"Gaaaaah! I am so fucking bored! Every MMORPG I come across is all the same thing! Even these new VRMMOs are just all fantasy or gun crazy..."

Said the man who leaned back in his computer chair, his grey eyes staring up at the ceiling. He brings his hand up and combs back his long bangs from his eyes, slicking back his long raven black hair as he looks out his window. It was just like any other day for Zeref. Trying to find that one video game that he could enjoy like the one he did all those years ago. But no matter which one he played, they all seemed the same to him. fantasies that involved goblins, elves and such, or wanna be sci-fis with massive aliens and oversized bulky armor with plasma rifles.

Zeref gets out of his chair and stretches, letting out a slight yawn as he walks over to the window which was covered by black sheets. It was a crisp, cold, overcast day in Austin, Texas. It was winter break after final exams of his last year in college. One more semester and he would finally have his master's degree in 'Business Administration'. Zeref unlocks the window, lifting it up and allowing the cold air to flow inside of his apartment. He walks out of his room and into the kitchen, turning on his living room TV in the process to add some background noise. he walks into the kitchen, opening the fridge and looking in to see what he could drum up for lunch.

"Hmmmm....can't go wrong with a turkey and cheese sandwich. But that hambuger meat is looking good. Could cook it up and make tacos."

As these thoughts rolled through his head, there was a couple of knocks at his door. He lifts his head from out of the fridge and looks over to the entrance. He wasn't expecting company was he? No, Zeref hardly ever had people over at his place, let alone did he ever leave to go to others. He also wasn't expecting any mailed packages to come his way.

"Who is it?!"

He shouted from the kitchen, no answer. Being the paranoid shut in that he was. He walks over to the corner behind his dinning table and grabs a heavy metal platted bat with studs all along it's side. He calls out again.

"Hello..?"

No answer again. He finally gets to the door, the silence putting him on edge even more as he began to slowly unlock the multiple locks on his door. From the door knob lock, to the deadbolt lock just above it, to the chain lock further up the door. After for what felt like an eternity, he opens the door slowly, then swings it open with his bat ready to swing...but no one was there. After a moment, he lets out a sigh of relief. He leans out and looks around. No one was there, just as quiet as always in his little neighborhood. Just as he was about to head back in however, he spots a box that had been left at his doorstep. Did he order something and not remember? He crouches down to examine the box. he shrugs and swipes it in his arms and slams the door, locking all the locks back. He places the box onto the table and looks at the address, though the middle name that they used in it made his eyebrow rise in curiosity. Not to mention the way it was written.

To: Zeref 'Azrael' Schwarzwald

From: Shadowquine Industries

The only time Zeref ever used that name was back in his very first and favorite MMO, The Matrix Online. It was truly a game of all games. The community, the gameplay, everything about it was truly awesome. He quickly grabs a knife from the kitchen and cuts the top open. Opening it to reveal a large black box made out of wood with the company's name and logo on top of it. On the top of the box was a letter sealed in a black envelope. He takes the letter and opens it up, pulling out a piece of paper that makes his eyes widen as he read the words written down on it.

Greetings Azrael,

It is...wonderful to have come in contact with a redpill who remained loyal to our simulation right down to it's very demise. However, our company Shadowquine Industries has bought out the rights of the game from its former owner. We looked in the data base that they had kept. And your name and data came across out...eyes.

Inside the box, you will find all the equipment you will need to join your fellow redpills once more. We have remade the game entirely. We have done the research of fans both new and old, and have created a masterpiece that will surely keep you and your friends happy. Now then, we are sending you a complete, but not fully released version of our game and hardware. We want the select few who remained loyal to the game have the first go at out new...reality.

Inside the box you will find the game itself, and something that we have been developing for years and years. We call it...the 'Unreal Reality' gear, The instructions are in the box along side the hardware. Once again, we thank you for considering to returning to The Matrix. And we hope to see you within the dark and gritty simulation once more, doing the things you do. Also, seeing as you are a veteran of The Matrix Online, we ask that you help new players whenever they make their way in. We have given the game and hardware to a few lucky winners in a contest that they won. And one more thing. There will be no server choice. As the whole game runs on...a customized server that we spent billions on to obtain. But enough about that. Please, do not hesitate anymore Azrael. Jack in once more.

Sincerely,

Shadowquine Industries

Zeref's heartbeat was racing at this. The Matrix Online...was picked back up and recreated...into a virtual reality?! Oh hell yes! Zeref wasted no time in removing the contents of the box and running into his room, sliding in the installation disk.The first thing that Zeref noticed about the disc is that it had a rather...odd glow about it, he flips it around carefully in his hand, avoiding smudging the disc with his hands. he shrugs and opens the disc drive of his rig. While he waits for it to install, he goes back into the kitchen and decides to fix a sandwich as he was extremely excited to get back into his room and resume his role as a redpill within The Matrix.

"Hmmm..who is this...'Shadowquine Industries' though? If I would have heard that a remake of my favorite game in all the world was happening., I surely would have found out. Ah well, I am not gonna question it at all. I am just super excited!"

He finished scarfing down his food, getting up and making his way back to his room. And just in time to, the installation was complete. Though whatw as on Zererf's computer screen was a bit odd. It was instructions being typed out to him.

Greetings to you redpill, new or old.

Now that you have installed the simulation, I have check your computer to make sure it can handle the virtual reality

Accessing files....

Everything else checks out.

Please put on the 'Unreal Reality' headgear and please, do enjoy your experience.

Zeref arches a brow, but shakes his head with a smile.

Wow...AI that interacts with you, these guys went all out didn't they?"

Zeref chuckles and walks over to his bed, but he catches one more thing on the screen.

Also, make sure that you are lying comfortably before you start the game up.

Zeref couldn't help but laugh.

"What is this? Some kind of SAO shit now?"

He shook his head, but did as the screen said. Sliding the headgear on and powering it up. He closes his eyes and grins, he had to say it.

"Jack in!"

Suddenly his body when numb and his eyes closed, the headgear taking control of everything but his mind. Zeref could move his body at all, he opens his eyes..or so it seems as he start falling into a black void, he starts flailing about.

"What the fuck is this shit?! I was only kidding!!!"

He screamed as he continued to fall. He comes to an abrupt stop in his descent as a calm female AI voice started to speak with him.

"Greetings to you, redpill. If you would please, type in your desired username and password."

A holographic keyboard appears in front of Zeref, he reaches out and notices his hands were all...framewired, in fact all of his body was. Okay...the sooner he gets this done, the sooner he gets to customize his character. He inputs his old username and password, an error pops up. The AI speaks again.

"We are sorry to say, but that name and the data behind it is reserved for a veteran player of the game before we claimed rights to it. However, if you are that player, please select continue and you will be asked a few questions regarding that player."

Zeref nods and taps continue.

"Very well. First Question. Which organization did the redpill know as 'Azrael' belong to?"

Zeref grins

"The machines."

"Correct, next question. What was the name of Azrael's faction and crew?

" Exemplar Tribune, Exemplar Death Style. And as a bonus answer, Azrael was actually the leader of the machine branch of the faction. As the name implies, Exemplar Tribune was a trifaction. Despite our differences, we all worked together.

Zeref could have sworn he heard the AI...giggle?

""Correct, final question. The former player behind Azrael was an avid roleplayer. What club did Azrael own?

"Dues Ex."

"Access to the name granted, welcome back Azrael."

Zeref chuckled lightly and nodded.

"Good to be back."

"As a reward for your loyalty, we have allowed you to keep all your appearance, gear and stats from the previous game. However, we have reset your level to level one. Though I am sure that this doesn't bother you in the slightest."

"Are you kidding?! I get to keep all the things I want, and yet I get a fresh start in a reborn game?! I am all over it!"

"Also,one more bonus JUST for you, Azrael. We notice...that you are rather fond of the ghost twins from the movies. So just for you, we are giving you their ability of taking an intangible form like they did. You will have the ability to become a ghost. for however long your inner strength bar lasts that is. And it's cooldown will be thirty seconds after use."

"Oh hell, that is pretty sweet actually. I'll take it!"

"And one more thing, we are also allowing the veteran players to keep their super jump and super speed as well to travel the Mega Metropolis. These perks are giving to you...because you stayed loyal from the beta...all the way to the shutdown. Azrael, we hope that you will enjoy being a part of The Matrix once more. And as a veteran, please help out the new players that are...from all over. Once again, welcome back, Azrael, Machine Branch head of the Exemplar Tribune."

That old familiar green coding begins to fall around Zeref, forming the buildings and landscape. Finally, the wireframe that was his body began to take the form of his long lost character. Zeref was no more at this point. No, not here anyways. Azrael was reborn! Azrael was quiet for a moment, then he reaches into the with both fists and screams.

"HELLLLLLLL YEEEAAAAAHHHH!!!"

He wasted no time, activating his super jump skill, he begins to scale buildings with ease, traveling around the city and finding all of those old spots he and his faction hung out at, well as far as he could go anyways. he was level one, so without drawing aggro on the enemies. he traveled through. Along the way, he collected the phone booths that they used to teleport to others through out the city, each one you found it was added to your list. Jacking out was simply found in your options menu. Another fun thing about the phone booths, is that is where you when to work on your ability trees or even switch them out.

Once Azrael made it to Mara Central, which he was level five at this point. He goes into his ability tree. He had all his abilities from last time, but they were all blacked out because of his level. This made him chuckle a bit.

"Well of course, if they let me have ALL my abilities now. It wouldn't be fair to the others. But, i can choose which style of the martial arts tree I want now, So I will go with karate as my main tree again. My combo at level fifty was deadly in both PvP and PvE, so yeah."

Just as he finished working with his skill tree, his phone suddenly rings. He pulls it out of his coat pocket and stares at the device for a moment, grinning at the warm fuzzy feeling of nostalgia. He then answers it.

"Azrael here."

"Mr. Schwarzwald, it is....good to hear from you again."

Azrael grinned at that familiar deep monotone voice he knew so very well.

"Agent Grey, I forgot you and the others referred to our...bluepill names. Non-the-less, good to hear from you, boss."

"It is...good to have you back as well Mr. Schwarzwald. You were one fo the few operative we had that....exceeded expectations. To have you back in our system once more is a...great benefit to all of us. We trust your loyalty to the machines has not waivered since your long absence?"

"Not in the slightest, sir. But, just so you know, I will be reforming my faction when I get the right amount of people."

"Ah yes. Exemplar tribune. I wasn't happy when you took part in that...ideal of 'unity'. But, you did...surprise us all. And in the end, it benefited us very much. So I give you permission to reform this..alliance you and your friends forged so long ago. With that, I must leave you for now. Please stand by for further orders. That is all, Mr. Schwarzwald."

"Take care, bossman."

The line was cut, a grin formed on Azrael's face.

"Right then, time to get some leveling done."

Just as he was about to super jump, he suddenly feels someone tapping on his shoulder.

"Excuse me sir. Um, me and my friends here are new to this game. And we were wondering if you could help us out?"

Azrael turns to the person who spoke to him. It was a player who...looked rather familiar. Not one he had seen in the former game, but she just looked...oddly familiar, even the same voice. Naaaah, couldn't be. She was a pale skinned female, purple eyes and purple hair with a dark pink stripe down the middle. and the outfit she wore was beginner clothing. And by the looks of it, she chose the raver beginner set. Her other friend who was hiding shyly behind her, was also quite pale with her skin. She had very long pink hair, light green eyes, and she was wearing the punk rocker, female beginner set. Bold choice for someone who is acting quite shy. Then this last one stood out to him the most. She had rainbow hair, tanned skin, and amethyst eyes and she wore the raver beginner set as well. Azrael had one thing on his mind. They must be hardcore fans of MLP. Not that he was judging, he did watch the show after all.

When they saw him as he turned, they backed away from him in slight shock.

"Y-you are one of the ghost twins..."

The quiet one said in a shaky voice. Azrael laughed lightly as she said this.

"As close as that would be, I am not one of the twins, no. But...I can do this."

He said as he goes into his ghost form, his dreads flowing freely and a more monstrous face appears. He floats and drifts around the three girls. grinning wickedly as he does. he deactivates the ability and laughs.

"Sorry....been wanting to try that ever since I got the ability. Now, what is it you need help with?"

"Hey buddy, that wasn't funny you know!"

Shouted the rainbow haired one. Azrael chuckled lightly

"Come on now. I have always wanted to do that in the game before it was remade, and now I can!"

"You...are a veteran of the last game?"

Asked the purple haired one.

"Yes ma'am, from the beta, all the way till the end."

"Wow...we never got to play the game before this one, but ever since we saw the movie, and then we heard about this. We all got excited. Your world definitely has some pretty cool things. Not gonna lie."

Zeref tilted his head a bit.

"our...world? Ah okay, I get it. I will play along."

All three of them look at him confused.

"Alright, so my name is Azrael, a pleasure to meet all of you. And what are your redpill names?"

The purple haired one spoke first.

"My redpill name is Twilight!"

Azrael only facepalmed.

"Of course it is..."

The pink haired one came forth a little bit, still a bit wary of Azrael.

"I-i am Gunshy."

Azrael can't help but wonder if that was a reference to an old movie, or these three seriously lack originality. But he wasn't going to be mean about it. After all, he knew that experience all too well with his first character. Then the rainbow haired one came up.

"And mine is Lightning, because I am so fast and will kick your ass in a blink of an eye!"

Twilight shook her head at this.

"Please forgive her Azrael, she is just eager to play and take down other players."

"Ah,a PvPer huh? I will be happy to take her on anytime. But for now, let me show you the ropes of this game. I will even code the abilities for your beginner trees. You girls game?"

He asked as he put his hand out in front of them, they all three reached in and placed their hand on his.

"Alright, lets go take down some enemies! We might even get you some better gear!"

"YEAH!"

they shouted as they raised their hands in the air

Little did Azrael's player know, this was going to change him and his world forever. Literally.

Author's Note

Aaaah, something I have always wanted to throw together for awhile now. Makes me think of the good ol days when I rocked The Matrix Online all day everyday. Miss that game so very much. Anyways, enjoy!

Like and share.

May the darkness grant you peace.