The Mind Makes It Real, As Does Magic

It was around late morning. After the whole ordeal with Celestia had finally come down to a end, Zeref came out of his hiding spot after Celestia had left. He looks around the bottom floor of the castle, not seeing Twilight anywhere, she must be in her room. Zeref takes his normal form once more after making his way to her door, before he opens it however, he hears light sobbing and whimpering coming from her room, he leans in carefully and listens.

“He will never come back after what has happened. And Celestia of all ponies is the one that drove him away from me. He was one of my friends who didn’t care that I was a princess. Just like the girls accept me for me…”

Zeref didn’t know why, but hearing Twilight in such a sad state and crying made his heart sink. He wondered why. Maybe it was time he stopped being so...aloof towards her. She genuinely did seem to care about him, otherwise why would she be crying about him leaving? When he really wasn’t going to in the first place anyways. Alright, time to bring a smile back on her adorable face. He opens the door quietly and slips inside, walking over to her and crouching beside her bed that she was laying on, lightly placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Come on Twi, you should know better than that. You are stuck with me since you took me in and feed me. I am not leaving anytime soon.”

She slowly lifts her head from her pillow and turns to look at him, yep it was definitely him.

“Zeref… you really won’t leave? Even after what happened earlier?”

“Bah, Sun Butt will come around soon. I am sure she has realized her mistake and will apologize sooner or later. She was just upset that you got hurt was all. I won’t let that keep me from here though. A free bed and free food? Come on I got it made here. And….well….”

He looks away for a second, then looks back to her.

“I can’t very well leave a friend alone to cry because of something that is clearly not happening. So...stop crying...tears don’t suit you Twi...you know...Gah I am having a hard time with this…”

It was hard for Twilight to not burst into tears again, but these were from happiness. He was trying in his own way to be supportive and cheer her up. And that was all she needed from him.She wipes her tears away and smiles weakly.

“Thank you Zeref...you really are a sweet guy. And I know you aren’t one for this kind of stuff...but can I...can I have a hug...please?”

With what she had just gone through and the way she asked him with those watering purple eyes of hers, he could not deny her a share of affection when he even knew she needed it right now. He opens his arms out to her, she quickly gets off the bed and rushes into his arms. He wraps them around her gently and holds her into a warm hug, she wraps her arms around his body and squeezes as tight as she can, grabbing at the back of his jacket and squeezing it in her grip. Twilight doesn’t move from his arms for awhile, she felt safe wrapped within them, and she felt as if she had somewhere to hide if things got too rough for her. And to think, this human was threatening her life just a couple weeks ago. Now she is clinging to him like a child seeking comfort from their parent. After for what felt like a long time, Twilight, reluctantly it seemed lets Zeref go. She stopped crying, thank god. He reaches up and lightly pets her on the head.

“There you go Twi. See? I am still here.”

“I know Zeref. And thank you for the hug. I really, really needed it after what happened.”

Zeref rubs his chin in thought. What could he do to make her even more happy? The poor mare had been through alot this morning because of him. He had to make it up to her somehow.

“Tell you what Twi. What do you wanna do today? Anything, just name it.”

Her eyes sparkled and a big smile came across her face. He was going to regret this wasn’t he?

“I would like it if you met the rest of my friends. You already know Rarity, Dashie and Fluttershy. How about we all meet up for a picnic outside of Ponyville by the lake? Then you can meet Applejack and Pinkie Pie? I just know that you would all get along if it was just us outside of the game.”

“Twi...it’s not gonna be easy. But, for you I will try and make friends with the others I like Dash and Shy, don’t get me wrong. But the other three...I am just a little worried is all.”

She smiles brightly at his words. Seeing her smile like this made that feeling in his heart melt away when he saw her crying. And he was happy that she wasn’t anymore. But now, he has made the potential mistake of meeting her other friends. Just as things were about to get even more difficult for the man, his phone rings in his coat. He pulls it out and sighs in relief.

“Saved by the bossman.”

He answers it.

“You got some good news for me bossman?”

“Indeed, Mr. Schwarzwald. We have finished replicating the flit gun, we made twenty copies of it. That should be more than enough to help out with the corrupt programs. So we are moving the plan of attack to today. Please jack in with your companions so that we may begin. The death clouds are moving in closer.”

“Alright, we are on our way.”

He slides his phone closed and looks to Twilight.

“Sorry Twi, we are gonna have to put this picnic on hold until we help out the bossman. The attack happens today. Inform Dash and Shy immediately. Afterwards we can celebrate. How about that?”

She lowered her head, but brought it back up with a smile and a look of determination.

“Yeah, then we will have a greater reason to meet up. I am with you Zeref! I will message them both right now, they were online last time I checked.”

“Alright, I will head to my room and get kicked in. I shall see you soon Twi.”

Before he could turn and walk away, she latches onto him for another hug and nuzzles into him again.

“Thanks again Zeref. I am really glad you are here.”

“No problem Twi. Just...want to see you smile is all.”

He said as he slips out the door and heads to his room at a quick pace.

--Inside The Matrix Online, Mara Central Hardline--

Azrael Comes from out of the phone booth as the game comes into view, and what he ran into was quite a view. Player...and even more players standing around talking, whispering. Azrael looks over the crowd as best as he could, see Agent Grey and a group of agents with him. He makes his way through the crowd and up to the front.

“Ah, your commander has arrived.”

He said to the crowd. Azrael felt all eyes on him now. He stands in the spot that Agent Grey was standing in. He looks around, a bit nervous as he sees so many players in front of him, but then he spots Twilight and the rest of his crew, they give him a supportive smile, he nods to them in return.

“Alright everyone, I am sure that you have been briefed by Agent Grey here on our current situation. To all my fellow gearheads, I know you are all concerned as I am about this. And to all those who belong to Zion. You know you all didn’t have to be here, but you chose to help anyway. For that, I am very grateful. We need all the help with can get with these things. And if there are even any Merovingians out their. You have my respect as well. I hate your boss entirely, but at least I know there are still good players in those ranks. Once again, thank you all for coming.”

The crowd was quiet at first, then few player stepped forward.

“Are you really the same Azrael that was part of the tri organization we heard about? You were the machine branch leader?”

“I am the very same. So that means...you are actually a human outside the game as well.”

“Yes, I am a human, and i know what all of you are as well. But that shouldn’t matter, we are all still a community. I will tell you this. When the game was created back in my world. It didn’t matter what side we chose, we were still a community that respected one another and even came up with player driven storyline that the GMs absolutely loved. So I ask, don’t see me as just a ‘human’. See me as a fellow redpill. Now then, I need all my hacker to split into two groups, one for damage hacking and one for healers and support. As for my damager takers, please come forth and pick up one of the flit guns from the agents, these will be helping us out the most. And to all my gunners, make sure you keep a considerable distance away from the death clouds, their area of effect is very very deadly to those who do not have the health to lose. I will need you to split off into a group of each of your class, then I will pair you all up. We have ten targets to take down.”

They all nod to him and split off, the tanks move over to him since he is one of them.Eventually, he gets each team four damaging hackers, two healing hackers three gunners and two tanks.He was lucky he already had half of his team in his crew, the last bit joined up with him and his team was complete.

“Alright everyone, you all know the plan, let’s execute it. Also, the agents have given us earpieces so we can keep contact, make sure to communicate. Once you destroy your target, move in and help the others near you.and do not break formation, stay together, and should you die, your healers will resurrect you, do not emergency jack out. Good luck everyone!”

They all split off to their assigned spots, people either super jumping or super running there, was a pretty cool sight to see them all working together like that, made him think back in the old days when GMs would hold an event just for the players every weekend. But now wasn’t the time. He looks back to his group and looks at them. He was about to speak but he noticed three of them looked oddly familiar..and their voices…

“You let fillies play this kind of game? Scootaloo, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Do your sisters...well I know Dash doesn’t really mind. But do your older siblings know you play a game with such violence?”

The three stood there in shock, their eyes wide.

“Hey, if Scoots wants to ;play this awesome game, I got no problem with it, good to have you on the team little buddy!”

“Lightning said as she wraps an arm around Scootaloo. No seriously, they used their real names...Zeref chuckles lightly and smiles.

“Well, your levels are on par with everyone else’s here. I have a feeling they will do just fine. You three will stay with Shy though, since you are my gunners, you will attack from a distance. Everyone else, you know your jobs, let’s go.”

They get to their position, the target slowly moving towards it’s own. Azrael places a finger to his earpieces, speaking quietly.

“Team one in position, Status?”

“Team two, ready.”

“Team three, ready.”

“Team four, ready.”

After a few minutes, the list was confirmed and ready to attack.

Let's delete these fuckers, this is OUR game. Commence the attack!

Azrael and Lightning run in first, getting the death cloud’s attention and aiming their flit gun at the thing. Now flit guns aren’t normal gun, they are just light a smoke dispenser, but this was no ordinary smoke, it is deadly to the data, and it makes each fly drop to the ground dead once it comes into contact. The hackers moved in next, leaping onto the roof tops and beginning to pelt the thing with damaging hacks, the healers did their job by making sure that everyone’s health did not fall. And the gunners emptied clip after clips, it may not look like it is doing much, but with each bullet flying at the speed they do, it was doing some damage, not to mention it was making the program struggle to target anyone with all the attacks going on, and since the hackers were out of range from it’s AoE, the tanks were practically invincible.

“That’s it everyone, you are all doing an excellent job, keep it up! Once we finish here, we will head to team five’s location, they are the closest to us!”

While Twilight was doing her job, she noticed how he kept their team together and in such an organized fashion. She was truly impressed with his method, so much different than the quiet human she knows outside of the game. Eventually they finish off the program, watching it disperse into nothingness once it’s health bar emptied

“”Alright, healers, heal us up, then everyone need to recover their inner strength, after that, we move out.”

Soon, as they groups got closer together after defeating their own targets, they merged with the others, the mission effectively coming to an end faster and faster after each target fell. Azrael places a finger to his earpiece after all had fallen silent.

“Agent Grey, status on the targets?”

“Mr. Schwarzwald, all targets eliminated. Congratulations, a successful mission.”

It seemed that everyone had heard that over their earpieces, because right then, everyone started cheering and jumping up and down. Especially his group, who were all huddled together holding hands and shouting.

“We did it, we did it, we did it!”

Azrael chuckled lightly as he watched them celebrate, something was a little strange though, he could feel eyes on him, and it wasn’t a good feeling either, He quickly spins around and spots someone off in the distance leaning from behind a wall and watching them. Chills ran down his spine as he saw exactly who it was. It was him… the program simply known as 'The Assassin'. Azrael reaches up to his earpiece and speaks quietly.

“Agent Grey…”

“I know Mr. Schwarzwald, he has been watching all of you this whole time. He isn’t going to make any moves right now, especially since we have stopped his plan with his death clouds. Let your fellow red pills have their glory, you all deserve it.”

“Very well, make sure to keep me updated bossman.”

“We will be in touch, Mr. Schwarzwald”

Azrael looks back to see the Assassin staring at him with intent, he in turn places his fingers in front of his eyes and point them at the deadly program as if saying. ‘I am watching you closely, you son of a bitch…’.