Author's Note

You've unlocked full power-ups!

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A was first used in the 1986 game Gradius.

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A

Downing another energy drink, you sigh at your television screen, and adjust yourself to get more comfortable. It's another boring weekend, and you're stuck at home playing the newest game that just came out while lying on your belly at the edge of your bed. There's an online part of the game that you've yet to explore, but you've never really been into that aspect of gaming. Not since you got owned badly by that XxMash3r_0f_butt0nzxX kid. Although, this isn't necessarily a pony versus pony type of game seeing as how it encourages teamwork in order for everypony to succeed, so you go ahead and click the option to pair up with other ponies for a change.

You sniffle to yourself as you wait, and watch the spinning circle on your television screen go around and around. And around. Eventually, it links up, and you're matched with...

"What the?" you ask aloud with a slight chuckle. "No way, does that say...?"

Princess Luna

"Huh," you huff, wondering if it could really be her, or just somepony else trying to mess around with his or her gullible prey. "It's more likely the latter," you think. Grabbing your headset and fumbling around with it in your hooves, you breathe and plug it into your controller. Your heart starts racing because the game indicates that you, and this Princess Luna player are the only ones in the lobby that apparently have headsets. Of course, you mute yourself first, and wait while listening.

You then look at your name directly underneath hers. It reads, "Scrub01", and as you say it aloud, you begin to regret some of your life decisions. You have the crappiest headset ever invented, too, so it takes a while for you to really hear anything at all. At first, there's some static, but as time goes by, you begin to hear a voice.

"Hello?" The mare asks through the clicking in your ears. This time, more clearly, "Are you there, scrub?"

You turn on your microphone, and say, "Yep, I'm here..." It goes somewhat quiet, and you find yourself gullibly asking, "Are... you really Princess Luna?"

She giggles, but it feels more like she's taunting you. "Of course I am! Surprised?"

You decide to start joking with this stranger, and say, "Yeah, right! There's no way."

"No, really!" She pleads to you, "I mean, it used to be something else not too long ago," she chats with you, "but then I paid a few bits to have it changed."

"Look," you say. "Why would Princess Luna be playing video games? She's way too busy, and I happen to know this because I just so happen to live in Canterlot!"

She asks, "You do?"

"Yeah," you reply. "And unlike most ponies, I've actually seen Luna when she visits my college. She doesn't look like much of a g-"

"You sound familiar," she comments, cutting you off, and perhaps that's for the best. That's because the one time you had actually seen Princess Luna at your school, she looked fairly youthful, and extremely attractive for a mare that's over a thousand years old. You can hear her chuckling at her screen as she talks to you, staring at that stupid name that you gave yourself. She didn't sound shy at all about this, either. "Didn't we speak? It was in the library, right?"

Your heart starts thumping even harder, and you even begin to shake a little. "W-well..." you begin mumbling your sentences. "I mean... Uhh..."

"Yeah," she says enthusiastically after hearing more and more of your familiar voice. "I think I had asked you about that big project." Then, she suddenly says, "I could barely see your eyes through that thick mane of yours!"

You're nearly at a loss for words by then. "How..." You look away from the television, blinking, and asking, "How could you know that?"

"Because," she says sounding annoyed. "I am Princess Luna!"

You roll your eyes, and although she even sounded like the Princess, you continue to call her out. "Look, like I said, I live right next door to the palace gates. There's... just no way."

It goes a little bit silent after that save for the music coming from the game. Then, you hear her say, "You really are a scrub, y'know."

"Oh," you taunt. "Here we go."

"Listen here, scrub! I think I know where you live." Your heart is now beating faster than ever, and although you're trying desperately not to let it show that this is beginning to creep you out, everything she had been saying to you had sounded convincing, and disturbingly accurate. What she says next is no different. "If you live next to the gates... that would place you right on that cute, little one story house with the only grass lawn in the entire neighborhood. Right?"

You don't say anything. Actually, by now, you've muted yourself, and you're just listening.

"That's not even ten minutes away," she exclaims. "I could come on over in order to prove it to you."

You unmute yourself, and say, "Princess Luna? Showing up at my doorstep to play video games with me? That'll be the day!"

"What's wrong?" she questions you. "Scared?"

"N-no! Of course not! I just... I only have one controller, and it's not that great anyways... and besides, that's not happening. You're not even her, so just... stop. Alright?"

She doesn't stop, though, and says, "That's cool! I've got a pair of controllers we can use, and they're both in perfect condition. I also just finished making popcorn..." She stops speaking for a few seconds, but then, sincerely, she asks you, "What do you say, scrub? Can I come on over or what?"

You simply can not believe that this is happening, and after sighing into the microphone, you sarcastically say, "Oh, yeah, sure. Come on over, your "Highness"... Don't forget to bring the popcorn!"

She quickly replies to you, saying, "I won't, and I can't wait to see the look on your scrub face when I get there!"

You unplug your mic stressfully, and start playing the game finally as it starts the level. However, it ends as soon as it begins because the host leaves. That's when you realize that must've been Princess Luna, and you look at the door to your bedroom awkwardly. For a second there, you shake your head, and try to get back into the game, but something stops you, and you get up from where you were resting. Coming up to the door, and exiting into the living room, you notice how dirty it looks.

"What if...?" you ask yourself. "What if she actually shows up...?"

You had learned a new spell from one of your teachers earlier, and shrugging, you give it a try. It works rather well. All of your laundry gets folded and is put back into your room, and any stains in the carpet wither away magically. After only a brief moment, the entire house looks spotless, and you say, "Even if Luna isn't coming... I needed to try that out."

You turn back to your room which had also been cleaned, and laid down while staring at the screen. With it dusted off, it looks a whole lot better, and you smile while reaching for the controller again. However, before you're able to pick it up, you hear a knocking at your door.

Once again, your heart starts palpitating, and you think to yourself, "No way..."

You hop off from your bed, and wander back out of your room. Staring at the door across from where you stood, you trot towards the entryway of your house nervously. The pony on the other side of the door knocks again, and you jump back for a second. Then, you hear her voice.

"Scrub? You there?"

You huff, and open the door, but you can't believe it. Standing there, right in front of you is Princess Luna herself, and she's holding a pair of controllers with her magic, and popcorn in her hooves. She looks even more attractive than she did in the library. At first, you're merely starstruck while taking it all in. You're not sure what to say to her except, "Holy shit it's you."

She blushes while laughing. "Of course it's me! Who'd you expect? My sister?"

You inhale some air while trying to think. "Uhh, what're you doing here?" you ask stupidly. "It's kinda late..."

She rolls her eyes, but never does she stop smiling at you. "What do you think?" she asks you teasingly. "You said I could come on over!"

You gulp, and say, "That's not what I mean! You're telling me... that really was you...? It was actually you on the game?"

She nods playfully, and you're once again at a loss for words. Then, she asks you, "Are you gonna let me in?"

"Huh?" you ask.

She stares at you with that kind smirk, and then, she says, "Let's go grinding, you scrub!"