire holding his head with her telekinesis.

She looks over towards me and then to the now landing Atlas, both of us confused by the fact that she killed the last longma, and that she was even here.

"Hey brother!" She shouts at Atlas. "I beat you to the prize!" She continues shouting, more cheerful than I would have thought after murder.

"Oh yeah." Atlas says.

"Oh yeah? Forget to tell me something?" I ask

"Well maybe a small thing about my team coming here to eliminate the longma threat against the goobles." Atlas says, embarrassed.

"Thats not little at all! How do you forget something like that?! And I thought you hated goobles?!" I question angrily

"Well ah do, but they bring in a lot of money for Rapture company, even if their prices are way too high." Atlas says

Dragon Fire cuts in. "Come on Atlas. Lets go collect the reward, then you are coming back home, since Im sure you've payed your debt with this loser."

What did I ever do to piss her off?

"Well... Kind of" Atlas says.

"That's what I thought, now lets go. Go back home kid, we've got this under control." Dragon Fire says with a tone of 'Go fuck yourself' in her voice.

"But I... I walked all this way and... I just..." I sign. "You know what, fuck you." I say angrily as I walk away from the siblings in home's direction.

"This whole mission was stupid anyways." I say aloud to myself "Atlas was worth the trouble though, it's good to see ponies with his dedication to loyalty. And Im happy I get to go home and see Dirge, at least he's kind to me."

Half dragons... That's awesome as hell.

I wish I was a longma...

Level Up!
Level 4:
Exploit Gained: Quick Study - You now gain an extra three skill points when you level up!
18 skill points added

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Chapter 9: Thoughts...

Chapter 9: Thoughts...

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Cutscene 9: Donk

The moonlight shines through the window, onto Retro and Dirge, both asleep in bed.

Harmonic Melody opens the door, letting the light from the other room pour in. The light coats Retro's face, causing him to shift in bed in order to get the light off of him.

Harmonic Melody smiles, and gently shakes Retro to wake him.

"Whaaat?" Retro asks angrily.

"Get up grumpy, we have to make sure your okay." Melody says as she shakes him a little harder.

Dirge wakes up from the slight commotion, yawns, and says "We found you on the street coming from Hero's guild, then you said that you felt like you donked your head, then you collapsed so I treated your wounds and brought you to Melody's house."

Melody cuts in. "Oh, actually, this is Strobe Light's house, not mine."

Play

"Dirge?" I ask.

"Yes Retro?" He asks in return.

"Are you sick? Your voice sounds kind of... off" I ask

"You dont remember? Maybe you did hit your head pretty hard... I am a mare." Dirge said...

"What?" I ask, concerned and very confused.

"Varo changed my gender, I'm a mare now." He... err... I mean She said."

I say "Ho... Hold on... Let me figure this out." as I lie my head back on my pillow.

"Hey! None of that Retro, get up. We have to make sure your alright. Get up now!" Melody says with a scolding tone.

I get up out of fear of the classy mare.

Well, more or less fear.

If you count rolling onto the floor and then having the mare and the pseudo-mare put me back on my hooves as getting up.

Dirge rubs her cheek against mine, and I notice how much softer it is now. I move away to avoid the feeling.

It feels good, but its just too... strange right now...

She raises an eyebrow when she looks to me, but I cleverly start whistling like nothing is wrong.

Damn I'm smart!

We walk out of Melodies room, into the living room with the radio. Strobe Light is lying on the couch, waiting for us I assume. "Feeling alright baby brother? The heroes hurt you?" He asks me.

"Brother? Heroes?" I ask in return.

"Don't you remember? You were coming from the heroes guild And Your my baby brother now." He answers with a smile.

Whoa...

What did I do? I ask myself

"You really did a number on those good for nothing heroes. You are one bad ass to have taken on fifteen all alone, and to have killed them too. Awesome!" He said with pride for me in his voice.

"What the fuck did I do?!" I say aloud as I drop to the ground as I try to process this information. "Stop it! Stop telling me things! I dont want to know anymore until you tell me how the fuck I got here!" I shout out demandingly.

"Oh my love, its alright." She says as she crawls next to me, and hugs me with her wing.

Dirge's warmth, and wing hug is comforting, but its still a little unnerving that he's a she now.

She explains the situation. "After you left, and I woke up, and Blaze told me that Varo wanted to see me. So I went. On the way there though, I ran into a sky blue alicorn mare. When I walked past her, she stopped in place, turned towards me, and said 'You smell like him.' then her eyes widened, then she gasped said 'With a bat? awww~ My son is gender confused~' happily."

"That was probably my mother. Shes weird... And I'm not gender confused... Finish your story Dirge." I say with a bit of embarrassment.

"Of course. I got to Varo's and he told me that a pony murdered and raped another pony, and that I looked a lot like the pony on the wanted poster. He told me that he could turn me into a mare, to avoid a mix up, with the murderer and I. I didn't see a problem with it since, I thought you wouldn't mind, and its reversible. That's all for how I'm a mare, how you got into Heroe's guild... I cant say for certain."

I hear the living room door swing open and slam against the wall. We all turn our heads to face what had done it. And what greets us is the silhouette figure of and earth pony.

"As cliche as my character intro is, I think I can shed some light on that subject for you Retro." Says the silhouette figure in a calm stallion's voice...

Flash Back: Two weeks ago

I almost got home when I ran Into a rather large group of griders. I've been pinned for a good ten minutes, and I'm out of magical stamina. To make it worse, I was shot in my front left knee joint, so I cant run, or do anything besides gnaw on them...

Once they figure that out, they'll probably come over here and kill me...

I was so close to home too...

I knew Varo should have left me and Blaze together on a team...

They're shouting about something. They've finally found out that I'm defenseless... Fuck... I hear them getting closer...

"Dazzler, open journal. I need to record one." I say to my dazzler, and it opens the journal section of data. "Voice record... I dont feel like typing right now."

I close my eyes and start talking. "This is Retro, son of Purity, son of existence. I'm probably dead. So if you find this dazzler, bring it to a stallion named Varo in Continume. These are my-"

An explosion goes off beside my cover, flinging dirt into the air, and knocking me off of my feet. My covers been destroyed, there they are...

Just as one gallops up to me with a knife in her mouth, ready to stab me, I hear a gunshot behind me. The grider drops to the ground in front of me. I turn to face the gunshot, and not far from my left is an alicorn.

He has a scoped revolver, and a sword grasped in his magic. He also has what looks like an extremely advanced version of a telekinetic shield spell around him. He seems to have taken all of the griders attention, and they are now charging him instead of myself.

It's a blue alicorn stallion with various grey stripes around his body, but instead of them ending as points, they end as boxes. He has a grey mane and tale and green eyes. His cutie mark is that of a grey cross with a sun and moon inside of it.

The griders pointlessly fire at his shield which seems to give him invulnerability, and on top of that, the shield lashes out at anypony foolish enough to get near him. It just dices them mercilessly, and that's only the shield. He isn't any more merciful with his sword or revolver.

He makes extremely short work of the remaining seventeen griders, and he doesn't even bother looting them, he just walks past their guns, knives, and grenades, towards me.

"H-Hi. My name is Retro... W-Who are you?" I say with a shaky voice full of fear, and hold out my hoof to shake his.

Instead of shaking my hoof though, he hits me with the hilt of his sword...

Really hard...

Hard enough to send me back into the darkness...

Present

"So I almost died again?" I ask the white coated stallion, with hot pink eyes, and pearlescent mane and tail. He also has a synthetic front left leg.

"Of course. But thanks to my co-friend, you are alive." He responds happily.

Strobe Light cuts into our conversation. "Thanks for shedding a little bit of light on why his head hurts, but if your going to be in my house, your going to have to tell me who you are."

"Oh! You think the hilt of the sword is why his head hurts. No silly. Go back up the page a little, you'll see that it says 'Flash Back: Two weeks ago'. His head wouldn't hurt after two weeks." He responds happily to Strobe Light.

Strobe Light's face goes from confused look to, Super extremely 'What the fuck?' look.

"Ehhh up the page?" Strobe light asks

"Yes. Like the page of a book. Just scroll up, it should be in bold letters." The strange stallion says.

"Wha... Who the hell are you?" Strobe light asks, a bit more angry than before.

"I cant tell you until my character intro in the flash backs. That would be bad story telling; No spoilers." The strange stallion says in a slightly scolding voice. "So lets continue." He says, perking up again.

Flash Back: One week, Six days ago

"I'm still alive? Wait... where am I?" I ask myself aloud, waking up from the darkness.

I look around to find myself in a sterile white room. I'm lying on a bed with chains attaching it to the wall, like a prison bed. There's a small sink with a square mirror above it, and a door to the left of the sink says 'bathroom' above it. And lastly, there is a small table next to the bed.

A twinge of pain goes through my head, and I place my hoof against it.

Ow...

I remember how I blacked out now. That alicorn... Wait a second, where is the alicorn? I think to myself as i get out of the bed.

I get dizzy when I stand, and I start to stumble, and eventually collapse. Or almost collapse that is.

Someone caught me before I hit the ground. At first, I thought that it was Blaze, but then I dashed that thought.

"Oh dear, are you alright Retro? What did you do to him Law?" I hear a stallion, next to me ask. Probably the one holding me right now, but I cant tell with how blurry everything is.

"I merely incapacitated him with my sword's hilt." A deeper voice responds.

"Oh Divine! You know you cant just hit someone's head hard enough to knock them out as a plot device to transition scenes! It could cause some serious damage. This poor guy probably has a concussion now." The stallion close to me said to 'Divine Law'.

"Is that a problem? We have medical advancements that rival that of Oni co. A simple concussion is nothing." Law says to the stallion next to me.

"That's not the point. You gave our new friend a concussion, that's a bad first impression towards someone so important. Go to your room, your grounded for the day." The stallion next to me says as my vision starts to come back to me.

I see the blue alicorn leaving the room through a hole in the wall, and then the wall closes behind him. Then I turn to face the stallion next to me.

What I see is a very clean white coated stallion, with hot pink eyes, a pearlescent mane and tail, and a robotic left foreleg, and... No cutie mark?

Present

"This is me!" The strange stallion says excitedly.

Flash Back: One week, Six days ago

"Where am I?" I ask the white stallion as I try and get up.

"Don't move so fast. Here, sit on the bed for a bit. You might have some head, and/or brain trauma. We're gonna get you to our medical center alright?" He asks me softly, as if I had a head ache or something like that.

"Why am I in a prison cell?" I ask him

He gives me a confused look, and tilts his head a little

"Prison cell...? This room? It's not a cell, it just that no one has decorated it at all. And dont worry, I think that it looks horrifying too. We'll get it nice and organized when we come back from the medical center." He responds. "Shall we go?" He asks shortly after.

"I... Sure... I'm in the mood for getting rid of the pain, so yea. Lets go." I tell him as I carefully get off the bed. "How do we get out?" I ask.

He tells me "Just gently press on the wall. It should open... Unless it doesn't, then we're probably f***ed."

The last word in his sentence got bleeped out...

That's...

Really weird... I think I might have some serious head injuries.

I press on the wall, and to my surprise, it starts dissipating.

"Well there. We're okay after all." The white stallion behind me says.

The hole in the wall opens to a large circular marble floored room, with a platform in the center which acts as an elevator to a room further up, and a sand pit across from me. And Various doors around the room.

"This place is pretty cool." I say aloud

"Oh I'm so happy you think that, I made it for you!" The odd pony says to me.

I stop in place, somewhat creeped out, and maybe a little honored that someone would build a place like this for me. "For me?" I ask

He stops as well and says "Weeelll not exactly you. But ponies like you, and you yourself was a good part of this place's founding!" as he turns to face me.

This is just weird...

My head starts to hurt as I hear a ringing in my ears... I really need to see a doctor. "Can we..." The ringing slowly dissipates. "Can we just teleport to a doctor or something?" I ask him, hoping to get rid of the pain as soon as possible.

"Huh? Oh sure. Ill put you back to sleep, and you'll wake up there." He tells me. And before I have time to react, he decks me with his metal hoof and I fall onto the floor, unconscious again.

Present

"You did what to Retro?" Strobe Light asks.

"I punched him in the face... I thought I was pretty clear on that." The stranger says.

"You know what? I'm gonna go make some tea, and relax. When he actually starts explaining some stuff, someone come get me." Strobe light says as he calmly gets up from his cushion on the floor, and walks off, into the kitchen.

"You know, you are going a bit slow with your story, I'm getting kind of bored here. I tell him, in the hopes to move things along quicker.

He lets out a sign of distaste and says "Fine. I carry you to the med center, the doctor patches you up, I give you a good meal or two over a few days, and some nice sleeps, we walk away to the shooting range in the backyard of the mansion, I teach you how to not suck with a gun, and I tell you 'welcome to the guild!' you ask me in your little mares voice 'what guild?' and then I-"

"Whoa, slow down." I say.

"Ya, thats the filly voice we all love." he says

"Wha? I do not have a fillies voice. I may look like a filly, but I know I dont sound like one." I say to him.

"Maybe I'm just hearing you wrong. Would you kindly talk for me again?" He asks with a smile.

"You know what? Just continue your story so we can move along." I tell him.

"Oh now thats a good stallion!" he says to me...

Flashback: One week, One day ago

"What guild?" I ask, confused about what he had just said.

"WHY, HERO'S GUILD OF COURSE!" He says in his outside voice. "And I, Hero, personally welcome you to it!" He finishes

"He-hero's guild?" Can I refuse?

"If you do I'll kill you." He says with a wide smile

I hope strobe light will still like me when he finds out... "But I suck at well... almost everything else, why am I a hero?" I ask

"Whoa, hey. Stop right there, you are not a hero. I am Hero. you can be a... Hmm. You wanna be a Platinum Knight, a Sentinel, or a Legend?" He asks me.

"Um... whats the difference between each?" I ask

"Oh right. Well there are One hundred and twenty five of us in all. There are one hundred Platinum Knights, and they're the lowest of us, but most of them are still worth about three royal guards each. Then there are twenty sentinels. They're kind of special, they're worth about five Platinum Knights each. Then there are four Legends, you have to be a super bad*** to be a Legend. Theres a reason theres only four. To be a legend, you have to kill a legend, it shows dedication, and bad***ery. They are worth about five sentinels each, and they are amazing! And finally, theres me, Hero himself, I can personally take on all four legends, and win. So whatcha wanna be?" He asks after explaining his guild to me.

"A sentinel, I guess. They sound pretty cool." I say

"I NEED A SENTINEL DOWN HERE NOW!" He shouts out, and shortly after, a pony rushes to his side.

"Yes sir?!" The large pony asks in a deep voice.

Hero responds by pulling his gun around, and mercilessly firing into the sentinels face, killing him. "There you are, a position just opened up, luck you" he says to me.

As he turns to face me, I hold the small gun he had given me, up to his face.

"Whats this?" He asks me.

"Y-you just shot somepony! He didn't even do anything to you! You just shot him!" I say in a shaky voice.

"Well the only way out of Hero's Guild is death, And there were no positions for you, so I had to make room for my new friend." He says as he takes a few steps towards me.

I panic, and pull the trigger, and I what happens is... Strange... The bullet goes into his eye, but it doesn't kill him, it just makes a ripple for a moment, then its gone. "What the hell?" I ask, scared.

"Your right! You should play in the dungeon before getting to be a sentinel, I almost forgot! Here have an extra life, you'll need it." He says to me as his voice goes from jolly to sinister.

A small pixelated version of my head pops up in front of me, and is shortly after, replaced by a 'plus one' symbol. After that disappears, I look back at Hero. His pupils start to expand and take over the entirety of both his eyes, as i feel tired, and fatigued. I collapse, weakened under his gaze...

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Chapter 2: Still alive

Chapter 2: Still alive

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Cut scene 2: Go back to sleep

Retro wakes up to Varo over him, prodding around inside him. Varo looks up from his work to see Retro watching the operation. He searches briefly for something, and smiles when he finds another syringe. He quickly injects the serum and puts an odd mask on Retro's face. Retro becomes unconcious once again.

Play

I woke up to Varo writing on a clip board... Probably notes on how fine I am.

"They are not that child" answering me as if he had read my mind.

I say "Good morning doctor" trying to get his attention. He didnt seem to care and started listing facts and other stuff I didnt quite understand. Maybe you'll understand it better you fine listener, you.

"Firstly, I took away the power of the universe from you. Once you learn the right spell, you will be able to have the power to go through space and time itself, like you could before. But that wont be for a very long time."

I interrupted "I didn't know I could do either before" He looked me in the eyes without emotion, I assumed it was in anger though.

He continued "I've also taken the liberty of injecting you with the formula that takes away your repulsion field. Though anyone that had previously hated you will continue to do so, lest you somehow change their minds."

I interrupt again "Well you did your best doctor, even if it wasn't quite there." He looks at me with the same even look that I assume is anger and continues

"Thirdly, you work for me now. If you'll turn your attention towards the device around your neck" he says

"Oooo, what a dazzler." I say.

He responds to my comment with "That 'dazzling' device does many things, so pay attention."

"First, It will mark and remember the locations you visit around Arcania, and it will holographically display your map on command."

"Second, it is a journal, keeping track of any missions you've gained; Any factions you've interacted with, and how they view you; And it keeps track of your feats, and accomplishments."

"Third, it has a vital system scanning program, meaning it displays how healthy, how damaged, and how Stagnant you are."

"Fourth, it has a de-atomizer, instead of you having to carry all of the objects you find in your travels, you can simply break them down into molecules; Don't worry though, it will alphabetically organize these items and give them to you on command."

"Fifth, it can assist you in casting spells, as long as you take the time out of your life to learn how to program them in, i'm not going to bother telling you how. because it would be a waste of time, and your too stupid to understand."

"Sixth, It will digitally reconstruct your body to change you into a unicorn, Pegasus, or earth pony on command, to make up for taking your wings and horn away."

"I'm not an alicorn anymore?!" I interrupted again panicingly, noticing that my wings, and horn had been removed, making me a simple earth pony. He nodded and finished his explanation of this... thing.

"Seventh, it has an extremely advanced AI. It will teach you how to use the device, and will assist you with things you dont know."

"Finally, its very durable, I would suggest that you dont need chest armor while wearing it, as long as you keep its core safe.

"Any questions?" He asks as he finishes.

I answer him with "Four of them. Maintence, how do I take it off, what do I call it, and wheres my brother?"

He quickly answers, as if trying to get rid of me "Blaze left, already heading home. Heres the key to take it off, it is the only way to remove it. The only maintenence needed is to cool the core off every so often. No name yet, name it what you like."

I thank him and start to trot off when he stops me. "Report back tomorrow before noon to get your first assignment, and get some rest, you'll need it."

Something catches my eye as I exit through the door. Actually there were two things that caught my eye, One looked like it latched to the bottom of your hoof and went up the outter part of your leg. It had two tray-like things that fastened to your side, like a saddle. The saddle had some kind of plug-in cords on each side. The front of the saddle went up the neck and attached to earpieces. The second was simpler, it looked like it hooked to pegasus wings with buttons on the sides, and went to the earpiece and had trays like the other one.

"One more question, Varo. Those things on the wall, what are they?" I ask.

He answers with "They are light, battle assisting exoskeletons that hold ranged weapons. They are quite deadly. Now get out."

I wasted no more time to leave. I felt like if I had, he may have forced me out.

When I actually left the hole, I noticed that I had missed the better part of the day.

While I was walking home, I decided to change into a unicorn. I always did liked the horn the most, better than being an earth pony at least. Well that, and I needed to learn how to use the dazzler.

It wasn't that difficult to learn, and as I change I hear that same dick's voice from earlier shout "Hey freak!" just before I turned to see a brick coming towards me.

Easy catch, Ill just grab it with my magic and -Donk- ow ow ow. My blue levitation field tried to grab it but broke as it made contact with the brick.

"I'm gonna..." I look around to find that he had run off somewhere. "...go home".

As I walk home I think about why my levitation spell didnt work. Varo's words sparked in my mind and reminded me that he had taken my magic. But he just meant my super ultra mega death god magic... right? Dammit Varo. You got me hit with a brick!

I go to touch the wound to see if it still hurts, and as I do, I whimper from the unexpected amount of pain.

Shortly after, I hear a silky voice ask if i'm OK. I look around to find a purple coated mare troting up to me with a worried look on her face.

"I um, I'm fine. How about you?" I say with a smile.

"Oh how polite, even in pain you ask how a lady is doing." She says.

"Well its not really that bad." I respond. She raises an eyebrow and digs around in one of her saddle bags to pull out a mirror and show me. "Oh, I guess it is that bad." I say as I look at the gash barely above my eye, I think I was hit with a corner piece. ouch. "You dont happen to have anything to help would you?" I ask.

She nods and takes out some magically enchanted bandages, and happily starts covering the wound with them.

While shes working, my eyes start to wander to her flank, and I enjoy what I see. Thats a nice looking... blank flank? Oh Retro... Your attracted to a filly, thats just not right. But wait... shes larger than I am, she couldn't possibly be a filly. So maybe it is right? I turn my attention to her purple eyes, and her beautiful mane that seems to closely resemble a sunset at the base, leading to a clear night's sky as it nears the tip.

After admiring her beauty, I work up the courage to ask her name. In a tone that seemed to make everything feel better.

She stated "Equinox, the ancient of space and time. And what about you?"

Hohmigosh, hohmigosh, hohmigosh! I was talking to an ancient! Not just any ancient! The. Best. Ancient.

I answer her question with a fumbling voice. "M-my name? Oh I um... Im Retro, son of god... well goddess." "Good job Retro, Great first impression" Wait is she giggling? Why is she giggling?

Then I finally realized I had said that second part out loud.

"Oh, Retro. I remember you. Sorry I didnt recognize it was you sooner, Ive just been so busy since forming Arcania" She says with a slight smile.

I was about to apologize for not recognizing her as well when she interrupted me with "Would you please excuse me, like I said, I am very busy. Please be careful of your head, more than just you might need it 'son of goddess'." And with that, she smiled again, and then she galloped off.

I watched her until she was out of sight. But most deffinately not out of mind. Oh no, i'm definitely keeping the memory of that mare locked away for safe keeping.

When I walk into my house, Blaze looks over to me, alarmed about the bandages on my head.

I say "Don't worry about it." to him, but he still has the worried expression on his face.

I looked down to see his new 'Dazzler device' and I noticed that the only differences were that the metal his had been made from was gold, instead of my silver. And that his core was red, instead of my blue. I asked him what he thought of the device, when he commented how I assumed he would.

"This should be helpful for the kind of work we'll be doing soon, and it has this helpful assistant too."

He turns on the AI system and it shows the red hologram of a stallion in a... uh, why is a hologram wearing an aviator's outfit? Whats a hologram even need one of those for?

"Good evening master Blaze, what may I help you with?" the hologram says in a rather classy voice.

Blaze responds quickly "Nothing really, just showing you off Spender."

The hologram smiles "Thank you sir, good to know I'm the prized trophy of my master."

Blaze puts Spender away as he salutes. I comment on how cool it is, and try to activate my own hologram when my Dazzler device sparks, spudders, and pretty much shuts down.

"Um Blaze, what just happened?" I ask

He asks me if I let the core cool down first... I didn't.

"How long will I have to wait for it to re-boot?"

He thinks for a moment before answering "A few hours maybe?"

I let out a sigh of distaste and ask him if I have any chores before bed. He tells me not to worry about them, and that I should try to gets some rest so that the bandages will take full effect. I smile and thank him.

He stops me as I head for my room to tell me he loves me.

"I love me too Blaze." I say. He smiles and lets me continue into my room, where I proceed to collapse on my bed, and fall asleep quickly.

Pause

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