I look to my left and right, PPK at the ready, finger just over the trigger. The old Russian missile base creaks and groans as I walk through it. Other than that, pure silence. Knowing what's at stake here, I keep my guard up. I can't afford to lose this battle. I spin around and raise my gun only to find nothing. I turn back around and keep going, trying to stay hidden. If I can reach the missile controls first, if I can be the first to turn that key-

"You need to be a lot quicker y'know" Cloudchaser speaks up before emptying her assault rifle into my chest. The impacts are painless but my own blood feels warm on my skin as I fall to the ground. It'll take ten or so seconds before I can get back on the move and even then, I'll be farther away. I start to black out and when my vision returns, I'm on the far side of the base.

Motherfucker! I'm not gonna make it!

Throwing stealth to the wind, I run at a break-neck speed to the Missile control room. I'm running as fast as I can, lungs pumping, chest heaving. I can see it, I could make it! I could win this! At least.... until I hear a voice over the PA.

"Sorry Emile, but me and Cloudchaser are seriously hungry!" Flitter says over the speakers

"Suck it Emile~" Cloudchaser singsongs to me

The rumbling tells me everything I need to know. I'm in a blast tunnel. There's a missile launching. Fuck. The tube is lit up with the light of the oncoming inferno, only meters away from me. I swear to the fire itself as it engulfs me painlessly and roasts me alive.

We step out of the imersion rig booths, me in particular covered in a light sheen of sweat.

"Was the 'suck it' really needed?" I shoot Cloudchaser a playful glare

"Yes. Yes it was. I find it topped your death with that essence of class" She laughs

I just roll my eyes and smile. These mares have adapted quickly over the span of a month. Learning human expressions, getting over the fear of humanity in general (don't get me wrong, I do relish the nights I spend with Flitter), and just in general. I think I've been adapting too. The idea of having two women in my house, usually naked on top of that, was a hard pill to swallow. After a while however, I grew used to it and learned to stop being squeamish. It's been a learning experience for all of us, we've gotten to the point of being as close as friends could be. Although, that is their memory of me so it's probably easier for them to accept it.

"Alright, alright, I honor all my bets" I sigh and chuckle as I motion for them to follow me out to the truck. We get out to old (really really really old) faithful and climb in. Cloudchaser squeezes into the back bench and Flitter sits next to me. I crank the fourth starter motor, verging on fifth honestly, and the engine flares to life. Sure half of the engine itself is replaced parts, but the block is still original and I couldn't be happier. It's a family heirloom really.

We merge onto the highway and start heading to Charlotte. Ah, Charlotte. The memories come flooding back. Sitting on dad's shoulders watching the race, mom cheering as loud as she could. If I'm being honest, I'm missing more than a few brain cells due to the fumes of the burning petrol and even the early diesel testing days. Did I care though? Fuck no! It was heaven for me. Yes, we were all a family, me, mom, dad and Susa-

At that thought my hands jerk, as well as the truck. I snap back to attention, centering up back into the lane. I can see Flitter has something to say but she bites her tongue. We ride in silence for the rest of the trip. Not now. Not ever again. But I know I can't avoid it. I shake my head and go back to the task at hand. It's the day to cut loose, have fun!
Flitter's worry seems to alleviate once a smile returns to my face, gradually becoming less forced through the ride.

There on the corner is a small arcade. Seems oddly out-of-place in a big ol' city. Who's got time for games? There's business to do, people to screw, life as usual. Yes, it's small and unassuming. Being the only real arcade left in the state, well that changes things. He's never out of business. The rich, the penniless, everyone loves to be here. Yes, we all love this dear old arcade. It's only by coincidence it's named Flynn's. The owner himself is named Pookie Flynn. I don't have any idea what he did to deserve the name Pookie but we love him all the same. I personally think it's nice that he was a Tron fan, he really tried to replicate the Flynn's from the movie. That's also what brought in a lot of money, people loved the "retro" culture, although at this point it was pretty much antique.

I feel older than I really am only for getting the reference. I used to work in a museum, and I'd always get questions, from grown men mind you, like "What the hell is a knob?" and "What's that keyboard with paper in it?". I was genuinely surprised they knew what a keyboard was. Grandpa was very adamant about preserving what we knew about the past. He always quizzed me on what we considered to be obscure topics. It was just the coolest thing to him, and I find it really interesting too, all this old tech.

I lead Flitter and Cloudchaser over to the arcade, being mindful of the street and the few cars adorning it. They seem to be very excited at the prospect of playing some games at an actual arcade. The bet was that I would fund their gaming spree and what-ever food they wanted. Donnie's been working me pretty hard so he shot me some cash and told me to take the girls out, which is what I gladly did. He also mentioned something about replacing the rear suspension of my truck. Hilarious.

We step into the blacklit expanse of the arcade, the machines glowing happily in the absence of overhead lighting. I take a deep breath of an atmosphere preserved. Tears, Sweat and Nachos. Beautiful. The girls seem to be excited by the electronic attractions, different from the immersion booths of modern arcades. This is a nice break from that, it really is. The crowd, I swear, Is nothing short of the past. Little gangs of school kids, the older teens that hustle the younger out of their money and pride. The pecking order hasn't changed at all, has it?

I lead them over to a Pay-Band station. First there were quarters, then the reloadable cards, and now there are Pay-Bands. They're handy for anywhere like an arcade. I mostly carry scrip but I do leave some money in my bank for situations like this. One thumbprint later and I've got three Pay-Bands. Me and the girls strap them on and off we go! Well....Off they go. I have a meeting.... A meeting with beer.

Flitter's POV

"So many games! So much potential! I don't know what to go to first....What do you think sis?" I asked to only be replied with silence.

"S-Sis?" I asked as I twirled around. Gone.

Oh well.... She'll be fine.....I....I think......Right.....

I decide to scope out the scene... The arcade seems to be divided into sections based on the genre of the game.... I'll have to keep that in mind, staying away from the gore, guts and guns section. In contrast, there's the fighting games, the racing games, the classics.... They all look nice and fun and not evil.... Of course that's all my own perception but doesn't gore just freak everypony out?

The classics seem like a good place to start

I nod to nopony in particular and head over to the quarter of the arcade dedicated to classic games

The atmosphere in here is very.....Intresting.....

I find an unoccupied machine and view it for a while. The classics section is composed of classics from every genre of arcade game so I find myself looking at an arcade machine with a seat bolted to it and a wheel, not unlike the immersion rig back home. It seems very nice and colorful. I find myself being drawn in by the music, up-beat and pumping. Without my immediate realization, I'm sitting in the seat. Once I realize my situation, I shrug to myself and wave my Pay-Band over the sensor, activating the game. I'm greeted with more pumping music and a course selection screen.... How hard could this be?

Cloudchaser's POV

"ARE YOU READY FOR COMBAT MAGGOT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU JOKER!" The virtual drill sergeant screams at me. Holding a rifle in my hand, I playfully salute to the stallion in front of me. What it is about war and the people of this country, I don't get, but I know I'm good at these games so why not have fun?

I'm loaded into a grassy field. Unassuming if not for the bloodshed about to take place on it. Suddenly, I'm able to move and I start looking for my first target.

Let's see here.....Ooh! Hi there! Boop!

Down he goes, one head shorter. I go around shooting and occasionally being shot at, dying only so often. This one guy though, the first one I killed, he keeps coming for me, and not in a very smart fashion.... Silly stallion, don't you know that gun beats rock? Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Just like that, the game is over and I'm awarded a medal for my performance....Fancy! I step out of the immersion booth only to be met by shouting.

"This is bullshit! How did that guy keep killing me! He totally cheated! Fucker!" I hear him yell before rounding the corner to meet me. He's just a bit shorter than me, and his temper seems to be steaming off of him, it's kind of scary. He meets me and I see him make the connection that I just kicked his plot. His eyes light with a fire that scorns me where I stand...Oh crap.

"W-What the fuck?! What the fuck are you? Some kind of freak?!" He screams.... The other arcade-goers are beginning to stare...Workers seem to be shrinking down. This isn't going to go well is it?

"Excuse me sir, are we having a problem here?" I hear a familiar voice speak up. Suddenly, I see the guy spin around and be yanked up by his collar by Emile.

"Hey bud, that "freak" you just yelled at happens to be my friend. You got something to say to her?"

He seems to shake but regains his cool, despite hovering off the ground.

"Yeah.....I'm sorry she has to be with some sick horse-fucker" He laughs

Emile stays still for a second, doing nothing. Then, it happened. He pinned the guy up against the immersion booth and got muzzle-to-muzzle with him

Emile's POV

"You listen here bud, and I hope you get it here and now. You can call me whatever you want, and throw all the punches you can, but the second you raise your fucking voice to her, I will make you life a living hell. Got it?" I say as I shake him against the booth. He meekly nods and I drop him. He scurries off, promising revenge and the like. He means none of it of course, I'm positive.

I move over to check Cloudchaser. She seems a bit shaken but is otherwise okay. I nod and find her sister in the gathering crowd and motion for her to follow me. We leave the arcade in a small hurry and get into the truck. The ride home is long and silent, the sky turning dark by the time we get home. Cloudchaser goes up to sleep but Flitter holds me back in the truck.

"I-It's really sweet how you stood up for sis like that.... Not a lot of stallions stand up for the trouble she gets into" She says

"Hey, I can't let some guy push around my girls can I?" I laugh, and she blushes at that statement

"W-Well, I mean my friends....Y-You aren't really my girls so much as my friends and y'know-" I'm cut short by a timid kiss from Flitter. She pulls away and blushes

"I-I've been looking for a stallion like you for...A while now.... Somepony brave and kind....And......I want to be your special somepony....." She smiles to me.

I nod and lean back in for another kiss, this time more intimate. I decide to lead her to the backseat of the truck, letting us lay down in our makeout session. I pull her close to me and hold her tenderly. It's been a while, but the warmth in my heart is beginning to grow again, into a burning inferno of passion for her. Tonight will be unforgettable.

Cloudchaser's POV

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK

I pull the pillow around my ears tighter

Oh my Celestia, how long have they been going?! It's been hours! No stallion should have that kind of stamina! Then again, he's no stallion....I wonder how different he really is....No! Bad brain! He's bedding your sister, you shouldn't be thinking of this! Well.... Maybe they're not doing what I think they're doing....Yeah, maybe they're having a tickle fight.....

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK

Oh who am I kidding? I just hope it ends soon, I need my sleep

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK.....CRUNCH!

I get up and rush over to the window to look out. The truck's stopped bouncing and the rear looks noticeably lower. I sigh. Well, at least I can sleep.

Author's Note

NOW THIS IS THE STORY ALL ABOUT HOW MY SCHOOL GOT STARTED AND I GOT BUSY AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT, JUST SIT RIGHT THERE, NOW HALLOWEEN Video's a couple days late.....

So yeah, between Football, Band and ALLLLL the other stuff, life got busy. So yeah. That's my excuse.

I feel like this chapter may have been a small but rushed but right now, filler is what's goin on. Not to mention I'm setting stuff up. If you play Town of Salem, think of it as being doused by the arsonist...So yeah.

As usual, leave opinions and don't be offensive, be constructive. Bye!

...What do you mean I'm getting a cease and desist from Will Smith and JonTron?....FUCK YOU. I AIN'T HAVIN THAT SHI- *Death*