Chapters Sometimes a Redo is all you need
It happened again. I was too late, too weak, I couldn’t stop him and all my friends, all my family are dead. They always die no matter how much I try. Rubbing the tears from my eyes, I looked up to see the one thing I’ve always hated, the one thing that made this unending cycle of death the one thing that was supposed to help save everyone that I love but never does. The blue screen that is apart that is forever apart of my cursed life.
You have died
Load Save
Quit
For who knows how long now, my life has been centered around this screen and what it meant and I just can’t take it anymore. Instead of pressing the obvious choice of Load Save and continuing the cycle of death one more time in a feeble attempt to stop what will always come I chose Quit. With the expected ping of my game like ability activating once more, the ruined landscape around me disappeared only to be replaced with unending darkness and a glowing blue sign hanging from invisible strings. On the never before seen sign was a picture of myself as a young boy standing next a version of myself that I was much more familiar with, surrounded by glowing jewels in the form of the elements of harmony. Those elements were supposed to be the key to every problem the world could throw them but even they couldn’t stop the villain who destroyed both them and the bearers of their power. Below the lying picture of happiness and peace was something I expected but still found surprising.
Spike’s Adventures in the land of Equestria:
The Game
Load Game
New Game
Options
Extras
Reading the title, I couldn’t help but laugh at the ironic simpleness the sign tried to convey when my game, My life was anything but. Seeing no reason not to mess with what was essentially mine, I started from the bottom and worked my way up through to the top. In the Extras were hundreds of items, costumes, weapons, and even cherished scenes I had collected from my many runs through the demented gauntlet that was my life and each one simply made me remember both the good and bad memories of what I went through to obtain them all such as the time I helped Twilight organize her entire library three times over without complaint only to receive a simple pair of glasses that could let me read any book at blinding speed without the threat of headaches or tiring my eyes out, or the time I helped appleJack buck apples from her entire field of delicious apple trees to gain a farmer's outfit that gave me the green thumb skill or the time I had to save sweetie bell by distracting a fully grown manticore as the CMC ran away in fear only to get a knife coated in an unending supply of the beast’s venom. All the possible Extras were mne to use as I wished whether they be for bad or good as I found out, all except for one. The final Extra the one with no requirements on how to gain it, was completely blank as if mocking me for my inability to do anything right and funnily enough, I agreed with its sentiment. Closing the window of memories and empty promises, I selected Options next. It was filled with multiple screens that affected how I could see and hear and even it my words became physically present in the world but that was all. Next was New Game; unable to stand the thought of What it meant, I simply skipped over it and chose the final option from the menu, Load Game. 1 screen popped up but in it were thousands of what I learned were called save file. Little checkpoints I had created to capture moments of triumph or simply start over from scratch to help defeat any opponent who was too strong for me to fight as I was. For the most part it, worked but every time I thought everything would go right the final villain appeared. No matter how much I studied, how much I trained, how much I collected to finally defeat him, it was never enough so everyday one the day of my 18th birthday my life was over for another try to defeat him only to fail. After all, how can somebody defeat them-self.
To think, that before I gained this curse, my life had been that of a normal boy dragon raised by ponies. I would spend my days reading comic books, helping Twilight by assisting her with whatever she and the rest of the Mane six needed, and fantasizing about having Rarity, the most beautiful and sweetest mare in the world, be my special somepony. But after gaining this curse I realized the truth, no matter how strong I thought I could become, how great my life could become, I was till a dragon. A being whose sole purpose is to hunt, steal, and destroy. Most dragons as I learned experience what is known as “The time of purpose” a biological event that usually happens on the day of a dragon’s 10th birthday to determine if they knew what they were to become in life or simply succumb to their draconic urges to become unthinking shells of their former selves. For some reason unknown to me, my “Time of purpose” came late and always will no matter what I do. This means that no matter what skills and weapons I own, My draconic side does too but with the added bonus of it’s draconic nature helping surpass me no matter what I do to become stronger.
Sighing to myself, I tried to only think about the good times my life as a ponyville resident lead too not what I always became. Funnily enough, no matter how much I tried to think of everything good, my mind only wandered back to the day I gained this curse, the day I was just a weak little baby dragon with no idea that I could become strong enough to rival all powerful alicorns like Celestia, Luna, and even Twilight when the time came for her ascension. I wished I could back to that time but my earliest save is 2 years after my discovery of this curse I now bear when I was on the way to becoming the god that I would become. If I could just go to before then, then everything could be different maybe even safer for my friends and family with only a weak dragon to worry about.
It was then that I realized that maybe I could. Going back to the main menu, I stared at the New Game option as I weighed the pros and cons of doing so.
‘If I do this then all progress i’ve ever made will all be for nothing, but my friends and family will be safe.’
Stealing my nerves, I selected the New Game option and was brought back to the load save menu though more slots with open vacancy were now visible for use. Selecting the next open slot directly under my latest save, I Pressed next. Once pressed, 2 new screens appeared.
Would you like to use the tutorial?
Yes No
Remembering the days where I was fumbling around to try and figure out the mechanics to my game of a life, I couldn’t suppress the shiver from those dark days. Selecting yes for no other reason than my own paranoia, the first screen disappeared leaving behind the second one. Reading the final box, I couldn’t a toothy smile from appearing on my face.
For creating a New Game, you have unlocked the final Extra.
Author's Note
Hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter fellow MLP lovers. I know it's very sparse in terms of actual events but I just wanted to get the idea started before blasting straight into the story so as to help set up the real plot i'm going for. So in a sense, you could consider this the prologue to the real story.
Anyways, if you liked or disliked the story then leave a comment of what you thought and why so I can figure out how to make it even better for everyone.
Trains are a pain to catch
“Spike, Spike it’s time to get up. Come on you lazy dragon, not everyone can sleep in on such an important day.”
Opening my eyes slowly, I could still feel the tiredness from having slept so long as I tried to rub the sleep from my eyes. When it felt like I had done the best I could I finally had a chance to look around. Instead of waking up in my usual room in the Golden Oak Library or even the gem construct that had been made to replace it after Twilight reached her ascension I instead found myself in Canterlot Castle royal archives with a smiling Twilight sparkle sorting through a random assortment of scrolls in her travel bag.
“So it really is the first day, Right before we were sent to Ponyville.”
“What was that Spike?”
Snapped out of my Melancholy from such an important day, I put on my best “Happy assistant” Smile.
“Nothing, just trying to get the cobwebs out of the attic, as the saying goes. Nothing to worry about.”
Apparently my acting needed a little more work because Twilight stopped what she was doing to put a hoof to my forehead.
“You don’t feel any hotter than usual, Are you sure everything is alright Spike?”
That was Twilight for you, tender and caring like a mother one moment and filled with enough OCD for 20 ponies the next. Pushing her hoof away, I tried to think of the best line to stop her from worrying.
“Yep, I’m right as rain. Besides, don’t you have other stuff to worry about?”
That did the trick as twilight gained what I affectionately called “her freak out face” even if the feeling wasn’t mutual, and she went straight to her sack of scrolls again muttering about research, and small country towns. Left alone again, I took my chance to get up and just wander around the library with the few minutes I still had. After my small window of memories had passed, Twilight called for me to come along or she would leave me in Canterlot by myself.
‘Like she actually would actually do that, She love me to much.’
Back with Twilight now, I could feel the once unnoticeable signs of her horn gathering magic to cast a spell, and it was a powerful one if what I felt was right. In the next second, a sphere of condensed magic surrounded both of us. When the spell dissipated, I felt as though my entire body had just been flushed down a toilet then squeezed through a hole half my size and by the look of Twilight, she hadn’t fared much better.
Catching my best friend and mother figure by the barrel, I realized just how different 2 years could be. Instead of being at somewhat equal height to her, I was only about neck height with her when standing upright.
“Thanks Spike, I always forget how much that spell takes out of me. If it wasn’t for you, I'd probably be stuck with my-”
“All passengers to Ponyville, Train Three. I repeat, all passengers to Ponyville, Train Three.”
“- Oh no, That’s the five minute warning call.”
I didn't pay attention to Twilight though as something extremely familiar had appeared in the front of my face.
Warning: Instant Quest
(Instant Quests can appear at any time and are mandatory to complete or fail.)
Help Twilight reach her train in five minutes.
Success: Ponyville warp point added to map, +50 relationship with Twilight, +1000 EXP.
Failure: Nightmare moon will rise and take over all equestria.
It may have been my plan to do as much nothing as I possibly could, but even I wasn’t stupid enough to ignore a quest like this.
Grabbing Twilight by the hoof, I lead her as fast as I could with my stubby legs through the crowds of Canterlot Station. Twilight would obviously berate me for how I was acting once we reached the train but for now she was simply apologizing left and right for every stallion and mare I pushed past. By the time I could see the train, it was already on it’s starting legs to leave the station.
“ Oh Tartarus, there isn’t enough time. I’ve only got one shot this, so I hope I don’t mess it up.”
Angling my trajectory to the end of the station’s platform, I ran as fast if not faster than a dragon my size possibly could. With only a few yards left to go, the train was already mostly gone with only two cars left before it left completely. One yard left now with only half a car in the station.
“Jump Twilight!”
The train was a few feet out when we reached the edge. Jumping with all my small dragon strength, I cleared the growing gap by a toe. Using my momentum, I swung my body forward and into the metal bars of the caboose’s platform. Upside down now, with a slight headache, I saw that Twilight had less trouble than myself jumping but was still taken to the ground thanks to my tumble and her hair had become a complete mess.
Success
Ponyville warp point added to map
+50 relationship with Twilight
+1000 EXP.
A new screen replaced the first one quickly after.
‘Of course, and here the stuff I said I wouldn’t try to get.’
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
Level Up
+4 AGI
+1 STR
Sighing internally, I figured I would deal with the level ups later as for now, I had a somewhat irritated pony staring down at me.
“What in the hay were you thinking, Spike!”
“Nothing really except that we needed to get on this train.”
“We didn’t have to run like headless chickens and board a train without permission. We’re lucky that Celestia had bought our tickets ahead of time or we would be kicked off at the next station.”
I held my tongue that Ponyville is the next station on this train’s route, and simply helped in gathering Twilight's bag while apologizing.
“(sigh) There’s no need to apologize Spike. It was just a lapse in judgement and I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
She didn’t say it like a mother would to their foal with not so subtle threat of what would happen but rather like she truly trusted me not to do it again.
“Don’t worry Twilight, it won’t happen again.”
I wished it was true but with Instant Quest, I had no choice in the matter, Until the next one though, I would be the perfect role model of a calm and collected dragon. Once all the luggage had been checked and double checked by Twilight, we made our ways through the cars and and found an empty compartment to wait in for the long ride ahead. All the while, a sudden thought entered my head only to be discarded as simple lapse in my long memory.
'Why had the train left so soon?'
Author's Note
So what do you think, do you like it, do you hate? leave a comment on what you think even if you just don't like the story in general. After all, bad criticism is worse than no criticism.
An old reason never changes
Name: Spike, The Dragon
(The title you are known by to enemies and allies)
Species: Magic-Fire Dragon
(Your predetermined skill set based on the origin of your birth)
Level: 5
(Your overall progress as a character)
EXP: 0/500
(“experience” gained through defeating monsters and completing quests for you to level up once the pre-required amount is met)
HP: 900/900
(“Health” the maximum amount of damage you can endure before dying)
MP: 800/800
(“Mana” the maximum amount of magical energy you have for the use for spells and magic based abilities)
Stats:
STR: 6
(“Strength” your overall ability to attack physically and possible amount of weight you can carry)
AGI: 9
(“Agility” your overall speed and maximum health)
INT: 8
(“Intelligence” your maximum Mana and ability to retain information)
WIS: 5
(“Wisdom” your overall magical potency and understanding of information)
Stat points: 15
(points gained through leveling your character to increase your current stats)
Skills list:
(A list of skills and abilities that have been discovered, learnt, or born with by the player)
Magic-fire Dragon flames: Rare magically enhanced flames that can only made by the dragon from which it originated from.
(A short description of what the ability is)
Damage: 1 × WIS
(How much damage can be inflicted on an enemy based on the user’s stats and the specific skill being used)
MISC: By being made of magic, the flames can have multiple uses based the user’s skill in using it.
(Additional information of a skill and what it can do)
Cost:10 MP per second
(Cost of using the skill
Sighing internally I couldn’t help but point out many of the flaws of the short descriptions. Like how Strength not only affected lifting power but overall strength but it needed to be an extremely high number to do so, Agility did affect speed but much like Strength it needed a high number to do so, Intelligence and Wisdom were fine though since the had no real effect unless I was using magic or learning something, so I never became super smart no matter how many points I put into them. Something else that wasn’t mentioned and happened to be extremely important was that enemies would grow in strength relative to me; this meant if I was level 1 and fought a manticore who was level 5 and somehow became level 2 during the fight, the manticore would become level 6. With this kind of logic, it made levels somewhat useless and the major focus was on the stats themselves.
Not wanting to be underprepared in case I had to fight because of another Instant Quest that was bound to happen sooner or later, I divided my points evenly between AGI, INT, and WIS making them become 14,13, and 10 respectively so as to not seem to different than usual. Done with my Stats menu, I checked to make sure Twilight was still engrossed with her book for the train ride and swiped a new screen into view.
Relationships
(The general feelings that people hold for you.)
Twilight Sparkle: 800/1000 - Sister
(The attitude of the person towards you.”
????????????
????????????
????????????
????????????
????????????
????????????
????????????
????????????
????????????
‘Looks like the relationship menu is a little sparse too.’
While there were only ten slots available for certain people it didn’t mean that I could only know ten people closely but rather I could have instant knowledge of how they feel about me whereas I would have to find out the hard way from anyone else.
“Spike, are you alright?”
Eyes snapping away from the glowing screen, I saw that Twilight was looking straight at me with a bookmark to keep her place in her now closed book and a concerned look in her eyes. Realizing that she must have been watching me out of the corner of her eyes as I was messing with the screens that were invisible to her, I said the first thing that came to mind.
“Never better Twilight, just trying to do some mental math like you said I should.”
While not technically a lie as she did tell me to do this but two years later when I finally entered school.
“I don’t remember telling you that.”
I was expecting that response; luckily this was Twilight that I was talking to or this next excuse would never work.
“Yes you did, it was that one day you were really tired after studying for a week without sleeping.”
Twilight had the decency to blush even though I hadn’t specified which time it was. That was one of the funny things about Twilight; she would get an idea in her head at the most random of times and then start studying then and there until it was solved like that one time when we were at one of two restaurants that that were in the middle of a customer war with a restaurant right across the street and Twilight had heard two guys arguing playfully on which of the two had better hay fries. What happened in the following month was nothing short of crazy as Twilight spent all her time examining every fry that was made by both restaurants and ultimately saying they were both the same. On that day we were banned from ever eating establishment in the kingdom and had to have our meals made by the royal chef himself.
Having perked up during my reminiscing of such a funny time, Twilight had started searching through her bag only to remove a large book covered in small math problems and glowing slightly yellow.
‘No not one of those!’
Int Stat Book
(A book able to automatically give the player a preset amount of stats without question)
(Warning:One time use only)
I just had to open my big mouth about studying to the one unicorn who thought it was fun enough that she asked Celestia to make a holiday for it, thank Celestia she didn’t, but still.
“Thanks Twilight, I really appreciate it.”
The smile on my face couldn’t have looked any more forced than it already was but thanks to Twilight not having the the ability to read social cues like she will in the future, it looked not only genuine but exuberant as well. Taking the book, I realized that there would be no way for me to get out of this situation without creating more problems than I could handle, plus the look of joy on Twilight’s face was hard to say no to.
‘There goes my chance to be lazy, hopefully this is the last time it happens.’
With that last thought, I dived into the book, unable to look away from the pages due to the mechanics of the game forcing me to finish it. By the time I was finished with all 900 pages and 100 chapters of the book, the sun had already set for the night half of our journey meaning we would reach Ponyville by sunrise if my memory was right. Ignoring the the pop-up of how many INT points I gained aside from seeing the outrageous number that I had now earned which was 20, I saw that twilight was still hunched over her book in a reading position but instead of being at wide-eyed and attentive to every letter of every word of every page, she was snoring with a thin trail of drool hanging precariously from her mouth.
Getting from my seat, I placed the old book back in Twilight’s bag and started to head back to Twilight to put her in a better sleeping position before she woke up with a crick in her neck. Before I could do so though, a single scroll fell from her oversized bag. Picking up the piece of parchment, I saw that it held the royal of all letters I send and receive from Celestia. Curious as to what could be inside it, I unfurled it and started reading.
‘Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful and talented student.
From reading your letter of the warning for the coming prophecy of The Mare in the Moon, I cannot help but agree in your feelings of fear and anxiety. Unfortunately though, there is little to nothing that I am able to do as I am constantly bogged down by my responsibilities so that is why I am entrusting you to this task. With your knowledge of the royal archives, you should be able to decipher the location of the only items that can protect the kingdom of Equestria when I lost them so long ago. The Element of Harmony have illuded me for decades with only vague hints left of how I could retrieve them.
Do not worry though, using the knowledge I obtained on where to find them, I am sending you to the last place I looked before the trail went cold. For this reason though, I am not sending you as an expeditionary force but rather as Canterlot’s royal inspector of the Longest Day Celebration seven days from the time of this letter reaching you so as to not create panic in the subjects of Equestria. To this end though means that you must perform the duties assigned to such a station so as to not raise suspicion. I trust you in doing this Twilight Sparkle, the fate of Equestria rests in your hooves.
Signed Your faithful teacher and princess
Celestia.’
Reading the letter I couldn’t help but giggle in remembrance of Twilight’s first day in the rural town of Ponyville, her future kingdom and home. Stowing the letter back into her saddle bag, I laid Twilight into what I hopped was a much more comfortable position before going to sleep myself.
‘It’s going to be weird seeing everyone and pretend not to know them.’
Author's Note
Hey again everyone. sorry about taking so long to update but school can take so much time away from you.
With my bull crap excuses out of the way now, I have a question for you all.
Do you want me to add an end of chapter character sheet for spike so you all don't have to remember everything yourself or can I take the easy road and just add them when I need them and let you all be smart independent readers?
The voting pole will consist of just writing a comment and only last until the end what I like to affectionately call "The longest Day Arc". If not even one person leaves a comment on what they prefer, I will just continue writing the story without the end of chapter character sheet.
until then, have fun reading and waiting for my next chapter.
