Zeref removes his headgear after finally coming back from the game, finding Twilight straddling over him and leaning down with her hands at his sides, glaring at him with puffed cheeks. So adorable. He arches a brow with a grin.

“What’s wrong Twilight? Didn’t like the way I was looking at Agent Pace?”

She slams her rump down on his lower torso, he lets out a grunt of slight pain when she does this.

“Gah, you males are all the same!”

“Come on Twilight, why should it matter to you? Don’t get me wrong, you are adorable yourself. But you couldn’t possibly think of a pony and a human even remotely having any interests in one another when it comes to...those kind of things. I am sure the idea even repulses you.”

She climbs off of him and huffs. Zeref also sliding from her bed and grabbing his headgear from her computer.

“Anyways, you know the situation that is going on in the matrix now. The question is, will you help? I know you aren’t a fan of the machines, but we care about everyone’s safety in the matrix, bluepill or redpill.”

Twilight was quiet for a moment. What he said really boiled in her mind. The whole thing about ‘Ponies finding humans unattractive and things couldn’t happen between them’.. Twilight was a hopeless romantic. Her massive amount of that type of literature was evidence enough. She lets out a sigh, still a little upset at him for ogling a simple humanized program, but she pushes it away into the back her mind.

“How long do we got until the machines call us to action?”

She asked as she turned fully to him. A determined look in her eyes. This making Zeref grin.

“Agent Grey will call me once things are in order. I have a feeling though...if we don’t stop these things, it may affect the players outside of their game. Science fiction has taught me that much. In the meantime, we need to get you and the others leveled high enough to where you won’t get one shoted by the corrupt clouds. They are quite easy to identify, black mist and swarming with flies. Maintain distance at all times unless with fully leveled players, as I mentioned before..”

He said as he walked to the door and opened it, looking back to Twilight.

“Oh and by the way, you have a rather nice rump. Just try not to knock the wind out of me with it next time would you?”

She widened her eyes and blushes all over, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him, but only hitting the door as he quickly slips out. Making his way back to his room with his headgear under his arm. Shaking his head as he walks into his room.

“Geez, she may be a genius, but Twilight is so easy to read.”

He said as he sets his headgear onto the desk that had a complete set up of a large monitor, gaming keyboard and mouse and a monster rig that was black and blue with the Shadowquine Industries logo on the front. Zeref walked passed the setup for a moment then did a double take at what he was looking at. His eyes were about as wide as dinner plates as he looked over the sleek hardware.

“Holy fuck....this thing is a titan…”

He said as he noticed a letter sitting on the keyboard with Luna’s seal on it. He lifts it up and reads it.

Dear Azrael,

I am writing to you on this fine day to let you know that I owe you a big apology for what has happened to you. I know you are most likely upset with me for bringing you here, knowing you can never return home. But, I can start making it up to you by offering you this. I saw to it’s construction myself. The best of everything we at Shadowquine Industries have, some parts not even schedule for release until next year. I know that with this machine, you will keep both the matrix and Equestria safe...should the need arise for the second one anyway.. And again, I am very sorry for having caused you as much trouble as I have. This princess can only ask for your forgiveness in time. Until then, keep the other girls out of trouble will you?

Yours,
Princess Luna.

Zeref sighs and lowers the letter, shaking his head as he tosses it aside.

“I can’t exactly stay mad at Moony since she has given me such an awesome rig, let alone the entire setup. It is better than the one I have at home! She even gave me a badass looking gamer chair.”

He said as he plops down in it.

“...And comfy…”

He said as he starts up the beast, letting it do it’s thing, creates a profile, the usual setup deal with operating systems, even the matrix was already installed. She thought it all through alright. He chuckles lightly and gets everything going, it was time to gain some levels himself. Agent Grey may not be happy with him if Azrael was slacking off after all. He puts the headgear into the usb slot and lays on his bed, sliding the headgear back on and jacking back into the matrix and going off to level up more. And knowing the areas around Richland, he was level twenty within an hour after doing missions and just grinding out with the local NPC gangs. Now all the way in the International district.

“Whew….I should be able to begin creating my last combo of abilities that kept me from falling to others in PvP. To the nearest hardline to do some coding.”

He said as he activated his super speed buff, running down streets and between building to get to the closest hardline. He had to be careful though. He would need to find access cards, as he was now in restricted area territory. Even though he was their top operative, Azrael was still in a place he wasn’t supposed to be. The agents do not discriminate. He walks up to the hardline and wastes no time in getting started. A holographic keyboard and small window appear in front of him as he gets to work. Looking in his peripheral vision every now and then to make sure no agents were approaching him from behind. He finally finishes creating half of his karate and aikido skills, as they were the best defense and attack combo that he himself created. Just in time to. A citizen walks up to the area he was in and suddenly begins to shift like the agents did in the old game. It was Agent Taylor, immediately drawing out his gun and pointing it at Azrael.

“Mr. Schwarzwald, you know the rules better than anyone else here in the simulation. I know you are our top human. But no one is above the rules.”

“Easy Agent Taylor, I am leaving. But I will be returning again with an access card to this area.”

“I ask that you be quick to do so Mr. Schwarzwald. By the way, since I am here. We...want you to know that the construction on the weapons against the corrupted code are coming along. Give us a few more day. Agent grey will be calling you.”

“Right, well, I am out.”

“Mr. Schwarzwald.”

“Hm?”

“I..am sorry I have to send you away. You are an exemplary human and have helped us in our cause. But, rules are rules. Even we have to follow them.”

“Not a problem, you are programed the make sure no trouble happens here. Anyways, see you later.”

He grabs the phone from the hardline and puts it to his ear, teleporting to the hangout hardline, Mara Central. When he appears there, he walks out of the hardline to notice that the area was littered with new players, chatting, conversing, emoting, the whole package. He remembers when he would do this everyday. He and his faction would go around and just have all kinds of fun, going to the clubs that were scattered around Mega City. It really took him back. As he walked along the area, smiling and waving to all the new players, his phone rings, he takes it out of his coat and looks at the number. Wasn’t Grey, he clicks it open and puts it to his ear

“Azrael here.”

“Ah Azrael, darling. Good to hear from you.”

“Ah, hello Topaz, I assume you added me to your friends list when I ran into you?”

“I did. I was wondering, would you be a gentleman and come and meet me at Meridian Park? I would like to speak with you about something.”

“I take you you are at the hardline right at the stairs?”

“That I am. You must know this game very well...and it has been out for only a couple of days.”

“In your world it has.”

“What do you mean, dear?”

“Oh nothing, I am on my way.”

He said as he clicks his phone back and head back to the hardline, teleporting to the Meridian Park Central hardline. He walks out of it, looking around and noticing something wasn’t right, his icon was switched on to PvP mode.

“Oh shit...please tell me they didn’t…”

That’s right, Meridian Park was now a PvP zone. Azrael tuned and kept himself on high alert as he shifts his eyes about. He heard some footsteps running up behind him, he quickly turns to see Topaz leaping into the air with an axe kick coming down on him. He quickly takes advantage of his higher level specs and grabs her ankle as she comes down. Slamming her down in the process and getting into his aikido defense stance.

“So this is why you brought me out here huh? Should have known you would have sided with the frenchman.”

Topaz getting into her speed kung fu stance. He would have never pegged Rarity as a martial artist, he learned something new today it seemed.

“Oh don’t be upset. This is how the game is played. And I find the Merovingian quite..lovely.”

“I hope you don’t plan on making the moves on him Topaz, he already has a wife, and he even cheats on her.”

“You stay your tongue! He is a wonderful man! She doesn’t deserve someone like him! Now then, it is time I take you down..”

“Bring it on, sweetheart.”

And so the fight began. Topaz came at him full force, flurries of punches and kicks coming at Azrael, but he just smiles and dodges every single one of them. Either lightly leaning left to right or stepping back and forth. Another player that doesn’t know the unfair rules of leveling in MMORPGs.

“Come on stop trying to hit me and hit me!”

He said as he continued to deflect her attacks with ease. Toying with her, letting her have the illusion she has him on the ropes, even letting her land a few hits in.

“If you were a proper gentleman, you would let me win!”

She said as she started to sound a bit flustered.

“OH your female charms don’t made in here. It is fair game, my dear Topaz.”

He said as he grabbed her wrist as she tried to punch, rolling her around like a ragdoll as he switched into power mode, the sound of bones popping and cracking as he uses his aikido stance to attack now. It wasn’t as powerful as he karate stance, but he needed to teach her a lesson. A crowd of players who were exploring the area saw what was going on. None of them had their PvP icons triggered, but they weren’t above level ten either. At least they kept that rule into effect. But poor Topaz, she was going up against a level twenty when she herself was just at ten. Azrael figured it was time to end the fight, he saw her health bar running in the danger zone, so he continues to flop her around until she isn’t moving, when she is on the ground, he does a cartwheel while grabbing her clothing and taking her with him and slams her firmly on the ground as he finishes it. The interlock fading as the battle was won. And since this was a PvP match, there was no instant recovery. But she could still hear him speak.

“Next time, make sure to check your opponent’s level before you attack them.”

He leans down and whispers to her.

“And also, I never took you for a gamer pony...Rarity.”

He said with a wide grin, right after, her body vanished in a green light. He knew he had caught her. The crowd looks on as they saw the slaughter, someone else could attack him if they wanted, his PvP was still active. But they all stood still.

“Come on kiddos. No one else want to come and try their luck?”

They all shook their heads.

Very well, you kids take it easy now. Enjoy the game.”

He said as he goes into ghost mode and sinks into the ground, making his way away from the park and out of the bounds of it,appearing back on the street, out of PvP mode.

“I bet the poor fashionista is having a fit right now….”

--Rarity’s Bedroom--

“How dare that vile brute treat my Topaz so...crudely! I swear I will beat him down when I am a higher level! He didn’t even take me seriously! And what he said about my darling Merovingian...It will not go unpunished!”

The flustered mare sat there with her pillow in her arms, wearing nothing but white lacy undies and a tight white shirt that revealed just how well endowed she was.

“And what is worse...he knows who I am… and if he spreads rumors about me playing a video game..I will be ruined, RUINED!”

She says as she places the back of her hand over her forehead, being overdramatic as usual. Back in the game, Azrael walks down the street just admiring the upgrades to every little detail.

“Silly girl...attacking a veteran player. Ah well. What can you do right?”

As he comes to a street corner, his phone rings again, this time, it was Twilight.

“Umm..Azrael?”

What’s up Twilight?”

“Me and the girls were wondering if you could come help us level some more...we would really appreciate it..”

“Of course, I am on my way. And boy oh boy do I got a story for you..”

Author's Note

Aaah, this takes me back to my days in the game, Azrael being my actual character as well, figured why not? And I was actually really playing the game from beta till end. I really do miss playing it very much. Just didn't have enough players, nor did Sony Online Entertainment care. Was a real shame.

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May the darkness grant you peace.