Author's Note

Welcome to Chapter 2 of unformatted experimentation! I am grateful to the readers thus far who have enjoyed my new attempt at story writing, and hope that you will continue to enjoy it.

This Chapter starts a separation I want to try, where EQ chapters would feature the events transpiring in Equestria, whether it be broad like this chapter or personal, such as Raven's family, while ESO Chapters would be, of course, inside of ESO, and the main story. Please provide your input on that format, and this chapter, so I know whether I should continue doing it like this, and/or what I need to change regarding my writing and/or formatting.

Forewarning, this story, as this chapter shows, can get fairly dark, but the dark elements will not be so heavily explored as to warrant anything more than a Teen Rating(also, chapters this dark and seemingly out of place are not going to be commonplace, it is more of an initial bang to what has been going on, and to introduce side conflicts). There is a reason I am being vague, and the scene that I am specifically mentioning is likely not to be taken the way mature-oriented readers would take it. Just keep my note in mind.

Lastly, I will provide profiles for the characters eventually, so you know what they look like. I am honestly just not that good at incorporating the descriptions in writing.

Have a blessed one!

EQ: Chaos

Anchor: The time is now 9:57AM, and we have just received word from our field reporter that the conference we mentioned earlier is soon to be underway. Hello Lori, can you give a recap for those who have not been tracking the story thus far?

Lori: Surething, Silver, good to talk with you again. A number of deaths have mysteriously occurred throughout the night, all of which, according to police, were apparently users of the popular VPon-3, and were playing the game Equestrian Saga Online when they were found dead. Current numbers stand at around 200 ponies, all of them either children or young adults. We are presently awaiting a morning conference by a spokespony for the company behind it, Starlit Eclipse, that was rapidly put together as reports came in. Speaking of, the spokespony is arriving on stage as I speak, so let us listen in.

“Greetings to all of you this morning, and I appreciate your time. It is my solemn duty to report that indeed, the reports you have been hearing are correct. The players were indeed reported dead playing the game ESO, and a data analysis has shown that their times of death correlated to the time that they were no longer present in the game. We are still unsure what could be causing this, but are working to figure it out, and why present users are still in full-dive. Until we know more, I can only say not to attempt to remove the VPon-3, as attempts to do so have ended in otherwise-healthy players to meet a tragic demise as well. We will cooperate with Law Enforcement the best we can, and get these players out of the game as soon as we feasibly can. I am open to answer any questions that I am authorized to speak to,” He says, many reporters wanting to ask some, him choosing one at random.

“Hello, I am from Pox News. I was wanting to know, why have the servers not simply been cut off at this point, and why has nopony tried simply cutting the power to the VPon-3’s?” He asks.

“Let me make this plain and clear: If you want those players to be alive, do not attempt to remove or cut power or connection to the machine or the server. Until we know the cause of their deaths, the 10,000 players could all fall to the same fate if we attempt anything rash. Rest assured, we are not taking this news lightly, and will report when we know more,” The spokespony replies, choosing another reported.

“Good day. I am from PNN. Will there be any compensation to the affected by death or caring for the unconscious ponies around the land?” The mare asks.

“I am not authorized to speak to the specifics of such at this time. However, we are committed to take charge of mistakes on our part, and I can guarantee that something will eventually be done for the affected,” The spokespony responds, pointing to yet another.

“Greetings to you, Mr. Solo Trick. I am from the Transparency Project, and one of the organizers for the Launch Day protests. You assured us that everything was safe, and are claiming to be looking into this matter. Why is Starlit Eclipse then keeping all of their assets encrypted, instead of showing to us, at the very least, the scripts, for outside analysis? Anonymous tips from apparent cryptographers have even alleged changes to the logging out mechanism commonplace for the VPon-3, including a “Full Immersion.escript,” tied to that change, that is..not..” The pony vocally charges, before he suddenly falls over, a dagger in his back, a commotion starting that led to guards protecting the spokespony.

“I will answer to his claims and more tomorrow, as I learn more. Conference adjourned!” The spokespony says, before being escorted away, the pony being tended to as the feed cuts out.

In the Laboratory Meeting Area..

“...” A silence comes from the head mare, Nightlight, as she simply looks out the window, causing a discomfort among those within the room, all of them having just watched the broadcast.

“Who,” Nightlight finally says, so deadpan as to remove any sense of inquiry to it, but more so disappointment.

“Is it not possible another group could have found the same information we did?” Jay suggests.

“Possible, yes. Likely? Doubt it. Also, due to these changes in circumstances, we are now in Lockdown Level T-5 until further notice. Any and all phones are to be confiscated, any calls filtered through our secure line, and nopony being allowed to leave, until we figure out who raised the alarm so early, putting our operation in potential jeopardy,” Nightlight orders, pointing Jay out to do so with those in the room, before pressing the button to call the front desk.

“Frost, do not allow entry nor exit of the laboratory until further notice. Lethal force authorized for anyone trying something rash,” Nightlight says.

“Y-yes ma’am. May I ask-”

“You will know in a minute, just get back to-”

“Good morning gentlestallions, I will have to ask you to leave, as we are not currently accepting visitors,” Frost says to a trio that had just showed up.

“We must be hard of reading then, as the sign clearly said open to visitors,” The presumed leader stallion said, drawing a handgun at the mare.

“We need to have a little..chat, with your boss. Kindly get her to come to us, or your blood will be spilled right here, right now,” The stallion says.

“I am coming down, hold them off,” Nightlight says.

“Yes ma’am,” Frost says, before looking back at the trio.

“May I ask your names, at least? A date with three gentlestallions is no fun if we are not on a name-to-name basis,” Frost sarcastically said as she walked.

“Call us the ESO QA Squad,” The leader simply says.

“As creative as a newborn foal, I see. Our main mare is coming down now, so feel free to take a seat,” Frost suggests.

“We are not that stupid, whoever you are. We know the likelihood of an alarm button and a weapon behind your counter. Speaking of, come out from behind there, slowly,” The leader demands.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Frost responds, doing as said, having her mane grabbed and a gun pointed to her throat as Nightlight arrives.

“So you are the henchmen Torn Soul sent to ensure that we do not get the information out that was going to be revealed at the conference,” Nightlight states to the leader.

“Smart mare. You guys got close with that tip of yours, too bad that the one who sent us does not quite want such transparency. After all, what fun would that be?” He sneers.

“It takes a monster to want to kill so many innocent ponies wanting to enjoy a game,” Nightlight comments.

“Oh come now, you and I both know that ponies are far from innocent, no matter who they are,” He says.

“Innocent enough not to warrant death by microwaves from the VPon-3 due solely to dying in the game,” Nightlight retorts.

“Guilty enough not to be worried about by our master. Also, you act as though all of the deaths were by the game itself. Let me assure you: Many of the initial players died by their choice of “logging out,” committing suicide through a given method, rather than fight to escape,” He states.

“You act as though it is any different.”

“You act as though it is the same.”

“Your master trapped them.”

“They chose to enter the game.”

“To play.”

“Correction: To be immersed. To be immersed means accepting the risk of death. They were never lied to. There was never any mention of respawning.”

“You lot are insane.”

“You lot are naive.”

“Burn in Hell.”

“Not today. You are coming with us, and if you try anything rash, I will take great pleasure in ending the life of this mare right here,” He says, putting more pressure on the mares throat with the gun.

“Get that gun off the mare before she chokes, you insolent pest. Take me if you want, does not bother me. Catching up with Torn Soul would be a ‘pleasure’,” Nightlight replies. At this, the henchmen not holding Frost effective hostage cuff Nightlight to avoid her escape, and the leader releases Frost, still keeping a gun trained on her just in case.

“Now then, let us make this message clear to, blue pony,” He starts, referring to the front desk mare.

“Tell your crew that if they want to live, they need to end any and all research into ESO, and not attempt to reverse the course that the one who sent us-”

“Torn Soul,” Nightlight repeats.

“-we know little regarding the pony of that name- has put into motion. Do not attempt to call the police either, as we will know, and personally see to it that you and your families do not survive. Do I make myself clear?” The leader finishes, eying the mare.

“Loud and clear,” Frost replies, glaring at him.

“Glad we are on the same page. To the van,” He says to the trio following him, including Nightlight. They proceed to leave and drive off, leaving Frost alone. After ensuring they are gone, she locks the door, and swiftly heads upstairs to the remaining group.

“What happened?” Jay inquires.

“They took Nightlight. They demand the ceasing of attempts to reverse their boss’ course through our research into ESO, or they will kill us and our families as a response,” Frost explains.

“I am assuming the police is out of the question?” He rhetorically asks.

“Yes,” She replies.

“Did they mention a name regarding who sent them?” He inquires.

“They did not, but they denied when Nightlight claimed it was a stallion named “Torn Soul.” My turn for a question: What the hell is going on?” She asks.

“It is a bit of a long story, but I suppose you have the right to know now. We need your phone as-per command by Nightlight, and as the main contact to Nightlight, I am the effective leader until she returns, unless anypony has objections,” He states, to dead silence.

“That is fine,” Frost says, hoofing him her phone.

“Now then, here is what has been going on..”

Two hours later, in an office at a secluded location on the outskirts of Ponyville(because of course it is)..

“Ah, Nightlight, what a pleasant surprise. Let us get you out of those cuffs,” The pony in front of a sat down Nightlight says, motioning for one of the henchmen to uncuff her, getting smack right thereafter, about to get hit in kind before the desk pony says “Enough. You are dismissed, Crescent,” the mentioned stallion leaving the room.

“As feisty as always,” The pony continues.

“As ambitious as always, Torn Soul,” Nightlight replies.

“You remember my name, how sweet.”

“Hard to forget the name of my tormenter.”

“You act as though you opposed being my test subject.”

“You act as though you gave me the choice.”

“Who said I did not? I always give a choice, ponies just typically choose the one they hate the least out of the options in front of them.”

“Death is not typically a choice one chooses if given another option.”

“Yet you acknowledge the choice you had.”

“Reminds me of the Rainbow Factory.”

“I never got caught though.”

“Not yet.”

“Nor will I,” He finishes, before standing up placing his hoof below her chin. “And you will help me make sure of that,” He continues. She goes to smack him, but her hoof is grabbed swiftly.

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“If I refuse?”

“There is plenty of water calling you name, but I will assume you would rather not make that mistake again, now would you, Agent Nightlight?” He sneers, caressing her mane.

“If it means you finally pay the price for your actions, do what you will with me,” Nightlight weakly says.

“You do not truly mean that, do not fight your urge to be safe and sound once more,” He smoothly says.

“I..will not follow you again!” She yells, trying to bring her other hoof to him, but him slamming both her hooves onto the table.

“How sad, the outside world broke you again. We will fix that soon enough. Take her back to the Waterfall Room,” He demands, Nightlight being cuffed once more and led away, to the chuckling of Torn Soul.

“You only ever listened to negative reinforcement. Perhaps that is what the players will need, soon enough,” He says aloud, to himself, before returning to watching the game monitors, and the player count every now and again falling, eliciting a cruel smile upon his face.

“May the odds be ever in your favors,” He quotes from the Pony Games, laughing, before he gets up and trots out, to head back to his main office.

“Time to be ‘the aghast CEO of Starlit Eclipse, determined to bring an end to these disastrous circumstances’, it appears,” He continues, as he opens the front door, and trots along a lonely path back into the city proper.