The Game: Aether and Mind

I was never genuinely interested in games growing up, not because I never tried, I always was just too busy to join them, not that I ever was intrigued before in brainless amusement, thinking it was just something you'd do if one didn't have anything better to do. Now that I look back to my late childhood and years of puberty, I begin to see a rather depressing pattern, in which I've never experienced the things that made life 'fulfilling', which didn't mean I was ever depressed or unhappy, but I now most likely couldn't even claim that I 'lived' back on earth.

My hoof recoiled lightly from the heavy shot Cairn kicked at me.

Grinning cheekily I tilted my head to the left. "You buck much harder than you give yourself credit."

"Are you sure you should say that to me?" He barked while wiping the sweat off his face.

'Ohh~ Spitting fire already?' I thought with a raised eyebrow before suddenly snapping to the right and punching the ball at Gerb.

"Uff!" Gerb exhaled loudly, as he caught the ball with both of his claws and was knocked back still. "Sheesh, Jerky! turn that notch down a few levels, will you?" He complained, before turning towards Sugar. "You're up next, don't tip over, will you?"

"What, cause I'm a filly?" Sugar huffed with a false gasp and yet convincing outrage plastered across her visage. Although Sugar Drop was the same age as all of us, it was very clear that her body was much more mature, with her being the tallest of us by quite a few centimeters.

"No, 'cause your hindlegs are standing on some stones." Gerb noted dryly, while pointing at Sugar.

Sugar raised her eyebrows, before shifting her weight slightly, but her balance shifted like a loose barrel on a ship. "Oh! Well, I am ready now!" She spoke with determination, at least, after taking a step to the left.

Gerb shrugged without worry and hurled the ball with a mighty punch towards Sugar, the projectile whistling with speed, and stopped instantaneously between Sugar's strong hooves that bit into the rubber like a snake.

"Caught it!" Sugar beamed with a large smile, showing off her teeth, at least her illusionary ones.

"Yeah, you did. Goodness why is it so hot today? I feel like I'm breathing so much of this expensive air, I'm expecting a bill." Gerb sighed, while fanning air into his face, while panting.

I looked around, and I could agree, human me most certainly would've asked where the airbill was, which sadly was a thing on earth, well, at least in those fancy air gardens. While on the topic of gardens, the Canterlot Castle plants and flowers were in full bloom, bursting with bombastic, saturated colors that almost appeared in a neon hue due to the strong sunlight.

"I'm not feeling warm at all." Cairn butted in from the side, as he walked closer towards our little circle.

Gerb rolled his eyes with such force, his eyeballs(?) nearly fell out. "You once didn't even notice when your mane was on fire." Cairn's face lit up like a bonfire, while his gaze fell to the ground. "Besides, you’ve got it worse in winter."

"Don't fight colts, today's too much of a special day for bickering." Sugar shot back, now too coming closer into our little formation. Apparently, the game was over, how sad.

"I guess you're right." Gerb agreed.

"Yeah..." Cairn's face slowly cooled down, as he agreed too.

"Yes." I said with confidence before I froze. What was special today? Was it someone's birthday? "Ehm, what's so special about today again?" I asked shyly before the game would pull up my calendar.

"The Peak Summer Fair?" Sugar Drop asked with a straight face, only slightly tilting it. This was something I have noticed ponies do, or rather, not do that made my bones itch, they barely even made any motions with their limbs.

"Nope, never been there." I replied with a shrug, planting my plot on the grass and lifting my hooves momentarily.

"Come on dude, aren't you like one of those bluebloods, part of royalty or something? Even they go there to show off all the shiny stuff they stick on their clothes." Gerb asked with curiosity, stepping a few meters forward until facing me, his gaze glued onto me as if he expected me to burst into laughter or something.

"Eh, Gerb, I don't think Star is lying." Cairn said from the side with a rasping voice. Cairn walked a few steps closer and looked puzzled, while his ears fluttered like a loose sail, he tipped his head slightly, which seemed to stop the constant impulses at least momentarily. "But, have you never wondered what goes on today every year? You surely must've seen all the lanterns fly into the sky yearly?"

"Well, not really, I have set sleeping times, so it must happen after I go to sleep." My voice slowly trailed off while I scratched the back of my ever longer becoming mane, mayhaps one day it will be even longer than Mommy's, well, but with less magic flowing and more fluffiness.

"What? But it's a holiday! Not even the bank is open the following day!" Sugar Drop gasped with terror.

"Yeah, even the school doesn't give us any homework." Gerb threw one of his claws into the air as disbelief flooded his face before it soured considerably. "Except of course miss Fluff Buff." I was uncertain whether that was a real name or an insulting nickname.

"Well, no exceptions in the castle, I guess." My voice waned while my vision slowly dropped towards the ground.

This brings back memories. Back when I was eight, and Amber was still a toddler, my parents and I were stuck in a huge blizzard freezing our asses off while attempting to find a nearby hotel, but the GPS was fucked. Eventually, we found a light on the horizon and came across a little village which seemed to stand in the eye of the storm, with only a perfect amount of flakes falling.

I don't know what my parents told them, but the villagers seemed not to have a problem for us to celebrate with them. I sadly forgot most of it, or rather, only remember a haze. The beautiful lights and cheerful music, it was like one of those Christmas markets in Germany my grandfather would often gush over, but I don't think that mulled wine was something I should've drunk, or gotten my little grabby hands-on, to begin with. I think I only vomited a teeny tiny bit.

But, just like here, it would seem that the grand finale and the main event were the moments when lanterns would be lit and let off into the sky, illuminating the dark blue heavens with shining bright lights.

My sweet and sorrowful visions of the past days were interrupted when I felt two bodies tightly smush against me, and I could also sense a single, thin and long limb pressed against my side. My head turned towards Gerb, who sat on the side with an unsure look, and it appeared that his first thought was to join the hug in some way, even if it was with just one of his claws.

"Come on guys, I'm fine, I don't need a hug right now." I pleaded, only for the pressure to increase ever so slightly, and I most certainly could see the discomfort in Cairn's eyes while they attempted not to look into my soul.

"Nope, everypony knows that if somepony is denying a hug, they need it most." Sugar Drop retorted and rested her head on my left shoulder, and I began to wonder if she was secretly leeching off me right now. I also hoped that this saying could only be applied to hugs.

"Your highness?" Inkwell asked as she slowly strode from the castle towards us, however, my eyes were focused onto the large umbrella that hung above her, attached to a metal arm-thing.

'Go-go-Gadget umbrella!' I thought with a smirk. "Yes, miss Inkwell?" I called back and used the moment of distraction to slowly pull myself free, much to Sugar Drop's annoyance and Cairn's gratitude.

"I only wished to inform you that the playtime is over. A pair of guards should arrive in a few moments to guide your friend's home." Inkwell spoke as she read from a textbook, intensively and shutterless, which was almost remarkable given how many variations ponies have found to say the word 'Hello.' "Do you wish me to join you on the path to your next class?"

"Ehm, that would be nice, I suppose, thank you." I mumbled uncertainly, before turning my vision back to the three uncanny creatures I could call my friends, with the two latest additions being such for only a few weeks now. "Goodbye, until next time."

"See ya." Gerb said

"Bye." Cairn said

"Till next time." And finally, Sugar Drop said with a wave.

I stood there for a moment longer, mayhaps it was just a foolish hope for them to utter just one more word, but nothing came, only smiles as they bid me farewell. I followed miss Inkwell to the next class; Porcelain Vase taught a bit about social interaction and how to flaunt while being humble, well, at least the most bare-bone-basics, and what followed were more classes and more stuff of the usual. I wish I could say more about these next few hours, but there wasn't, it was all the same routine, not one change, I didn't even see one of the candy-theme guards or even Mommy who spent today in the throne room without any disturbances.

The classes were just repacked shit I've experienced before, the old halls grew old and boring, and the little freedom I was granted was as much a farce as calorie-free brownies. It hurt my soul to think that this was my life, I was craving the grand things life had to offer be it from simply lying in the grass while watching the sun slowly fall behind a mountain range to bouncing from a life-threatening situation to another. Now, for once both of my souls were in a union, the one that craved adventure felt suffocated, and the other which yearningfully begged for something normalized dared to even employ the hunt for nightmares as a better alternative than this fate I was forced to endure.

Oh, heavens, where was the joy, where was the adventure that would make the story that was my life seem more than just the dream of a bureaucrat endlessly scribbling away at the forsaken papers. I could feel inside my ever aching bones and heart how it was being crushed by all the appointments and stress and duties and more, so much frustration that brought forth a desire of disintegration, to burn down this ordered system and gorge myself in both nature and anarchy alike. I felt the very strings that made me care about this world; even the smallest one entangle themselves with one another to slowly form itself into a noose that would steal away the last few breaths of fresh life I could scratch together.

"Goodnight my sweet little colt." Gentle Touch spoke softly with a mellow smile as her magic slowly wrapped my body up in a thin blanket, before nuzzling my snoot caringly. "-and have sweet dreams, dearest prince." Before closing the door behind her quietly, she spoke lovingly, leaving barely any light for me to see.

I sighed wistfully, turning to my side, my eyes focused onto my window, the large moon gleaming with heavenly, pale light, and even the otherwise grim-appearing figure on its surface seemed to be a little less hateful on this night. 'I feel like I'm wasting my life away.' I thought with an empty stare, before turning to my other side, rolling around like a guinea pig in a new pile of hay, but I found not a single comfortable spot, one that would allow me peace in mind and body.

If you wish, I could induce a state of unconscious. The game spoke with tranquility, making me jerk with great force, he has been very silent in the past few days, if I was honest, I was a tad sad and lonely not to hear his little voice in my head. I wouldn't call it an addiction, but it was nice having a friend looking over your shoulder who only wanted to support you, well, and commit genocide.

"Ach, this ain't working." I mumbled with a grumbly whisper, before throwing my blanket to the side with enough force to make it hit the full-body mirror, covering it with the cloth.

I used my weight to lazily roll over and landed on my hooves, before trotting towards the window. The glass gate opened with the tiniest of clicks, and a torrent of cool, fresh night air rushed into my face. I smiled, and yet the mellow sensations in my soul quickly vanished when my eyes fell onto the city below. The streets were illuminated with colorful lights, the ponies by the hundreds covered the streets, and what was not blocked by them were the plentiful shops and kiosks, the chitter and chatter, the music and singing and laughter and joy, I could only watch from the furthest of the horizon.

I rested my cheeks on my hoof, which laid on the cold window frame. Oh, what I would give to just spend a little while down there, to experience the little joys this life had to offer, and not the many duties and burdens these powers bound to me. Mathematics, Equish, Thaumatology, the Arcane Arts, History, Law and, it pains me to admit, even those horrid texts of Psychology have brought me nothing but the lowest and least amount of joy this rotten, dried, and lost stillbirth of a foundling was supposed to experience. Even the mindless, heartless, soulless hordes of the nightmarish beasts brought me more life into my petrified chest than this endless purgatory!

My body spun around as a considerable amassment seemingly broke through the weave of reality, my heart beat strongly, my eyes and pupils widening greatly as I readied my entire arsenal of spells, and I would not care if one life or thousands would be lost, the anomaly would not get me!

"Phew, Celestia's goodness, I'm never teleporting again into unknown territory." Sunset breathed with her chest pounding before her vision turned towards me. In her large eyes, I could see my own reflection breathing strongly, almost snarling and staring like a beast about to maul something. "Oh, heh, I gave you quite the spook, didn't I?" She spoke sheepishly.

My teeth clattered, freezing like ice from the copious amounts of air I sucked in through my bared teeth. "Y-you could s-say that." I forced out these words as if something had broken in my chest, my heart and lungs hurt, and felt so heavy in my ribcage. "W-why are you h-here so late?" I swallowed hard, my knees, all four of them, shook greatly to the point my vision vibrated. I had never felt as much fear in that very moment than in that moment, the crippling sensation of reality slowly swallowing one up, to be pulled into the void, even the sensation of staring through the gate that led to the graveyard of worlds left me more untouched.

Sunset looked puzzled at me, before slowly trotting forward and swinging her hoof across my back, pulling me into a very unwanted hug. "Well, I promised I'd take you to a fair, and to your luck, there is one tonight." She spoke with as much charisma as there was pride in her voice, tightening the hug even more, which, although physically restrained my nervous meltdown, did little for my mental state that was currently in disarray.

"A-and how are we gonna get down there?" I asked with great uncertainty while looking through the window, only the roofs and the furthest of illuminated streets I could see from where I stood, while the pale moon took the center of my vision. "Does Mommy know where we’re going?" I could only guess, but I was already certain to know the answer.

"Ehh..." Sunset's voice slowly trailed off, while her eyes distanced themselves from me, just like her body which loosened her hug. "Let's just say she and I had a small, little disagreement." Her voice was very uncertain before a forced smile graced her face. "But let’s just say we came to the agreement to only do what's best for you."

'Game, advice?' I asked hastily.

I conclude that this is not a situation where logic has much meaning, however, I do believe that you require emotional stimulation and ease of burden. The game answered with a rising and sinking tone, almost as if he was shifting me to choose an option. 'I also believe that we would not receive any great punishment if any, this may also give us an easier future should the entity Celestia accepts early on to grant us more leeway, otherwise traversing towards the nightmare realm might become... problematic.'

'Yeah, it would be very weird for me to just disappear for a few hours every day if I live in the castle.' I thought bitterly, before putting on a large smile, staring at Sunset with a new life in my heart. "That's cool, but, ehm, how do we go down there without being, you know, noticed?" My previous pride was flushed down the drain when all the memories came up again of ponies just staring at me, all those eyeb-just eyes!

"Simple~" She quietly sang, before pulling out a necklace from her mane, it was a green and purple gem, a color combination I much enjoyed seeing, and put it around my neck without much input from my side.

!Lower Lesser disguise detected!
An item has been equipped that is changing your appearance

I shook my head lightly when I felt all sorts of alarms go off in my skull, before looking down. I beheld my body with amazement, for I saw purple instead of grey for my coat, and my mane was that of green, yet my cutie mark stayed the same.

"Pretty neat, huh? This little necklace is from Curious Scribbles shop of curiosities, it changes hair colors and even your eye color, and for your cutie mark, we'll just put on a nice little, thin coat so you won't get noticed or get a cold." Sunset spoke pridefully while putting on the piece of clothing, before puffing her chest out like a cocky pegasus guard posing in front of the maids.

"That-." My throat tightened as I tried to push out a few more words, but only a quiet whistling came out, as I stared into the mirror, which was almost covered entirely by my blanket. It wished to say it felt alien to stare into a mirror and not see yourself, but that would be nothing but a dirty lie. I grasped an edge with my magic and covered the rest of it. "Ready to go!" I say half-loud with a large smile, feeling my heartbeat with both fear and excitement.

"Excellent, now please stay still before I teleport you to my home." Sunset warned, before her horn seemingly started to gleam with magic, so much combined into a single place it made me jealous to think that every last drop of mana wouldn't be enough to saturate this spell.

'Is this dangerous?' I thought with worry, while entirely ignoring the fact that a random mare was forcefully bringing me, a colt, to her home without any awareness of my guardians.

I possess enough control over our internal and direct external flow of mana, to ensure that the worst-case scenario would be our body being equally parted in two pieces. Unless further harm is inflicted, we will survive.

'Equally parted? Vertically or horizontally? What are you talk-wait, what-no-stop-no-!!!' I screamed while scrambling in my mind, but it was already too late, and a great flash of light swallowed me whole. I expected for my conscience to leave me, for this chapter of my life to be suddenly cut off like my body, but instead, when my eyes opened, I found myself standing inside some sort of study, the smell's of countless expensive books from various ages invigorated one of my souls, while the other was amazed at the sudden change of scenery. The room was circular with the walls being almost entirely covered with bookshelves, the only exception was a small, comfortable table with a window just in front, through which I could see an ocean of flowers.

"Wow, Green Turf has really outdone himself this season!" Sunset whistled loudly while smiling with the softest and sweetest little grin I've ever seen, now I knew that Mommy's facade lacked the natural imbalance of emotions ponies cherished.

"But, didn't you have to have noticed them before, or did he just plant them all at once?" I asked, it wouldn't surprise me if she said he planted them in an hour with all the magic buzzing through these days.

"I don't often go here, it's always empty while my parents are off to do business in kingdoms like Saddle Arabia or partake in parties, I mostly live in the castle tower most south-east from where we stand, you know, that thin and long one." Her voice slowly dipped into more somber and sober tones, before cracking a smile again. "But it's not as lonely as it sounds, I meet my friends every day and see the town, which is why I wanted to take you along since you obviously don't get to do, well, that."

I sucked a steady stream of air through my pursed lips, clapping them together creating a little 'pop' sound. I was very uncertain how to answer that in a non-insulting way because I could actually feel this sensation of emptiness that had eaten at my soul for a very long time. I bit my teeth together, before hugging one of Sunset's surprisingly strong forehooves while smiling, staring at her surprised face.

"Ah, stop it already, we're here to make you happy. I think I'm going to vomit from the cuteness." Sunset said with embarrassment while looking away.

''I thought I was ugly? I raised an eyebrow.

Pity + small stature + shivering + a slightly lesser level of charisma than average = A sight that could be considered as 'cute.' The game spoke, emphasizing each step of his calculation greatly.

"Fine." I moaned with great exaggeration, before removing my grabby hooves from her. "So, can we go now?"I asked, my eyes staring deep into her eyes like a cat wanting things like milk, yarn, or your soul.

"Of course your royal oafishness." Sunset joked, before her magic pulled up my hood, before walking out of the door.

I quickly pulled the hood down slightly, before following her quickly, I only caught the fewest of glimpses that her home had to offer, but it was only a little time I was given, before the shine of the many lit lanterns illuminated my face, the seemingly thousands of cones of spices and perfumes filled my nose, the sounds and senses I felt, they nearly brought me to tears as I could actually have a moment of youth. I felt like, just for the smallest of moments, as I first tasted the sweet fair atmosphere, all the joy life and this world had to offer, for a second I felt free as a bird and invulnerable as a god.

Standing at the property's border, in front of a neat little metal fence, I turned around once more, it was a fancy, three-stage high building, not a mansion, but most certainly more than a family house.

"Come, on, the night is too short to waste it looking at old houses!" Sunset chimed from the streets before her magic pulled me towards her, it was not as deafening as her royal highness, but most certainly nothing that could be scoffed at.

Her control over magic with her age, was impressive, blessings and perks may be able to power a pony up beyond mortal standards, but if the user didn't have a strong enough will, discipline, and control, they could quickly run into the risk of hurting themselves, if unlucky, the disaster could be fatal for the user and everyone around said pony. Magic, Aether or whatever you wanted to call it, escapes the dead body once a life has ended, and without any control to bind the magic to will, or at least guide it into a direction, it could create any spell, and sadly, combustion and eruption were the most likely to happen. A single fire in the mage tower could probably paint the castle walls black.

"I'm just-just taking some time to prepare myself." I answered hastily, before rushing towards her side like a toddler after his first day of pre-school, but the moment of privacy was cut short as Sunset quickly pulled me along into the crowds, it was not as filled as a Chinese train, but for someone as small as me, my vision was filled with legs, tails and, let's just say private parts.

"Oh, I can't wait to show you all the cool stuff they have on display, uhh! I hope that this year the fire artists are present again." Sunset beamed with much more external enthusiasm than me, but I could not deny the sensations I felt.

My chest was like, filled with tickling butterflies, a strong wind of excitement piercing my ribs and filled me with tickling excitement. My smile beamed brightly, not the false, default one, my eyes not half-closed, but open to taking in every last detail while my ears twitched and turned to isolate the slew of sound, a bit of everything.

"You know, Princess Celestia had actually taken me to the fair once or twice, my first time with her was when I was your age. I'm actually really shocked that she isn't letting you participate, if I didn't know any better, I'd guess she really doesn't want the public to see you." Sunset spoke calmly, though uncertainty was thick in her voice. "A lot of ponies outside of Canterlot probably don't even know that you exist, which is crazy."

'Well, isn't that just disturbing.' I thought sarcastically before my eyes were drawn onto a stand selling nuts in some sort of gelatin, it was very popular by the looks of it, the sale pony was sweating, and oozing not to drop into the food.

"Oh, do you want some mako?" Sunset asked, before igniting her horn and letting a small purse appear in thin air.

"Yup, but it's my treat." I answered, entirely unsure what that food was but confident in my finances. I pulled out a hefty sack, filled to the brim with coins, yet bearing only part of my little fortune.

"Goodness, how much does the princess give you for an allowance!" Sunset exclaimed, drawing in the eyes of a few ponies only momentarily.

"I don't get an allowance." I retorted with a hint of bitterness. "I pick them up during my walk through the streets."

"Really now? As far as I know, I go the same path as you do, and I haven't seen one bit on the ground in years." Sunset replied with skepticism.

"I'm very good at it." I answered dumbfoundingly with innocence, even though there wasn't much.

"Well, I can't argue with that, I guess." Before grasping my heavy sack of coins and walking towards the stand, Sunset said, leaving me momentarily alone.

Mayhaps I was just being paranoid, but I swore I could've felt something behind me, but when I turned around, I saw only a lonely lamp post.

"Here you go, and I hope you don't mind, but I exchanged all those coins into tenners and fifties, well, rather the sale pony was desperate for some change, the second one was on the house." Sunset said with a little grin and a few chuckles in between.

"Thank you." I said happily and waited not a second longer to shove a large spoonful into my maw. The taste was most certainly not what I expected. The nuts were incredibly hearty, roasted in what I guessed was butter, and covered in cinnamon, but I also tasted honey, while the jello had a texture similar to jam.

"That's incredible." I muttered, the taste was almost overwhelming, I almost instinctively wanted to pull out a glass of milk from my inventory, however, I was pretty sure I could not pull it off the same way I put the now considerably lighter bag of bits back into my inventory. As the last spoonful vanished, the junk was ripped away from me, thrown into a trash can with baffling accuracy.

"Come on, we have still so much to see." Sunset exclaimed, before pulling me forward by the hoof, my cloak nearly flattered away, my charm nearly falling off, but I couldn't help but smile.

The masses of ponies filled every nook and cranny, yet made a little path for us to rush. The colors, of pony and light, merged into a tunnel of rainbows. Every few seconds, the smells would change, the music turned into an entirely different genre.

"You!" Sunset blurted, forcing both of us to a strong halt.

A stand filled with dozens of huge stuffed animals, a sturdy-looking earth pony leaned against the counter with a smug grin, a fully filled glass of bits rested there, with several more below the counter.

"Ah, the fiery little unicorn is trying her luck again. I hadn't seen you last year, I was getting scared my best patron had left me." The stallion faked a sobbing tone, before wiping away non-existing tears with a one hundred bit coin.

"Stuffing." Sunset growled, before instantly pulling out three five-bit coins and slamming them onto the counter, before grabbing three balls from a bin.

"Huh, don't think I have to explain the rules to you." Stuffing said with a shrug, caressing his short little beard. "Ah, where’s the fun in that. One point means you get one small prize, two a medium one, three a big one and four points gets you the big win. No closer than two meters to the counter, eyes forward, no more than three attempts a year, and no magic allowed."

My eyes darted upward, feeling completely forgotten, and stared at the prizes. The stuffed toys appeared to be incredibly soft and fluffy, it looked like they all were hand sewn by someone with lots of experience. Just like he said, there were small, medium, and large prizes, and each respective prize's size was based on their difficulty. However, and that needed to be said, the mega-win, was a huge phoenix that looked incredibly soft, as it was huge, and dear goodness did it look comfortable, large enough to act as both pillow and blanket.

A screeching noise pulled my attention back to the stand, the stallion turned a crank, causing a little range of dart plates to move with varying and inconsistent speeds. A ball hit one of the front-most targets, striking it but still kicking it over.

"Yes!" Sunset exclaimed joyfully, but Stuffing only rolled his eyes, and I could see why. The targets further away were thicker, probably so that grazing shots wouldn't knock them over, and the chains became only shorter the further they went, with the last three moving at blurring speed.

"There's the first." Stuffing said with a snarky comment and chewed on a vanilla lemon gumdrop.

Sunset reared her forehoof back, however when she tried to hurl the ball forward, it fell out of her grasp and fell to the floor outside of the booth.

"Come on, at least two points." Sunset mumbled with a begging tone, and jumped to her rear legs once more, pulling back her hoof and closed one of her eyes, sticking out her tongue and wrinkling her forehead.

She has lost this throw. The Game commented nonchalantly, and the ball flew with amazing speed and touched one of the furthest targets, but it hit its corners and was reflected against the soft fabric walls, nearly puncturing it.

"Welp! One point's not bad, not your grand two-point record from five years ago, but better than nothing." Stuffing spoke without a care in the world, before opening one of his eyes, leaning over the counter, and asked with a sly tone. "So..? Sunflower or penguin, or are we bold today and get us a nice larry the lantern plushy?"

A heavy thud broke the heavy atmosphere, and both pairs of eyes turned towards me. "My turn." I said with a huffy tone, growling lightly and took three balls.

If you use my assistance you won't receive any attribute points. The Game noted from the side.

'This ain't a game, this' gotten personal.' I snorted out a white cloud of air, it blinded me lightly, before jumping on my rear hooves and threw the balls. The projectile graced one target in every lane, but a multi-hit was not my goal. One of the three most distant targets fell over.

"Well, I'll be damned."Stuffed mumbled, looking closely at me with squinted eyes. What most creatures did not know, not even those shiny tower mages, was that earth ponies were incredibly sensitive to magic if they are born from the right bloodline, but that's just unknown because earth ponies usually don't get any high education outside of the economy.

"Two points." He mumbled, so I was right, the number two did mean double points.

I huffed and took a second ball and hit the second, two-point target, this one nearly snapped off. As I grabbed my third ball, only to notice that Stuffed was now really putting his hooves to work, the chain on which the entire mechanism worked started to screech.

'Ohh no, it's far too late for this trick.' I grinned, my teeth shown as I pulled back my right hoof, while my left one held up the ball like a football. I softened my grin, now only smiling, before mumbling. "power strike." The ball shot forward, whistling like a bullet, soaring past the lesser targets like an eagle through the rain. As the projectile touched the last of the three double-point targets, the wood creaked shortly before breaking it off from the chain. My satisfied smile quickly soured when I saw the ball hit the fabric behind the throwing range, and as if it was an old cartoon, the balls sank deep into the fabric, before shooting backward.

Stuffed had only a fraction of a second to duck, the ball gracing his mane, before knocking his latest glass of bits over the counter, shattering it across the street in front of the stall.

"Six." Stuffed wheezed, staring at his damaged throwing range.

"And I'll be taking those." I said smugly, grasping the huge phoenix and a dolphin, cause they were badass, no further comments needed. I quickly pushed Sunset along me, while grinning and chuckling, cause when the confusion wore off, he'd be pissed.

"Wait a second, you can't share points!" Stuffed screamed into the crowd while picking up the bits by hoof, but we had vanished into the masses long ago already.

"W-what, but how did you..." Sunset scrambled to find words while rushing with me into a side alley, but her voice trailed off as she eyes me holding both prices tightly. "C...can I hold the dolphin for a few moments?" She asked with a soft and tender voice, her eyes shined like the stars I was named after, such cuteness and yet desperation.

"No, it's mine." I answered softly with a huff and lifted nose, while rubbing my face into the stuffed animal, however when my eyes met the crushed expression of Sunset, I could no longer hold it back."But you can have this little thing, I'm sure I won't miss it."

Sunset stared at the phoenix in front of her, trembling lightly as her chest rose and sank like a bellows, her eyes jumped between me and the toy. I rolled my eyes and pushed it closer into her grasp, but in the blink of an eye, she ensnared it like a starving snake.

"Oh ThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyou." Sunset brewed together a soup of words that could be mistaken for a siren, hugging and kissing and cuddling with the huge toy like a foal would do with a puppy. It was a blessing that the toy seemed to be very good at absorbing fluids, given how tearful her eyes were.

"Please stop it, I think I'm going to vomit from the cuteness." I said with embarrassment while looking away.

Sunset surprised me by tackling me into a hug, landing on top of the toys. She was lucky the streets were clean in this city, cause I would not win her another one because bubblegum landed on it. "You big oaf, you have no idea how many failed attempts I went through to get it, and now, it's mine, mine alone." I did not like how deep and obsessive her tone became at the end of that sentence.

"Well, it was the least I could do for some freedom." I chuckled, rubbing the back of my head shyly, as I felt my cheeks reddening from the warmth from the stuffed animals, the giant, fuzzy mare laying next to me, the warm summer night, and the quick escape. Yes, that was it most ~~certainly~~ unlikely.

Perk activation [Valiant Heart]
By completing a task of generosity and care, you brought back emotions into a freezing heart. You are awarded 15+1 points towards charisma and 15 points of luck.

I stared at the message, but to my surprise, and I felt an unnerving sensation building up in me, this worry only grew when I saw that time was seemingly slowing down. My peaceful silence was soon bombarded with a booming noise that was as joyful as it was painful.

!Attention!
Your attribute [Charisma] has surpassed a threshold of one hundred points. The flaw [Outcast] has granted you the unique quest: The Ugly Duckling

'Excuse my bony arse?'

The Ugly Duckling
Although your appearance is unappealing and you are different from the rest, a good heart still rests in your chest.
*Make a great, emotional, positive impact on a creature whose heart is cold or slowly freezing. Actions done with the sole intention of fulfilling this quest do not count. [3/3]
*Reward: Removal of the [Outcast] flaw.
*The components of the flaw will still remain.

*The Ugly Duckling: Completed.
*The flaw [Outcast] has been removed
*The flaws [Different] and [Asexual] were assigned.
*The flaw [Different] has been removed, because the attribute [Charisma] has surpassed a threshold of one hundred points.

I breathed heavily, my vision was stuck onto the moon's smooth and marked surface, my heart throbbed painfully, it was as if it grew in size, my skin itched like a fire ant picnic. The sensation was like something slowly eating away at my skin, I could feel my flesh being tenderly rearranged, and my bones shifted ever so slightly, especially my cheekbones.

"Wow, you're like, gleaming." Sunset said with astoundment, eying me like a gold ingot that fell from the sky.

"I think..." I hastily gasped after a bit of air as my ribcage grew a bit, appearing more profound, a little bush of fur now covering it as if I was a pegasus. "I think good deeds really are worth doing." The cringe was almost as horrible as my nerves being twisted like a bowl of spaghetti.

"Wait, you didn't just give me the main price for this?" Sunset said with shock., distancing herself shortly for a moment. While I would most certainly do everything in my power to grow more powerful, I wouldn't have used this exploit on her specifically.

I shook my head lightly, my eyes stuck onto the Stars, before saying breathlessly. "If I knew I would've not done so outside of my room. I feel like a deflated pool animal." Well, that or a bear rug.

"You sure don't look like that." Sunset commented from the side, the tip of one of her hooves touched her lips. Eww, don't do that, you're walking with those! "You know, I hear from the maids that Sugar Drop and you are quite the pair, if I were you I'd be careful she won't just gobble you up now." She teased with a grin. Were we already at the teasing stage? Sunset, you’re progressing far too quickly!

'Oh, if only you knew.' I thought with a cringing smile, my mouth's corners twitching lightly. I tried to pull myself up but tumbled right back down.

Great, biological modifications create large amounts of heat, the protein in your muscles has denatured and the extensive amount of aether used to rearrange the leylines has momentarily overloaded my control over this body. Please be careful when using skills, they may act... unstable.

"Come on, oaf, let's give you some rest." Sunset said softly.

"But I don't want to go home yet." I whined while my face was partially buried into captain bubbles, the dolphin.

"Who said anything about that?" Sunset said with a gasp, before pulling me up into the air and onto her back with her magic grasp. "Come on, it's time to see if the magic has started yet."

"Wait, where are we going?" I asked aloud with confusion as I saw a sign that pointed towards the great magic show Sunset talked about shrink with each step. I thought we wanted to see magic?

"Well, we're going to watch the lanterns fly, isn't that what you wanted to see most?" Sunset asked with curiosity, not slowing down, in fact, she increased her pace even further. The masses of ponies parted the streets quickly for us to pass, even if some less than stellar words were hurled at our backs.

"But what about the magic show?" I cried out before I ducked under a low flying pegasus. Hey! You're worse than scooter drivers on the sidewalk!

"I watched that countless times already, besides I don't want to sit around with debt around my neck." Sunset exclaimed, before dashing even faster.

I looked forward with a worried look, however, it quickly morphed into one of excitement. I lifted my head higher and held my mouth wide open to smile widely, the streets and ponies rushed past us like streets signs and wealthy houses, a flickering of colors and sensations, my heart raced with childish joy, tickling like the first swing ride of a kid. The cool, humid summer night air rushed through my mane, letting the strands flail in the wind, rocking back and forth, up and down like the rest of my body as I rode on the back of a unicorn. Amber, as a kid you would've given everything to be in my hide, all the times she gushed about horse riding, I take it back, it's a lot of fun!

Sunset suddenly took a sharp turn to the right, forcing me to hold tightly to her back, into a thin alley. It reeked like a bathroom stall in Hamburg. At the end of the path awaited a green haven, it was a little, tranquil park with dozens of ponies lying atop of blankets already present.

The flaming unicorn rushed past the creatures of all classes and jumped into a huge bush with dozens of sharp sticks pointing out in all directions.

"You got to be crafty if you don't want to spend an eternity camping." Sunset said with a smile before she levitated me off her back and onto a blanket. I was still surprised I haven't been skewered yet, even though that was probably not possible anymore.

"Y-yes." I coughed lightly, I think I ate some feathers during her spartan charge. I rolled on my back a bit, attempting to find a comfortable position while holding hooves close to my barrel, I was very uncomfortable with the idea to just present my balls to the whole world, not even mentioning the fact that my genitals were on display. "So... when does the show start?" I asked innocently, watching Sunset lay down onto her stomach with her hooves folded under her barrel.

"Right about..." Sunset started, before remaining silent with a huge grin on her face. Ten seconds have passed. Twenty seconds. Hello? Miss, have you frozen up? Is everything-."Now!" I jerked, nearly jumping up from the sudden reaction.

I saw the first Lanterns rise towards the dark, celestial heavens from every corner of my ring of vision, I held my mouth open for a moment, beholding the sight with anticipation, and I was not left disappointed. As more lanterns rose up into the night sky, it looked like the dark blue void illuminated by the stars shrank away, almost as if the dark horizon was covered in a blanket of pale sunlight.

"Wow." I spoke breathlessly, the sky gleamed with lights, the stars, and lanterns, it looked almost like a swarm of fireflies swarming the skies and ascending ever higher. I took a deep breath, the cool summer nights and the colorful smells I picked up made me feel youthful again. My chest tickled with butterflies, my breathing was unsteady as I squinted my eyes a tiny bit, I needed to blink, but it felt like such a great waste, a tragedy to not take in every last second of it.

My souls were crying with joy, one yearning after the bounties of nature and the other for a tasting of but a pinch of a life I could happily crown as being worth living for.

'Oh Amber, if only you could see this.' I thought with a sniff, before shuddering lightly, the cold air around my nose freezing my face slightly. I jerked suddenly when I felt a strong, fluffy hoof wrap around the back of my head, another pulled me closer to the left. I paid Sunset no mind, and smiled only and looked, sniffing once or twice. My heart, it has been so long since I felt these sensations, and it hurt as much as it was yearned after.

As we laid there wordlessly, starring only up the heavens, the hours melted away, but we remained there, many left halfway through, only the fewest remained after half of it was over, but we tried to stay as long as we could. Eventually, I let out a yawn, my body shivered and goosebumps covered my skin as the night grew too cold even for my now fluffy coat, the flesh now saturated with healthy fat, the thin mantle stopped being effective after some time.

"Come on, it's late already, let's get you to bed, we don't want anypony getting suspicious why you tumble around like a zombie tomorrow." Sunset spoke with a smile as she stood up, her magic slowly pulled my potato sack-like body up.

They had zombies, good to know. "Okay." I spoke shortly, still grinning, before wiping away something from my face. Has it rained?

"Excellent, now please don't throw up, this one will be a bit shakier since it is a bit further of a distance." Sunset said, and indeed it was about a few houses further away than was her family home. The energy concentrated around Sunset's horn, gleaming to my eyes like a flare, forcing me to narrow my eyes, the buzzing was deafening. I felt no fear at this moment, despite it being more difficult the second time around, I was content, happy, and trusting, I could wish for nothing more than to fall into my bed, sleep and cherish this beautiful night even throughout these tiresome lessons.

The spell was cast, and we were only moments later in my room.

"Did you have fun?"

My eyes widened as the blood in my veins froze, my petrified body shook lightly as I felt this familiar presence right behind me. These emotions of anger and disappointment radiated, amplified by her burning power leaking without any care in the world. I turned my head towards the source of the sensations that paralyzed my body not with fear, but with sheer, crushing emotional power.

"I apologize for ruining the mood, however, I believe we had spoken about this before, have we not, Sunset Shimmer." Celestia said with her regal voice, but it bore a much lower pitch, it was almost threatening in a sense after all the years I've known her. The white alicorn laid there with a book in her magic grasp, one she closed with enough force to induce a ringing in my ears.

"Your highness, I-." Sunset spoke frantically, letting her phoenix fall to the ground like a rock.

"I will not discuss this here, to my office, if you would." Celestia raised her head and looked down onto the mortal unicorn, she spoke firmly, her voice was laced with venomous anger, she was not used to this kind of disrespect

"Mother, I just wanted to-." I spoke quickly, but not fast enough, I could only flinch as the following surge of emotions nearly knocked me back.

"We too will have a long discussion, young colt." Celestia butted in with a voice lacking any love, before opening the door with her magic and teleporting her book away. She stood up slowly, the bed cracking loudly under her weight, not that she even tried not to be loud.

Celestia walked through the door frame, Sunset followed after her with some hesitation, and I did so too. I wished not to escalate this situation any further than I had to, I didn't want things to get more complicated, but most importantly, drag the unicorn down with me for my foul mouth.

My heartbeat was slow, I felt no fear or worry for myself, however, the sensation that plagued me was comparable to cold needles penetrating my skin, the world felt deaf and lacking all sensation as the halls walked past us in silence. I felt not guilty in the sense-well, I wasn't feeling guilty at all, to begin with. I was very much so angry in a numbing way to the point it took all I had not so spit insults -but I was feeling regretful for pulling Sunset into this, I had no interest in anyone that didn't directly benefit my goals or was fun to have around, but that mare went directly against Celestia's orders for me to experience some fun. It was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for me, and it took balls of steel to go through, she had at the very least earned my respect.

We arrived at the door to Celestia's office, it was there where she spent her days slaving away at the paperwork. The only way to ensure that your government doesn't deteriorate through the continuous change of rulers is by never passing the torch on.

"You will wait outside, Star." Celestia ordered without sparing a glance before the double doors swung open, and the two passed wordlessly. I opened and closed my mouth, and shuddered when the door closed with a thud.

I was left alone with a pair of guards looking empty into the halls behind me, however, occasionally sparing a glance at me.

No sound escaped through the wood from the other side. I fell onto my flank, staring simply, I can't describe the sensation, this heavy feeling that dropped my stomach sickly deep, dried my throat, and froze my forehead. I swallowed shallowly. Seconds, minutes, hours, they all passed the same, and yet opposing from one another, time was meaningless as this torture continued.

A sudden crack brought me back to my senses, but before I could react I felt a strong gust of wind soar past me, my eyes darted onto the floor, droplets of water littered the marble and I caught only a glimpse of Sunset running down the halls, sobbing bitter tears. I held forth my hoof, opened my muzzle, yet no deed was done, no word spoke as I stared in the direction in which she ran. This hunch, a whisk of such sorrow left my heart shrunk and closed to the world.

"Enter."

I clamped my mouth shut, biting down onto my teeth strongly, I felt the warmth return to me thousandfold, my heart rate increasing, before I stood up with unstable energy coursing through my veins, boiling and bubbling in my core. I trotted slowly, my hooves shook, but not with fear, not even when I stood before Celestia, who looked at me with a look of disappointment, her sigh and shaking head with her eyes covered only infuriating me further.

"How many times have I told you that you cannot leave the castle without my allowance and supervision?" Celestia spoke with a harsh tone, lowering her head down to mine, staring into my eyes deeply. "Has the count of times taken away every last shred of weight it held or has your curiosity overtaken your senses?" Celestia hammered these words at me without any comfort or subtlety, perhaps this was the first time she was this blunt with me.

I scrunched my nose upward. "I wanted to live for once." I whispered a reply. I had lost all care for my own well-being a minute ago.

"Excuse me?" Celestia said confused and appalled.

"I said, I wanted to live for once!" I shouted with a stomp onto the floor. "I am tired of the lessons, the duties, the classes, the routine, and feeling constantly like a prisoner. It isn't fair that everypony is fearing that I’ll lose control." I growled with a screeching tone, drawing nearer towards the pony that towered me.

Celestia raised her head, looking down at me, I barely saw her eyes.

"I am giving you everything a foal could ever want, every chance to be everything one would one day wish to become. Your standard of living is something most foals could not even dream of, and it is something you should not be ungrateful for." Celestia retorted, taking a step forward, now my muzzle nearly grazed her leg's fur. "You wish to live a normal colt's life, an average colthood, but does it simply not stick to you, that such dreams are not safe? Not fit for you? I am keeping you secured and protected from any danger that might lurk and hunger for your gifts because I care for you, I am granting you a living with no fear or worry. Until you are a Stallion who can grasp the world as what it is and are under my guardianship, you will follow my rules."

"That isn't life, it's survival, today I felt more alive than in nearly eight years combined! I don't care for safety, and If I am being hurt in the process, then it's fine, at least I experienced some joy until then." I shouted, poking her leg with the tip of my hoof harshly. "You say you care about me, but your intentions and deeds differ entirely!"

"Mayhaps you cannot grasp what I am doing for you, but this poison you’re spitting at me most certainly does not reflect my actions." Celestia lowered deeply, her cheeks nearly hiding away her eyes. Celestia lowered her face, showing me her scowl in all glory. "This discussion is finished. You will return to your chamber, I will decide a punishment for your misbehavior tomorrow." She rose to her full height and turned her back to me, but stopped in her tracks when she heard my voice talking back to her.

"Do as you wish, but if you continue like this, then I promise you one thing. Once I am of age, I will leave this castle, and there will be nothing stopping me, and you'll never see me again." I spat with a low voice, my chest hurt, my eyes stung and my Aether burned so painfully, I could almost feel my skin burst from the heat and my teeth itched. Celestia turned around with a shocked expression, surprised that I of all foals would threaten her. I stared at her eyes that bore anger and shock. "You think you are keeping your family close, but in the end, you're just pushing everyone away, like you always do."

"Enough." Celestia half-shouted, stomping her hoof onto the floor, shrapnel of marble splinters flew in all directions, some bounced off my hide, others lodged themselves into it. "You will not speak in this tone to me again, you hear me, Star Touch! I will not accept such disrespect."

I lowered my head slowly, my ears losing the strength to fold themselves up. The air that escaped my teeth reeked of negative emotions, and I held not enough pride anymore to not infest and corrupt the ground below me.

"Of course, your highness."

I lifted my head and stared deep into her eyes when I uttered those words, the shock, and horror that spread across her face like a brush fire, my heart clenched almost as much, as the light, purple gleam that burned in the deepest depths of my irises.

I turned around wordlessly, all emotions left me, my face hanging coldly off my skull. The door opened, my magic tightly enveloping the enchanted wood, crushing it so that specks of magic and splinters of wood broke off the object's body. Passing the frame, I spared no glance as I felt these strong emotions brew behind me, in fact, this wood didn’t close fast enough for my taste.

With a hefty kick, the doors slammed shut, but it wasn't enough, it didn’t fit my heart's vision. These sickly energies that were force-fed into my soul, my chains forcing me to purify this world of its sins, but now I would no longer yield this burden, let them all, the whole rotten pack choke on their misdeeds. I shook greatly, gritting my teeth as the darkness spewed forth from my hoof and contaminated the door, and the walls and floor and ceiling, it spread like a sickly disease, mutating the resources, but I paid them no attention, I could feel it happening, that was all I cared for, and the fearful stares as the nearby guards beheld what I was capable of, it left me untouched.

Trotting back to my quarters, the looks of fear followed me, the disgust and horror, let it stain their hides 'till the day their soul will be consumed by the nightmare realm for all I cared for. They were nothing to me, and so I was for them, and they'd be but a memory when I left them all behind.

The door opened quickly, and closed with a loud thud, the hinges shuddered, and a few nails and bolts were knocked out of their sockets. I stopped, and my eyes fell like stones onto the phoenix toy, the emotions that stirred within, it was a core memory that congealed in it. I grit my teeth as I held my bile down my throat, my knees jerked, forcing me almost to the ground, I forced myself upwards with all my strength, looking to the ceiling with anger. These emotions, oh heaven's, I could remember them so fondly, almost similar to mine so long buried, all love and hope dried away.

I raised my hoof highly, almost tipping over, and freezing in place, my eyes kept shut, before I stomped down onto it, the object was sucked into my inventory, but the cracks that run into the marble were deep, but this stopped me not for a single second before I stomped towards the mirror, leaving small cavities in my path.

I ripped the fabric away and onto the floor, scolding deep into the reflective surface, my eyes burning with the nightmare essence, mortal anger, and hatred, and was it not for the Game then mayhaps a Nightmare would've already been born from my emotions and powers, set forth to share my grief. I closed my eyes with a deep breath.

A window of time, in which the rules do not apply, can now be opened.

I opened my eyes, the gleam of nightmares gone, but a crack ran across my left eye, yet not stealing away my vision. 'It's about time.' I thought, before grabbing the fabric with my hoof and hurling it over the mirror again. No one would tell me again who I was, not even my own reflection would.

The Game had now begun, and I was the dungeon master, the narrator, everything after this point would follow my plan, no matter how foolish it may be. All would lead to my ultimate goal, every hurdle, and pleasantry, and my time spent on this worthless rock would only be a place to rest, a secondary objective to keep up my image, nothing more. And perhaps less, for my journey required a price I was willing to pay, no matter how high it will be.