Author's Note

Before you get started, I just wanted to wish all of you lovely people a Happy Halloween/Nightmare Night. And thank you all who support my writing and enjoy my work. I figured I would give you all this nice little treat. Anyways, please enjoy, and please be careful out there.

Like and share.

And may the darkness grant you peace, and hide you from the demons and spirits tonight.

Act 7: A Nightmare Night To Remember

After his little break of laying on the ground after the whole chase, Azrael kicks himself back up and dusts off his clothing. Deciding he has kept the girls waiting long enough, he began to make his way back to the area he told them to stay at. He walks passed a few shops on his way there. He figured he took too long for them, so he stops by a locals sweets shop on his way to them. Yes, no matter what you are, human or pony, sweets always make them happy. He finally sees them as he closes the distance, calling out to them as he raised his free hand for a wave.

“I made it back, got you all access cards to!”

All three of them snap their heads in his direction as he spoke. Twilight, being the first to rush up to him and lean up, trying to get in his face..

“What took you so long?! We have been waiting for nearly an hour and a half!”

“Twi come on, I told you I may be awhile but, I am here now. Doesn’t that count for something? And look, I even picked up a little something extra for you on the way…”

“And what precisely do you think wi-?”

She was cut off by the bag of cookies and cupcakes that dangled in front of her, he eyes watching them intently.

“Well, if these can’t ease your painful waiting time, I suppose I will eat them myself.”

“Noi-it’s fine!”

Azrael grinned and handed them to her. Along with ehr access card.

“Now I bought those for all of you Twi. I am not sure if Lightning is a fan of sweets, but she is more than welcome to them as well.”

He looks over to see the rainbow haired woman almost drooling at the sight, but she her head quickly.

“T-there alright every now and then..”

She quickly tried to play it off as being cool about it. Something he definitely remembers from the show back in his world. It looked like the sweets card played its part well, as Twilight and the other girls were scarfing them down like they haven’t eaten in a week. He had them now, Twilight can no longer be mad at him. While they were chowing down, Azrael’s phone rang. He picks it up and clicks it open.

“What’s up bossman?”

“Mr. Schwarzwald, I am calling to inform you that the attack will commence the evening after tomorrow. We have gathered all the operatives we can, both in our ranks and that of Zion. Please report to HQ as soon as possible on the due day. We will destroy these wanted programs and make sure the simulation is safe once more.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Who is leading the attack?”

“You are of course, Mr.Schwarzwald. Who else better than you?”

“I..was assuming you would be leading the fight, considering you're the most powerful agent in the system. Where is the Architect when you need him the most?”

“He will not bother with the simulation unless it is completely necessary, but we can handle it. I have no doubt in your abilities, Mr. Schwarzwald.”

“Wow...you and all the others have really changed since the other version of the game. It is as if...you have free will to think as you wish and feel as you wish.”

“Indeed, it is...pleasant. I must be going now, Mr. Schwarzwald. I shall see you within the time before the operation. Good day.”

“See ya bossman.”

Azrael hangs up his phone and notices that the others were leaning in closely, trying to listen in on him and his conversations..again. He shifts his gaze between them, shaking his head with a sigh.

“Didn’t I tell you that listening in on conversations is considered rude?”

“Hey, we are joining your faction after all, we get to hear what goes on!”

Said Twilight as she crosses her arms with a pouty face, looking up at him with her purple eyes. They weren’t as adorable as her own back in the real world, but she was still pretty adorable here to he supposed. He sighs and reaches up, petting her gently on the head with a nod.

“You are right, you deserve to be kept in the loops about these things. Agent Grey was just letting me know the plan to attack the corrupt programs is in two days, we need to get you leveled to at least thirty by tomorrow night. You think you girls can do that?”

“Sure we can! We got this no problem!”

Shouted Lightning with a fist pump.

“But we can’t stay on all night. It is Nightmare Night after all.”

Twilight said with a big smile on her face, bouncing a bit to show her excitement in the holiday. Azrael just chuckled and shook his head. He had to remember things were done slightly different here. Back home, it was winter and well off into the middle of december. But here, the trees still had their fall colors, and the weather was only slightly cold.

“Nightmare Night huh? Sounds like fun. I know Shy doesn’t really like Nightmare Night, so I know she will be staying in doors….not that I am poking fun.”

“I know you aren’t Azrael, do not worry.”

She said as she looked up at him with a slight blush. Azrael wondered if petting her would make her feel better. Sure enough, when he reached a hand up to her head and started, she gave him a warm smile.

“Oh Shy...about the other day when I came here...what you saw me become, that isn’t really me. I just want you to know.”

“I know that as well Azrael, and I don’t hold it against you.”

“Thank you Shy. That means a lot. Now then. How about we get you all to level thirty before we jack out for the day?”

“Sounds good!” they all said excitedly. As they went and slid their access cards into the node, and began to level up with one another, Azrael was telling them the story about him and Topaz fighting it out in the park. Revealing to both Lightning and Gunshy that Topaz was indeed Rarity...and that she had an infatuation with her leader.

“Pffft, of course sher would go for the fancy pants human with the fancy accent…”

Lightning said in a knowing manner.

“I agree, didn’t she learn her lesson with Blueblood?”

“Hang on...how do you know about that..?”

Lightning asked as she stopped in front of him.

“Long story, tell you later.”

“Also, how in the hay do you even know who we are? We never even told you our names and yet you knew them right off the bat.”

“Again, long story, tell you later.”

Just as Lightning was about to try and pry any further lo and behold, Topaz appears in front of them with a smug grin on her face.

“Ah darling, so good to see you again. I believe that you and I have a rematch that needs to be taken care of.”

“Sorry Topaz, but my priorities fall under my faction mates right now. They need help leveling. Don’t you have a frenchman to go and fawn over?”

She stomps her foot in slight annoyance and glares at Azrael, this making him and Lightning giggle a bit.

“You mind your tongue. I will not allow you to disgrace him again!”

Azrael shakes his head and prepares for her duel invite once more, but stops and grins widely as something else catches his sight.

“No, but he will allow it. Won’t you Agent Taylor?”

Before she could react, a bullet lands straight in the back of her head.This making the group nearly fall in laughter, even Gunshy was laughing at her friend’s misfortune. Azrael walks over to her body and crouches down.

“Someone didn’t find their access card did they? Sucks having only one veteran player from my world in here. Should have joined the machines. See ya around sweetheart.”

He said as he stood back up and looked over to the agent who was eyeing the group of now slightly nervous players.

“Easy Agent Taylor. They have access here, I made sure to it.”

“Understood Mr. Schwarzwald. I still have to check their data and make sure..”

He said in his usual monotone voice. Azrael walked over to his future faction mates to ease them, telling them everything is fine and they have done nothing wrong.

“Calm down girls, he isn’t going to open fire. This is why I told you to wait by where we came in. It was the only safe ground. It is risky business to wander around in new areas without finding an access card, and only a certain gang boss drops them.”

“Indeed, you are all so...fortunate to have this human as your future commander. He is quite...resourceful when it came to eluding us for so long.”

A compliment from another agent? What the hell was going on here? Azrael just shrugged and smiled.

“Thanks Agent Taylor. You weren’t and still aren’t easy to outrun. You almost had me when I crashed through the window…”

“Indeed, but you are just as slippery as those troublesome ghost twins. No wonder you look like them.”

“Well,not only do I look like one of them, I possess their ghosting program as well. A gift from the system administrator if you will.”

“I see, I read through your code and wondered why I found something irregular. I told Agent Grey and he said to simply...leave it be.Anyways, your...comrades here seem to check out. I will not disturb you any longer. Good day, Mr. Schwarzwald.”

He said as he vanishes, leaving the confused bluepill wondering where they were at, then walking off. Azrael turns his gaze back to the still body of Topaz. Even though her VR body was down and out, he was sure she was raging within her mind. Silly mare, you cannot coast on good looks and charm with the agents, no ma’am. After a while, her body disappeared in the usual green flash of light that happens when you either logout or recover from death. Twilight suddenly comes to a thought.

“Uum..Azrael do you want to/...come out with us tonight? Luna gave the okay for you to leave the castle at your own discretion. I think..it would be pretty fun to have you come and meet my other friends.”

“You really think that is wise Twi? I am not worried about your friends, so much as the others. Come with me, we are going to Seraph’s teahouse so we can discuss this in private.”

They all nodded and followed him, alley through alley, a nice little quiet place that was out of the way of other players. They finally find the place and enter, one of the waitresses remember Azrael and run up to him, she was an older woman who reached up and patted him on the cheek, she spoke with a slight accent.

“It has been quite awhile Azrael. You been eating alright?”

“Yeah mom, it is good to be back. And yes, I have been eating plenty. Always sweet of you to ask though. I take it Seraph is out keeping Sati company as usual?”

“Oh you know him, he treats that child like she was his own daughter. I suppose that is a good thing though. She is a sweet child.”

“Indeed, it is a shame they killed off the Oracle. First Morpheus, now her.”

“Indeed, Sati wasn’t very happy once she found out about that. Was a shock to all of us.”

“I should let you know now..there are signs ‘he’ is returning.”

“You don’t mean..the one that took Morpheus from us..?”

“Indeed, the Assassin. Stay on guard, mom.”

“You as well sweetheart...please, you and your lovely lady friends come and sit down while I prepare you some tea, on the house as always.”

“Thank you, as always.”

After he had been talked down into going out with Twilight and her friends after about a few cups of tea, he sighed and nodded in agreement.

“Alright Twi, I will go with you. Will you be okay Shy?”

“Oh yes Azrael. I will just log out and spend some time with my animal friends like I do every Nightmare Night, no need to worry about me.”

“Alright then,if you are sure, I will go. But I will be having some fun with my ghost mode...count on it.”

“And just think, you won’t even have to dress up! And you can help me prank other ponies!”

Lightning said in excitement, bouncing on her floor pillow and rubbing her hands together at all the devious ideas going through her mind.

“I can only imagine what Rarity is going to say when she sees me though...oh boy…”

“Ah, it is about that time isn’t it? We should be getting ready for tonight.”

“Alright Twi, see you in about an hour!”

Said Lightning as she logged out.

“Bye Twilight, Azrael.”

Gunshy said with a small smile,waving to them both as she logged as well. Azrael was about to log as well when Twilight stopped him for a moment.

“Um..Z-Zeref?”

“What’s up Twi?”

“Well..I was wondering if you could come by my room and take a look at me in my costume? I need a male’s perspective on it.”

“Uh..why..don’t you ask one of your guards?”

“Just..please Zeref?”

“...Fine, I am on my way.”

He said as he logs out, opening his eyes and pulling the headgear off of him and sits up. What did he even have to worry about? Twilight isn’t the kind of pony who would dress up in something so..out there. She is a reserved pony, yeah. Nothing to worry about! Then again...those booty shorts and low cut t-shirt..nono, she was at home after all, that is fine. He gets up after reassuring himself. He walks out of his room with his hands in his coat pockets. Coming up to Twilight’s room and knocking on the large door.

“TWi, it’s me. Can...I come in?”

“O-oh yes! I am ready!”

Zeref hesitantly opens the door and peeks in, coming in slowly and closing the door behind him, turning to see something absolutely wonderful. She was wearing what looked to be her own version of Starswirl’s robes, but a more female and...VERY sexy rendition of it. Zeref gulps a bit as he stares...and stares...and stares. The general color pattern was her lavender purple, with black trimming on the sides. The dress that came with it was….rather short, but not revealing. She wore striped stockings of the same color, oh man was Zeref a sucker for cute girls in stockings. And the outfit in general clung to her curvy form. While she wasn’t exactly at the double D level in breasts, she had a little over a handful,and that is all Zeref needed but, her hips and rear, good god those were absolutely perfect, her outfit hugged them to were he didn’t even need to imagine her naked.

“Z-Zeref..what do you think..?”

He hears her calling his name and quickly shakes himself out of the trance he was put in, turning his head and acting all cool and collected.

“It...looks good on you Twi. I see you took inspiration on your favorite wizard.”

“Mhmm, I think it turned out pretty well. I am not used to wearing stuff like this out in public..I hope Celestia won’t think of me as a...lewd pony if she saw me like this…”

“Oh Twi, just because you dressed up a bit more sexier than usual doesn’t mean you are a lewd pony..as far as I know anyways.”

“Wh-what’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Nothing Twi! I didn’t assume anything!”

After a few minutes of accusations and finger pointing, they finally leave the castle and meet up with Rainbow dash. And then who should they meet up with next? Rarity if all ponies.

“Yeah, I’m ghosting…”

Before he can though, she sees exactly who he is and widens her eyes, instantly jumping in front of him and glaring at him. The outfit she wore was something that resembled a snow queen. Pure white, sexy halter top dress that covered her legs, but form fitting as well from the hips up.

“So, it is YOU, the brute who allowed that agent to dispatch me! You are nothing but a brute, you hear me?!”

“Rarity, it is not his fault! You are the one who wandered into the area without an access card!”

Twilight rushed in...rather quickly to defend him. Which made him wonder why.

“And how could you possibly know what happened?!”

“Because I was with him when you tried to duel him Rarity, me, Fluttershy and Dash. And yes, we were laughing at you when it happened. He told us everything.”

“And you still choose to befriend this...roughian?!”

“Hey...I resent that.”

He said as he crossed his arms and looked away with feign hurt. But chuckles lightly and turns to look at her.

“Come on Rarity, it is just a game. I had to find out the hard way myself when I played it. And I don’t understand your infatuation with the merovingian...he is a pompous ass. As he wife fittingly puts it.. You will see.”

“I don’t care what his wife says. He is a good man. Unlike some other males around here…”

“Hey, Zeref is a nice guy! At least he isn’t cheating on his loved one!”

Exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

“Not that I have one anyways. I see this is just like with Blueblood. I am voting we drop this and go and have some fun. This is the real world we are in now.”

“If you are so against him then why do you look like one of the ghost twins?”

“Because, they are more badass and cooler than the frenchman could ever be. Besides, I have been loyal to the machines since the first version of the game. And that will not change. And if you keep this conversation where it’s at, I am ghosting. And I do not want to have to leave Twilight’s side because of a petty disagreement over a fictional character.”

“OH very well then...mark my words though...I will take you down in the game, one way or another.”

“Gotta get your stats higher than mine sweetheart.”

He said as he and Twilight began to walk on with Dash, going to the gathering in the middle of town with the party and refreshments. Surely it was Pinkie Pie running the whole deal, seeing as parties were her thing. Zeref was already starting to get nervous though. Everypony there seemed to think he was wearing some kind of costume. A pony hiding behind a ‘glamour’ spell that hid his true appearance.He avoided the pink party pony as best as he could, for now anyways, he didn’t want attention drawn to himself, knowing she would do just that. As Twilight met up with him every time she wasn’t dragged away, they talked for a few moments, then got separated again. As Zeref was keeping a low profile, he bumps into an orange colored farm pony who was dressed as a very sexy female sherif. She had on a brown leather duster and a brown stetson hat, blonde mane and tail,tight fitting jeans and top as well. He quickly catches her by the hand before she falls to the ground and pulls her back up. Yep, with those beautiful emerald green eyes, there was no doubt, Applejack.

“Ya got some quick reflexes there, sugarcube. Thanks for snatchin’ me back up.”

“Ah, not a problem, I should have been watching where I was going. Just glad I caught you before you hit the ground.”

“Mighty kind of ya. Ah like your costume by the way. You look like one of them humans I have seen somewhere from a movie muh little sister is infatuated with. Ah think is was called...The Matrix?”

“You are right… only this isn’t a costume. I am a real human. Though i doubt you would believe that.”

Applejack locked eyes with him, using her honesty senses on him, when he wasn’t lying, her eyes widened, stepping back away from him.

“How are you-?”

“Twilight can give you the whole story..just keep it on the downlow for me...please Applejack. I came out tonight because she wanted me to...and I couldn’t say no to those eyes...which i don’t know why…”

“Hmmm, you have a little crush on Twilight, sugarcube?”

She asked as she leans in with an arched brow and a knowing smile, in which he averts his gaze and hides his face within his long dreads. Applejack coming around to search for the truth in his eyes, but he goes into ghost mode and quickly drifts away, a grin on his face.

“Not gonna catch me now…”

“Hey, that’s cheatin’, get back here you!”

He drifts further away with an ethereal echoing chuckle, melting into the crowd and becoming incognito.Ghost mode for the win. He even slipped right passed Pinkie, which is a feat in of itself. But not until somepony spotted him and shouted.

“Ghost, a real ghost!”

A few heads turned his direction, then gasps, the screams of horror. Zeref decided it was time to split, before he could, he noticed that something was going on. Amidst all the chaos, which discord would have been pleased to see, Rarity and Twilight were both being lead away by a group of male ponies. Surely they know better than to wander off with males as shady as they looked. He would investigate them. He didn’t know why, but he felt he had a...responsibility for looking after Twilight. He didn’t think the guards would appreciate him returning without the Princess of Friendship. As he floated along, he noticed after awhile they turned down a dark alley way, red flags were already rising in his head. Clearly these weren’t ponies just here to enjoy the party. Sure enough, he heard struggling and screaming. He nearly flew as fast as Rainbow Dash through a few building to find both of the mares with anti magic rings around their horns. Yep, this wasn’t going to sit well with Zeref. Not. One. Bit.

“Alright boys, let’s get these two back to the hideout and show them what a real party is huh?”

“You won’t get away with this you brutes!”

“Oooh, this one is mouthy, gonna enjoy watching her put that mouth of hers to good use.”

Twilight, on the other hand, saw Zeref, and a big smirk came across her face.

“Don’t be so sure of yoruselves boys. You are being watched. If you lay a hand on us, I am sure you will not like the results, I suggest you leave us be and go about your business.”

“I’ll put my hands on you anytime I want, bitch!”

Just as the tall and muscular was about to slap twilight across the face, Zeref rises from the ground and leaves out of ghost mode in front of them, grabbing a straight razor he had found in the building next to them and twirled it around professionally. Being a fan of the ghost twins, he even learned how to use the straight razor as a weapon like they did.

“I suggest you listen to the mare. Unless you want to leave here with your balls cut off.”

He said as he continues to twirl the razor around his fingers quickly, as if it was a butterfly knife. He wasn’t going to use his skills he learned from the game, oh no, this was going to be coming straight from the human world.

“Oh yeah? You can’t take on all of us, bud.”

Said a shorter one who took out a knife,as did the others.

“You sure you all wanna come at me with knives? Your funeral.”

Twilight and Rarity both looked on as his face changed. As did his attitude, he became more...cocky, his nose lifted up as if his was looking down on them, continuing to twirl the straight razor around.

“Come here you little piss ant!”

The larger one shouted, swinging the knife at Zeref’s throat. Zeref’s cocky smile grow wider as he grabbed the larger male’s wrist and guided the knife back his direction and right into his gut, taking his straight razor and cutting into the tendons between his thumb and index finger...on both hands so he couldn’t hold a knife...or any kind of weapon for that matter. The male quickly pulls away and looks at his wounds, in shock at how quick Zeref managed to move and attack in a clean fashion.

“I have been jumped by assholes like you since i was thirteen. And I can fight dirty if i have to. Even if that means making sure you can never use a weapon ever again.”

Without hesitation, the other two come at him full force, Zeref dodging their knife thrusts and slashes with ease, blocking and pushing them away with no sweat and even cutting them in the same spots as well.Okay, he was going to use one skill he learned from the matrix. He turns around and runs up one of the walls, leaping off it and spinning in the air with a quick and powerful spinning kick to both of their face, effectively knocking them off their feet and making them spin in the air as well and falling flat on the ground. The good ol’ shadow wall kick, a skill that only beta players had access to.

“Now then, get the fuck out of here before I decide to castrate you all...literally this time.”

He said as he twirls the straight razor around again, this time with intent. They knew he was serious this time, and wasted no time in running away, screaming like little girls. Zeref turned to the two mares, sliding the straight razor in his coat and crouching down in front of them.

“You two should have known better, especially you Rarity. What would you have done if I hadn’t spotted you and Twilight being taken away? What would your dear Merovingian have done?”

“He..he would have saved me!”

“I highly doubt that. Even if he was real, you are nothing but a sex toy to him. Wise up Rarity. You are heading down a road of disappointment, just like you did with Blueblood. I know it hurts coming from someone you don’t know who knows quite a bit about you. But it is for your own good. The sooner you destroy this infatuation, the better.”

He said as he removes the ring from her horn, then walks over to Twilight.

“You alright Twi?”

He asked as he began to remove the ring from her horn as well.

“Yeah...had I known this would have gone bad, i could have used a protection spell...they were so nice before…”

“Silly mare, has being in The Matrix taught you anything? Even the most friendly faces hide cruel intent. I am just glad that I won’t show up without you and the guards bombard me for having lost you. Not to mention I don’t think the other princesses would be too delighted about that.”

Of course he wasn’t going to admit he was worried about them, more so about Twilight, After the grief Rarity had given him, he could have looked the other way, but that would upset Twilight, so he had to care...a little. All he wanted was to just enjoy a little time before the night was up, but that was all ruined, thanks to three jerks. Oh well. What can you do right?