Feel The Game

Ada disappeared along with the portal as soon as it closed behind my back, leaving me alone in the quietude of the early morning mist.

The dream device beeped, and the game had just started for me.

I turned around my feet, expecting to find an at least recognizable landmark – sugarcube corner, the royal castle, sweet apple acres – but no. Everything was completely unknown to me.

Tall pine trees flanked a seemingly ancient cobblestone road, in which small patches of moss flourished through the gaps between the rocks, the portal had brought me to the foothills of a small mountain range, and the only visible path zigzagged up the steep slope.

"You must be kidding me..." I muttered.

Ada promised me a trip to Equestria, and hey – I was there – but in the middle of nowhere.

With no other way out, I decided to follow the road – with some luck, it would lead me to the pony butts. Dammit, I was in their world for Celestia's sake – after decades of waiting, I could finally rub it in the face of my brony friends – that if I had any.

The golden coins in my pocket jangled recklessly as I strode up the hill, I ran my fingers through that small fortune of mine, saying to myself that in the worst case scenario, I would still be able to hire a high-end luxury escort to cuddle up with me. I guess I had a thing for pegasus ponies, and a cute feathered mare would be just perfect – heck, I'd love to play with her wings, feel my hand digging into her feathers until she started to moan and- What the hell was I thinking about anyway?

Those coins were made to be spent with a very special somepony – not some random pegasus slut.

Sluts and coins aside, my mind was focused on the road – and the road was empty as a graveyard at midnight – the path was full of ups and downs, and in some specific curves, the trees seemed to lean over my head like a huge wave at the sea. My trench coat wasn't heavy, but there were no credit cards in Equestria, and it was quite cumbersome to carry those coins around – slowly, I was getting tired from the constant battle against the slope.

So far, I hadn't seen any signs of being in the pony world. Heck, judging by Ada's sense of humor, she could have sent me to medieval Europe – and I wouldn't even know the difference until someone decided to burn me at the stake.

I never thought one could feel exhaustion in a simulated reality, but hell – my legs were on fire. The Dream Device was playing with my central nervous system – editing and deceiving my nerve terminals – and the result was a replica of sensations. The world perceived by my trickled senses, was just as real as the real world.

And this thought could be quite unsettling, so I pretended to ignore it.

After hours of tiresome wanderings, I realized that an open world game is not entertaining at all, when you find yourself stuck in the skin of the player. When I was about to sit down in a boulder and curse Ada for the rest of my day, the distinct sound of hooves clanking against stone resounded through the woods.

I stopped in place, observing as a pale white mare came trotting down the hill, a wavy scarf wrapped around her neck alongside with a purple saddlebag by her side. She was a pegasus – and unlike Ada – she probably had no idea as to why a strange man would interrupt her journey. In a crazy way, this pony was unaware of the real world behind this artificial veil – still – she was very real. The mare slowed down upon seeing me – and I thanked god for that – because she would be my ride to Canterlot.

"Excuse me-" I said, waving as she approached. The mare gave me an odd look when I got up from the boulder by the road, and I had no idea of what to expect. It wasn't a terrible kind of look by itself – but it made me feel like I had something green stuck in my teeth.

"Y-yes?" She replied, standing at a safe distance from me. It's not like I was about to force some struggle snuggle with her, anyway.

"May I ask... where am I, exactly?" I forced a smile, shaking a drop of sweat from my forehead.

"S-sorry?" She cocked an eyebrow at me, while she probably meant 'what the hell are you talking about, fella?'

"Ah... My carriage – It crashed down there, a terrible accident..." I vaguely pointed at nowhere in specific, pretending to be worried about some other stupid consequence. "As you can see, I'm not an Equestrian citizen – but I have an appointment with a very, very, important somepony. Please, I just need to arrive in Canterlot as fast as possible" So I can dine, drink, and possibly have some sex with one of your princesses, that's it.

"Oh, but this road leads to Canterlot, sir. The city is just a few miles ahead."

"Is that so? Just a few miles, you say?" She just nodded. I stared at the mountain range for a few seconds, and my subconscious mind repeated that I would probably die before reaching the top. "Look... I give you two of these pretty golden coins if you give me a ride to the city."

The mare gasped, looking at me with a mix of awe and disbelief as I picked up my coin purse. Those were heavy bits, a pair of thick ornate coins, and they seemed to be made of nothing but solid, pure – gold. I soon realized that I had probably offered an absurd amount of money.

Ponies had such an old monetary system.

"L-look, I can't accept that – b-besides, I wouldn't be able to-"

"I give you five! Come on – five golden coins, for Christ's sake!" I pushed the coins into her saddlebag, even though she tried to walk away. "You're a strong pegasus, and I am nothing but an exhausted diplomat, trying to achieve consensus and build foreign relations – just let me hop on your back as you fly back to the city."

Looking at the money I had just forced her to accept, and then staring back at the poor exhausted 'diplomat', she sighed.

"Very well then... But keep in mind Mr- What's your name anyway?"

"Freeman, Morgan Freeman." I laughed internally.

"Very well, Mr. Freeman – keep in mind that I'm not used to carry living humans on my back. Take this as a disclaimer: I'm not responsible if you eventually fall to your death."

"I'm not even considering this possibility, honey pot." I said.

"Just for you to know, my name is not 'Honey Pot' – It's Sweet Thoughts." She pointed to her cutie mark, which looked like a crystallized silvery cloud, alongside with an equally crystallized parchment.

"Whatever Sugary Coat – let me ride you now, will ya?" She gasped as I grabbed her flanks, positioning myself behind her wings. I wondered; what kind of sweet thoughts was she able to evoke, anyway? "Ah... You'll not have a wingb-"

"No!" She yelled. "Shut up, for Celetia's sake, I need some focus to take off– It's not like I'm carrying an extra feather."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry – I wouldn't like to see what happens when a pegasus gets one of those in mid air. I just don't want to be on-board of some sinking ship, if you know what I mean." I chuckled – Sweet Thoughts facehoofed, probably regretful for having accepted my cursed money.

"Just... Stay away from my wings, okay?" She impatiently said. "Keep your arms around my neck, this way you won't fall when I take off – and please, try to not suffocate me – I'm not made of steel."

"Alright, alright." Following her advice, I hugged her neck from behind, laughing a little as I contemplated such an unbelievable scene. Some people ride motorcycles, I ride flying ponies.

"Hold down now, this may be a bit bumpy."

"This wha-"

Too late.

"I said put me down!! Put me down, you suicidal chicken!" I screamed in panic, as Sweet Thoughts laughed, dodging from the trees and cliffs – doing pretty much everything to scare the hell outta me.

"Be careful on what you wish for, Morgan! You might get it!"

As she finally managed to fly high enough, there was nothing but silence. My heart still pounded inside my chest, and I could barely open my eyes because of the wind. I peeked through my eyelids, and the sight – it was unbelievable.

Standing miles above the multicolored plains of Equestria, perched in the mountains, was a city of marble and gold – all those shining rooftops emerged from the mountain, Canterlot extended its roads through the stone plateau, unlike the royal part of the city, which seemed to float in a world of its own.

Sweet Thoughts talked to me, but for the first time, I was speechless. My trench coat flowed in the wind alongside with Sweet's mane, I held on tightly, hugging her fluffy neck.

"... Hey, are you even listening to me?" She asked.

"Oh- Yeah – I mean, no, I'm sorry."

"Where do you want to stay – any specific place?"

As she started to slow down, I could catch a glimpse of the city life unwrapping itself. All the details, all the simple things, they shocked me – I was dealing with real shit – ponies walked in and out of their houses, golden carriages arrived at the castle, the streets throbbed with life. I can't say it looked like the show. It didn't looked like the show – It was... Alive. They were living things, with muscles, brains, blood – and you suddenly realize that the game is playing you.

"J-just... I'll stay at the main avenue. I don't know how you ponies call it, just leave me somewhere near the castle." Sweet just nodded.

She extended her hooves again, and galloped until we reached the street level, it was then, when everyone suddenly stopped. The ponies stared at me with the same look in their faces, whispering almost inaudible things to each other.

The Dream Device beeped again, and a message appeared in mid air.

[color=#3c26af]'Achievement Unlocked – You never forget your first flight'[/color]

"Ah... You can get off me now." The pegasus frowned.

"Oh! Yeah, sorry for that." I chuckled awkwardly, as I safely landed on the street, narcissistically checking my hair – it was a complete mess again.

Slowly, the ponies resumed their lives, eventually ignoring my presence again – I was in their world – I was a foreign, an alien. And this concept couldn't leave my head. What if I messed with somepony? What if a stallion kicked my balls for flirting with his mare – would it even hurt?

"Are you... Okay?"

I raised my head again, realizing I was staring at the ground, lost in thoughts.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." I replied hesitatingly. "I just need to sit down in a cafe or something – to think about... stuff" I forced a smile.

"You're a weird creature." She giggled, shaking her head at me. "It was nice meeting a human being, but I really have to go... You know, to deal with 'stuff'."

"Weird indeed, but thank you Sweet, you saved my day." I said "Just one last question – what's your special talent, I couldn't figure it out yet." I raised an eyebrow as I the white mare looked at me and bit her lips.

"You don't really want to know, honey." As she passed in front of me before leaving, her wing tips brushed against my pants, and my head was instantly flooded by mind-blowing thoughts. In a matter of seconds, it all disappeared, and I stared at her in disbelief.

"So long, and thanks for all the bits! Spencer"

***

Author's Note

What is Sweet Thoughts special talent?