My Little Pony Realization

by Slendy

Rating: teen
Tags: Death, Alternate Universe, Human, Original Character, Other, Romance, Adventure, Equestria Girls, Sex, Science Fiction, Profanity, Violence
Length: 85535

The world of MLP Realization Beta comes to an abrupt end as thousands of souls are trapped among the residents of Equestria. One player, a scarlet swordspony, will climb, by hook or by crook, to survive in this land of magic.

My Little Pony Realization is now open to Beta testers, a full installation of the TV series as an MMORPG, designed for players to fully integrate themselves into the magical world of Equestria. There is no objective but your own. Fight. Level. Survive.

However, the exclusive experience is cut short on the last day as the world begins to break at the seams, caging the thousands of players inside of Equestria where there are no second chances once your life is null. Is this a glitch or is someone pulling the strings? The only way out is to fight and conquer the Four Vaults, but with hundreds of ways to die, is that even possible? For one scarlet player, she'll refuse to die until she sees the end of this game.

A remake of MLP: Actualization Online.

Warning: 'Strong Language', and references to 'Sex'.

Featured 29/01/21! Thank You So Much~!

Published 2020-12-04 12:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-05-30 10:40:58 UTC

Episode 0 - Ground Zero

Act I - New Game

Ahem. What is up -- and I cannot stress this enough -- My Gamers... Okay, just going to stop that for a moment. If you're reading this then by chance you found my logs and either you're investigating the situation surrounding these records or got curious, to which I say, Same. Now, if I’m going to tell you about the events that led up to now -- explain how I got to where I am with these people, and why I did what I did -- I should probably start by explaining a little bit about the VR Rig.

What is a VR Rig? Well, if the bland name didn't tip you off, it is a streamlined helmet coated in snow-white, it can automatically send fake signals to the brain directly, specifically to the five senses. The transceivers are not only capable of inducing fake sensory signals but can also block every movement command from the brain to the body, preventing the player from moving their body while in the virtual world to avoid injuries.

A person can fully immerse themselves into the digital world -- Pretty cool -- Although this technology isn't widely available at the moment, so unless you were in Japan, Certain States in the US, or the UK you had no chance of even touching one, either with fascination or indecent things in mind, I'm not judging. This also included the hyped game from the US, MLP Realization, the first fully developed VRMMORPG produced by CodeGear with Doyle Ryder as the development director. Sure, the game's set in a world of pastle-colored-talking-ponies, but you take the good with the bad, plus there's Discord, that's always a win.

Why am I telling you all this? Because... I was there, the last day of the beta, you've probably heard the stories by now, the whole world has, the events of 2020 seem like a bad dream when compared to MLPR. For me? Well, that's what I plan to share with you, my tale. You've heard of the Guilded Hero and the ones that followed him, but no one ever asked about their stories, well, let me share one with you.

Name's Artorias, nice to meet you. Here's my story...

A few days prior...

[June 05. 16:40]

[Fourth Floor Field | Silver Grove]

The ever-so tranquil forest among a scorched land glimmered in the sunlight, a silver, glossy coat to the leaves of the vibrant woods. Said peace was tainted by steel against stone, the relics of a bygone age disturbed by the sudden edge of a blade run through its seams.

A knight in carbon-black armor, a crackling, red aura radiating off its body stormed the old chapel, blade hungering for its target as it moved with grace, like a scarlet flash in the midday sun, boots scuffed by the stone as their gloved hand pressed to stone, the fabric lacking finger coverings.

Standing tall, the figure raised their sword into a window guard, the edge tinting gold.

The person was a teenage girl suited in crimson armor etched with fancy markings across the visible helmet, gauntlets, and legs. Her waist, torso, and biceps all covered by a long, white coat with white fur lining the edge and collar, a belt hanging limply around her waist. She clasped a silver longsword grasped in her right and a grave shield of similar make in her left hand.

The knight brought its sword to bear, and the girl shot across the ground, a gold contrail left jutting through the knight's side as its blade missed. A red diamond bobbing above its head with a curved, green bar dipping into a yellow, its name displayed for all the world to see.

The Knight released a metallic roar of some kind, then stomped back, blade down in a heavy half-iron gate stance, the true edge a gleaming white as it spun in a corkscrew fashion, the girl gasped but remained furrow in her ability to hop backward, performing a hand-stand with only her left as she landed, blade held high to her right in a green glow.

Pushing off hard, her body twisted, sweeping a horizontal line clean through the white arc, seeing the health bar take another beating from the powerful strike in tangent with the clang of swords. Landing on her feet again, she watched while Watcher stumbled forward, crumbling to its knees in exhaustion, but the last bar remained sturdy.

No delay had occurred with the drums of war. The Knight leapt into the air, pulling his buster back in its right hand as he shot down at breakneck speeds, sinking his sword into the stone like a shot-put. Turning to look at the girl, the Knight swung the massive, black sword across to the left, forcing her to retreat, then it pulled back, thrusting forward again, so she raised her buckler, countering the thrust at the cost of Stamina.

She brought her blade around in a light-blue tone as she spun under a swing, slashing a horizontal square of contrails through its back. Shockingly, the monster wasn't flinched, twisting its hold to swipe back, slicing through her helmet and into her cheek. The girl rolled away, the true edge crashing down and sending a crackling wave of orange lightning where she previously stood

It bent its elbows, lowering the blade next to his stomach, again it hummed with white this time. The girl waited, seeing the body thunder toward her, rotating the sword and suddenly moving at a frightening pace, She dodged, yet a small funnel of wind caught her in the upswing, slicing through her left and dropping her own green bar down to yellow.

The girl planted her feet firmly into the ground, raising her arm back and pressing the face flush against her left hand, the tip angled toward the monster. Breathing in, her energy was spent in condensing it all down into the tip of the blade, a sharp, scarlet glow radiating brighter with each tick in her head.

Now a rosy color she let out that same breath. Stomping sharply with the right, her hand plunged the blade toward the heart of the knight, her vision tunneled to the point the sword would strike.

The feeling of moving effortlessly through the air, the motion so swift and pinpoint that she could have mistaken it as her throwing the sword like a javelin, but it wasn't, her body narrowly skated the fissure of lightning and stone uprooted from the black knight's skill. There was a slight decoloration as her target was off, but the blade dug through metal and flesh in a heartbeat, scorching crimson through its side as glassy, red shards fell around her.

Its balance faltered, then it crumpled to the ground while its body turned a bright blue, shattering into thousands of pieces before the girl's eyes, her name on display through the refractive fragments.

|Artorias (Rank 15)|

Silence overtook the ruins, and the realization of victory slowly formed into a smile across her lips. "Nailed it."

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

Inside a gloomy room, a crack of sunlight seeping in from the blackout blinds, a girl sat back on her chair, stretching high with a soft yawn. "Nailed it." She had beaten the mini-boss before anyone else showed up to take away her glory, the sight of angry messages later filled her with glee while mindlessly tracing her eyes around her room's contents.

Gradually, her eyes rested solely on the biker-shaped helmet on her bedside table. "The Beta's last day is tomorrow, hmm, guess one last run won't be so bad." Sucks no one she knew wanted to play it, those that did lacked the funds to afford the hardware. "Shaaame," Throwing herself up onto her feet she slowly approached the device with a clam smile. "Let's get this party started, eh?"

[Loading Personal Data]

[Sensory Systems: Ready]

[Username: Artorias]
[Password: ********]

User Avatar: A white Earth Pony with wine-red hair and rose-colored eyes. Her locks slightly long but neat, a ponytail reaching between her shoulder blades, tied with a black ribbon. A black-leather tunic with a red outline and high-collar, matched with black shorts. Bandages reaching halfway up her forehooves to a pair of leather bracers, a leather chestplate. Her sword was very simplistic, made of steel with a rough hilt, a buckler of equal simplicity strapped to her left forehoof.

[Stats]

Artorias - Lvl. ???
Health - 150/150
ATK - ???
DEF - ???
Stamina - 100/100
Magic - N/A
Elemental Mastery - ???
Weapon - Longsword

|Opening - Database|

Author's Note

A small prologue of sorts, also clears up how player stats work, not overly diverse as items and skills will work to widen margins such as stealth, loot, exp, etc. I want to try and cut back on cutting up sentences with item and skill text to keep the flow going so-to-speak.

Unlike AO this story will follow a similar start but with a new main character and motives, there may be returning faces but most of the characters will be either fleshed out for specific arcs or kept as side characters as to save me an aneurysm.

Anywho, I hope you enjoy the first episode players! :pinkiehappy:

Episode 1.5 - Achievements

A/N: So far a handful of you seem to like my project which is a good sign. Much as I love writing Monster Hunter I wanted to add a little variety, still, just a short piece, enjoy! :twilightsmile:

Act I - New Game

"Hmm," Artorias' hoof trailed down the four, white boxes in front of her, then she clicked on the one under her skills with a trophy icon. From there she was greeted by many small images and the names of the achievements listed in the game so far. "Oooh, this'll be fun." Her small smile grew, poking her tongue out the corner of her muzzle

[Welcome to Equestria] - Arrive in Equestria
[First Step Taken] - You achieved level 2
[Awaken The Light] - You have obtained your magic power (Arc/Solar/Void/Rime)
[So It Begins] - Slay 10 Beasts
[Protector] - Slay 1000 Beasts
[Wrong Side of Heaven] - Slay 10000 Beasts
[Rightous Side of Hell] - Slay 100000 Beasts
[Tiny Dude] - Defeat a Mini-Boss
[Tiny Dude is Big Now] - Defeat a Region Boss
[Vault of the Warrior] - Defeat a Vault Guardian
[Everypony is Equal] - Death finally claims you
[Weaponized Numbers] - Buy and equip your first piece of armour
[Fashion 'Is' End Game] - Equip an accessory or vanity item
[Magic] - You Talked with Twilight and completed a quest for her
[Loyalty] -You Talked with Rainbow Dash and completed a quest for her
[Laughter] - You Talked with Pinkie and completed a quest for her
[Honesty] - You Talked with Applejack and completed a quest for her
[Generosity] - You Talked with Rarity and completed a quest for her
[Kindness] - You Talked with Fluttershy and completed a quest for her
[Friendship is Magic] - Become friends with the Mane 6
[Dragonhearted] - You noticed and became friends with Spike
[All Thanks to Today's Sponsor] - You spent 1000 bits
[Make it Rain] - You spent 10000 bits
[Invest!] - You spent 100000 bits
[I Have Several Questions] - You Survived one of Pinkie Pie's mental breakdowns, how? I do not know
[United We Stand] - You have made a team of 4 with other players
[Same Pony, Different World] - You became friends with another player
[Legacy of the Lost] - You discovered ancient ruins
[The Next Daring Doo] - Discovered all ruins in Equestria
[Dark of the Moon] - Defeat Nightmare Moon
[Succession of Light] - Arrive at the Crystal Empire
[You're Touch'n Da Child!] - Touch the Crystal Heart
[No Touch'n Da Child!] - You touched the Crystal Heart 10 more times
[This is the part you say Checkmate] - Defeat King Sombra
[Choose Wisely] - Insult or Compliment Derpy
[Your Contract has Expired] - Insult Discord
[Sleep Now in the Fire] - You were sent to Discord's Pocket Dimension
[I'm Not a Fan of Puppeteers] - Dispel Discord's magic from an ally
[I'm Howling at the Moon] - Defeat Discord
[Fools Gold] - Find 'Tom'
[City of the Sky] - Travel to Cloudsdale
[Golden Kingdom] - Travel to Canterlot
[Where It All Began] - Travel to Ponyville
[Mary/Gary Sue] - You found the LEGENDARY seventh element of harmony
[I Hate Cliches] - You shattered the seventh element of harmony, you did us all a favor
[Medic!] - Heal an ally
[I Need Healing] - Heal allies 10 times
[I'm a Medic, not a Doctor] - Heal allies 1000 times
[Good with One Sword so packing Two] - Wield two swords
[Starburst Stream] - Manage to use a 16-hit combo with dual blades
[You're Up Against the Wall] - Use every weapon type
[And I am the ****ing Wall!] - Dual-Wield shields
[Of Light and Shadow] - Meet Princess Celestia and Luna
[Come on, Hit me, Hit me, Come on, Hit Me!] - Listen to Blueblood speak, without punching him in the jaw
[Royal Flush] - Defeat Blueblood, honestly, a level 1 could do it

[The Dark Below] - Travel to Tartarus
[Darkness Zone] - Defeat Tirek
[Your Special Talent] - Gain your first unique skill (Your Cutie Mark)
[CTRL. ALT. DEL] - Respec your unique skill
[Writer and Adventurer] - You met Daring Doo
[One For The Books] - You helped Daring Doo on her adventure
[Revel in the Dark] - Fight The Pony of Shadows
[What Makes a Good Pony] - Reform a villain
[No Place For A Hero] - Become the bad guy
[A Tender Feeling] - Enter a relationship
[At Nightfall] - You went on a date
[Line Between Light and Dark] - Discover Nightmare Moon's Cult
[Praise The Su - Wrong Praise] - Join the Hollow Night Cult
[Religion is Overrated] -Take Down the Hollow Night Cult
[Biggest Fan, Appreciate It!] - You met Nightmare Moon
[Stay on the Grind] - Reach level 10
[We're Halfway There~!] - Reach level 25
[Another Level Elevated] - Reach level 50
[Unstoppable] - Reach level 100
[Stand in the Light] - Join the Royal Guard
[Embrace The Darkness] - Join the Night Guard
[Stop: Rewind] - Your greatest foe awaits you (Returned to your starting town at Lv. 100)
[Think you can Kill a God?] - Defeat an Invincible
[To The Very Ends With You] - Be banished to the moon
[Weathering The Storm] - Defeat The Storm King

Special Achievements

[MWY NYAM CWOTA!] - Find the Black Hammer
[I May Fall] - Meet the mare with a massive scythe
[Perseverance] - Aid the mare with cybernetics
[Night of the Living Creeper] - Its BIG, SCARY, and GREEN
[Lord of Cinder] - Alight the sword
[Master of Gun and Blade] - Encounter the stallion from the stars

Hidden Titles

[The Grinder] - ????
[Legendary] - ????
[Fallen Kingdom] - ????
[Jack The Ripper] - ????
[Relic Hunter] - ????
[Exotic Standards] - ????
[Red Death] - ????

Artorias quickly closed the tab, whistling to herself. "I've... got alot of work to do," She wouldn't have it any other way

Author's Note

Most of these were transferred and some had tweaks done to them with a few additions to the list. Like before, if you have any suggestions I will happily update the logs. Also, many of the titles are references to songs, lyrics, and direct quotes from multiple sources. Hope they were fun to read!

Episode 2 - Nightfall

A/N: Um, hehehe, okay, yeah, you guys really like this fic. I mean, my notifications kept going off the day I posted the notice on MLP Actualization, so really, thank you ^_^. A bit ahead of schedule but I'm in a good mood, enjoy the episode, and seeya on Friday!

Act I - Link Start

Fight. Level. Survive. I played those words over and over until it was second nature in time, I'm not depressed but I'm not ignorant to the state of this world. How many days people cried in the streets with friends or alone, angry, terrified, some even... left this world of their own accord. But nothing compared to just sitting in some empty tavern drinking my problems away, yeah, there's alcohol in a My Little Pony game. All while Malware sits and plays God wherever a program like him resides. I sat and watched as player names in the sever list were greyed out, I think there was around nine-hundred last I checked.

People can be idiots, and some died of their own stupidity, but not everyone had the resolve to make it through this world. Do I blame them? No, not for a second, maybe they got the lesser of two evils. Why am I writing this? Because, if by some sense of logic I die, or no one makes it out I'd atleast have the decency to jot down the events of this world, someone has too. So, this is Artorias, signing off.

[White-Tail Woods | Silver Fields]

In a world of magic one thing is abundantly clear if you want to survive, you have to fight, to fight is to grow stronger, and the cycle continues. Across the open fields of the region. Artorias tore across the glades like red lightning, her blade flashing a series of colors as she stripped away the lands of their monsters, a rainfall of glassy shards spilling onto the ground in her wake.

It had been two weeks, to say things were dire was an understatement as Artorias approached a gang of their maces rising to her appearance with a pack of Dire Wolves closing in around her. Placing her sword against her right hip, she let the skill flow a solid blue sheen, when they struck, the glade lit up with spectacular fashion.

cleaved the mass of enemies, Artorias left to bathe in their remains as her body flashed gold with a menu popping up a second later. She had completed her quests, leveled up, and had been going all out across the glade for nearly the whole day. Drawing a long sigh, she closed her menu with her sword still balancing in her hoof somehow.

"Payday, woot-woot." She gave a small cheer and sang in almost a slur on her way back to town, almost tripping herself up with her tail. "Heave-ho, thieves and beggars never shall we die..."

[White-Tail Village]

As the sunset approached, players and pony NPCs roamed the town. It was small, surrounded by hills and consisted of only a number of houses, an inn, weapon and tool shops. One of the larger houses was almost regularly visited by players to start a quest called, 'Secrets of White', a quest that Artorias was struggling with fruitlessly thanks to greedy players.

"Here you go," She tossed a sack of materials into the trade menu, the player with a rather bland appearance smiling, his eyes concealed under brown bangs, he was now worry-free before the callous redhead pony. "Should get you rollin'."

"Thanks again for this, really, not many players as strong as you would actually give me a passing glance," Artorias knew the feeling, observing from the shadows as the stronger players berated those too scared to leave Safe Zones. One such stood before her. "But now I have a chance, so thank you!"

"Just hand the Bits over and consider us square for saving your ass," She replied coldly, he did, and her reward came with a small smile gracing her muzzle. "Pleasure doing business, um..." She could see his name but waited

He looked flustered but answered quickly. "S-Sorry, it's Col." She found that funny, Bits for Col she said to herself - Yeah, she may or may not be comparing their situation to a 'certain' light novel she read a few years ago, she'd admit the similarities were apparent, perhaps that's what drove Malware toward his ambition, maybe he had a network to the internet?

"Have another job you know where to find me," Artorias waved and took off with her savings, having gone up to level seven. With her jobs handled and a quest unfulfilled, she stretched. "Guess I can call it a night, monsters get rowdy at nightfall, thanks again, Ryder you asshole."

Of course, her issues are never as easily resolved as she'd like them to be. Traversing the courtyard came with its fair share of... inconvenience in the form of noise that grated her eardrums. A red tick pulsating over her head as she strolled. the beat pouring fuel onto the fire.

"Damn, look at her..." "Heard she's been helpin' players out." "I certainly wouldn't mind her helping me out alone."

"Even as a pony... you know, being viciously mauled to death by monsters sounds like fun." With a sharp pivot of her hooves Artorias made a B-line for the Silver Fields, already having a few side-quests in need of completion as she moved at a speedy pace away from the prying eyes, hoping to God to avoid hearing anything lewd. "Ugh, my life is a joke of which I must play."

[Silver Fields]

Artorias ducked then hopped up onto a large rock, sword raised high as she drank a potion, a red hue plastering her face while she laughed. "Coming in a meter and half tall! Weighing in at... possibly a large number! With deadly arm-like vines and a red mouth of icky, sticky, acidy gunk, we haaaave!" She dived again, slashing the plant monster in two with a bow. "The Little Sweet Flower -- Ironic, right!?"

Tossing aside the empty bottle Artorias spun in a helix between two vine whips, severing the arms while lashing out with , the concussive sound wave scattering the shards of glass for her eyes to catch sight of three more arms thrashing through the trees, one whipping her side and another her thigh.

"Watch the assless chaps you scumlord!" She was indeed, not wearing assless chaps and merely liked saying the one-liner. With a graceful twirl that no drunk should have, she brought her sword low, the scarlet light humming in the moonlight as the three monsters crawled into the open. "Three on one, I like those..."

The three plants shivered, turning white before bursting before her very eyes, to which she blinked slowly at the sight of a player in basic gear and a blue tunic, a simple steel chestplate, and a familiar sword housed within a blue field of magic. The icon appearing as friendly to the mid-skill-activating Artorias.

"...odds," She whined, stomping her foot. "Aw come on, Skye I was about to make a good one-liner!" She snapped, crossing her forehooves at the relaxed smile on his face

"Good to see you too, also, please don't," He rubbed the back of his neck. "I could hear you across the forest."

Artorias blinked. "Were they good?" He shook his head, hoof waving side-to-side. Artorias turned away with a pout. "...You're no fun."

"Are you drunk? I thought that debuff was removed halfway through Beta?" That inquiry led to her laughing out loud, swinging her blade across the forest behind her as another Sweet Flower slumped to the forest floor

"Yeah, I thought so too," She held out another spiked health potion. "I haven't drunk alot but keeps my mind away from... uhh... something -- Besides the point, what's up? Besides making my job of completing that damn quest harder?"

"I was out leveling just," He held out the silver sword with a black handle and amethyst fixed into the center of the hilt, the Silver Grove, as it caught the moonlight. "Got this on the first day too, wasn't easy either, not with everyone taking up the hunting spots until nightfall."

He didn't need to know why Artorias was out here, and seeing a friendly face again was assuring, he had worried one day Riot or Artorias would appear with their name crossed out like the rest, but that was just needless worry. Artorias crossed her hooves, looking around as if expecting something.

"A one percent drop, right?" She turned, eyeing the forest with her sword and buckler rising. "Hope you haven't lost all your energy, fellow gamer," Then he felt it as she did, a subtle rumble in the earth. "'Cause tonight, we dine in hell!"

Before the storm, Skye deadpanned beside her, and she nodded bashfully. "Y-yeah I realized as soon as it left my mouth, do not drink alcohol, stuff's a temporary solution at best."

"You killed one of the spore-carriers, didn't you?" He couldn't help but chuckle next to her. "You're crazy."

"Oh, I will use that against you in the future, trust me, boy." Cracking her neck the forest moved in a dark wave, the vines snapping out from between the pines as both players evaded the ambush

True to the dangers of the night, the level of the Sweet Flowers had grown, and many came charging at the scent left by the spore-carrier. Skye took the right, hacking through arms that snapped at his blindspots, forcing the monster out for close-range attacks. With a single sheer of , the plants were torn apart, his sword and level being enough for the smaller ones, two large ones sprung out, grabbing his left forehoof while trying to ensnare the right.

Tugging his left hoof back, Skye bent the vine, slicing at an angle that sent it spinning into the larger monster, his sword radiating a deep red as he brought the Silver Grove skywards, dividing the beast while rolling from another vine whip, side-stepping back followed by a quick duck, slicing in two horizontal strikes of sky blue, bringing the beast down.

Artorias on the other hoof spun on her knees, reverberating through three smaller Sweet Flowers, blowing them back into a larger one as it snatched her leg, swinging her upside down as she smirked. "No skirt on this chick, buddy!" With a twist at the hips, her hoof pried itself free, spinning like a buzzsaw of blue, tearing five mobs apart in a stroke of moonlight.

She hopped down beside Skye, bowing as the plants exploded behind her, then a dozen pairs of eyes eagerly awaiting in the darkness behind her like crimson daggers. Artorias stood upright, peering over her shoulder before paling, a sweatdrop trickling down her forehead.

"Ehehehe, this might be a long night..." Skye facepalmed. Both beta testers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, standing in a parallel guard, daring the attackers to make their move.

A long night later...

Tired and utterly through with so much as a single vine, the duo made their way back to town, the rare item in-toe. Between them they had slew exactly one-hundred Sweet Flowers, both gaining another level from the mindless grind that slowly dulled as they tried blindfolding themselves to make it atleast challenging as the other acted as their eyes, all it did was improve their proficiency in Detection. Eventually, they settled on using old, cheap weapons as throwing knives to pass the time.

"Hey," Artorias tapped the table, alerting the NPCs to her presence. An older mare and her young child who was wrapped up in bed, a fever-stricken across his face. The wary mother approached Artorias, gasping as she saw the small, golden flower held out to her. "Took me a while, but I got the flower, Miss, here," She motioned for the NPC to take it

"Thank Celestia! And thank you so much, young mare!" The mother looked ready to tear up as she produced the flower in her magic. Artorias felt her gaze stiffen at the sight, brow raised

"She's really emotional... she sounds so genuine, but it's just some pre-made character," Something stirred in her chest. "Right?"

The mare placed a petal in a vial, a soft, shimmer of gold tinting the once deep-red potion. "Here you go, baby, drink up," As the two Quest NPCs interacted Artorias refused to budge, watching and listening to every word and sign of relief and motherly affection, almost enviously. She shook her head, why was she feeling envious? Why did... this hurt so much?

As Artorias observed the mare smiling down at her son, stroking his mane while he smiled weakly, something started to cloud the redhead's vision, her chest unbearably tight at the almost-human event she witnessed.

"Mom, stop, you'll get sick if you're near me..." Artorias sneezed, sinking into her bed as her Mom tightened the scarf around her nose and mouth, her eyes full of warmth

"Nope, you can whine all you want but there's no way I'm leaving you alone right now, missy," Her Mom was absolute on this fact, it was obvious in her eyes

"But I don't wanna get you sick too," Her shaky hand pushed against her Mom's arm. "Goooo~"

"Nope!" She popped the 'P', dabbing the cloth before resting it against Artorias' head, pulling her scarf down to shine a toothy grin. "You and I look out for one another, that was our deal, remember?" She leaned forward to ruffle her daughter's hair. "So quit fussin' and rest."

Artorias tucked herself under her blanket, shivering a little as her temperature fluctuated, but having her Mom sitting beside her the whole time made the sickness far more bearable. "Okay..."

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

Outside, Skye no longer smiled, instead, he felt his mind cloud briefly with a recent memory. Skye awaited Artorias to finish up her questline, he didn't say what happened at the end, but it was... alot for him to manage alone. If the first day didn't already make it abundantly clear, this world wasn't going to let them through with a pat on the back, it was brutal and unforgiving when it chose to be.

The door creaked open, and he tugged himself from the wall as Artorias stepped out, the black scabbard tapping against her belt as she kept her head low, bangs covering her eyes but leaving a heavy smile on her lips. Skye stepped closer, putting a hoof on her shoulder the second she slumped back against the wall with a thud, chuckling hoarsely.

"What did you remember?" It wasn't his place to ask that, but judging from her reaction she too felt it, the weight of this world

"That we're royally fu... yeah, yeah I remember alright," She chuckled hoarsely. "I'm stuck like this for Christ knows how long, curiosity killed the cat in my case, funny that." Then she flicked her hoof up. "Got a sweet reminder of... well, something similar, something I hadn't thought of in a long... long time."

Skye too sat down, head back with a tired sigh as they watched the stars dance across the sky, players few say for NPCs, leaving the duo to mull over their woes. "But we have to try, for what's out there waiting for us,"

"But that doesn't mean we waste time here," Artorias added, eyes glossing over the amazing view with a calm frown. "Sure, we're stuck here, but grieving day in and day out, that's not surviving. This is a game, and I intend to do it my way."

"Sounds like we have similar goals," Skye smirked. "Can't be all that bad living in that body?"

Artorias laughed out loud at that, punching Skye's shoulder as he joined in. "You have no bloody idea how annoying it is you asshole!" To illustrate she stood up, giving a small twirl on all hooves. "This whole quadruple thing is still a bloody pain; And I'll have you know that despite the numerous comments about my ass in the background, I can safely say that, as much as I hate to admit, I look awesome." She struck a pose, flashing a smug grin

Skye paused, then burst into a laughing fit with Artorias, the two unable to withhold their stupidity as the night stretched on, but both companions couldn't care less.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Life stretches on in the Death Game with Artorias' goals and a subtle realization of their situation. Things are only going to get darker next time will be the last of the introductory episodes. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Official Hoofypony
Just over a month, the Region Boss has been found, and players begin to rally for the anticipated battle. Artorias does not, as she has her own, less self-absorbed goals in mind for an uncertain future.

Episode 3 - Official Hoofypony

Act I - New Game

[White-Tail Woods | Silver Fields]

"Watch out!" A pale-grey unicorn cried to his partner as they were struck aside by a Dire Wolf. He had a young face, rather timid too, and was thin with pale-light brown hair and hazel eyes, the bangs covering his left eye. His partner, another unicorn, had a baby-blue coat and short, white hair, the bangs braided to either side of her face. She and the boy wore the basic equipment from the start of MLPR but she opted for a white cloak

The girl stumbled to her hooves again, raising her dagger in an aura of sky-blue as she gasped at the sight of three more wolves fanned out to the leader's flanks. She was cornered and her friend was trembling, unable to budge as he watched from afar.

The wolves pounced and the girl shut her eyes at the scream of metal shaving her ears. Fearfully, the girl cracked an eye open to find the wolves all split in two mid-pounce, a single, light blue arc shearing the pack to shards before her sparkling eyes.

"K-Kyo!" The boy ran over to her, and she collapsed to her haunches with a gracious sigh. "I-I'm sorry I--"

"It's fine, I'm... yeah, that wasn't fun," Kyo smiled weakly as the pony above them glared down dully. Kyo smiled toward the girl. "Thank you."

Artorias took a long breath before swinging her blade back into its scabbard. "Congrats, you guys would be dead, or atleast one of you without me." Her words stung, but neither had a right to complain. "Taking on monsters three levels higher than you, hmph, you got guts, most of which would be outside your body right around now."

"We'll pick our battles next time, but thank you for saving her," The boy, 'Sora', thanked her happily while Artorias shrugged and took off for the forest dungeon ahead, both watching her as she casually trotted away.

Biting his cheek, Sora stood up. "Hey, wait, um..." Artorias stopped, sighing as she shook her head, murmuring under her breath. "You're one of the top players right now, yeah?"

"No, I'm just bored," Was her deadpanned reply. He then realized this might not have been the best person to ask, but now he had both hers and Kyo's attention. "Kid, I've got possibly a million better things to do, spit it out."

He tried not to look irked by that or her irate expression. "Look, I... I want to help people through this game," "I want to make it up to Kyo, for dragging her into this." "But I can't if I'm not stronger than everything I come across, in battles I... I just freeze, and I nearly put Kyo in danger because of it."

"It's not your fault," She nudged his side, smiling. "And yes, I will keep telling you that until you stop complaining about it."

Artorias felt there was more to the 'freezing' thing but lacked the ability to care for strangers right now. She had requests to fill in and playing babysitter was not one of them. "Judging by their equipment they haven't made that much bank, so they came out here hoping to accelerate the process, smart but the execution is dumb." "Fine," She withdrew her Silver Grove sword, "Want a tip from a veteran gamer, here's one."

She side-stepped as the duo yelped from the sudden attack of a large Dire Wolf, the canine snarling while it circled Artorias, but then Sora spotted it, the girl's name and her level, and his eyes only broadened from there. "S-she's nearly level ten!"

"No way..." Kyo breathed as Artorias casually evaded the wolf's attacks, eyes to her students

"Want to be the best, stop using sword skills like some kind of get-out-of-jail-free card, sure, that's how you do the most damage but if you don't keep tabs on cooldowns and SP you'll be caught with your pants down," She ducked and instructed at the same time. "However, maximizing a skill is paramount, for example, Horizontal Arc is a two-hit skill, so here's one way to use it properly."

She spun her blade to rest the edge against her thigh, the ting of the skill and hum of sky blue grew to encompass the blade. With a single lunge, she slid to the wolf's right side, slicing the complete length of its fur. Twisting her body back she dived over its claws, spinning once to divide the monster straight down the middle, the body bursting into shards.

"Woah!" Both admired her skill while she slapped the sword back into its sheath

"I still landed two horizontal strikes but I used both my own momentum and the pull of the skill to evade any attacks it could get in before it perished," Artorias then teetered her hoof. "Longer and larger skills are more tricky to nail down but practice and all that. Then you'll see a difference between people like you and people like me."

"I see," Sora smiled, drawing his sword high for a few swings. "Use my momentum and the skill as a simultaneous attack and defense," What started out as an uncertain feeling in his chest was now a rising hope for improvement, to further himself to becoming stronger

"I suggest getting a buckler if you're gonna move like me, larger shields weight ya down," With her exclusive tip handed out, free of charge might she point out, Artorias continued on her merry way, waving lazily. "If you got any requests for a price let me know, peace."

"We will, thanks again!" Kyo waved back as their saviour's scarlet attire vanished into the treeline

[White-Tail Village | Afternoon]

"There sure are a few players gathering..." Artorias was no slouch to news due to her already numerous connections thanks in part to her aid in helping lower players level since the one's at her skill range were hoarding all the goods for themselves, she didn't need loot, she needed competence among idiots

Passing by a few buildings and heading down a small dirt road she came to the Amphitheater. Old ruins left behind with a stone stage and curved seating around the right-hand side, pillars dotting the outer ring, the archway she passed through only gave her a view of one pony who was pressed in deep thought over his menu.

A player with a steel chestplate, shoulders, arms, and shins, similar to Artorias. A longsword on his left waist, and a kite shield on his back. He had blue hair with long bangs and silver eyes, the tunic under his armor also blue.

"A fated clash of red and blue," Artorias announced jokingly, and the guy looked up and smiled cheerily

"So you decided to heed the call! I'm glad to see you wish to hear about our assault on the Region Boss!" His optimistic nature wasn't what Artorias intended to see, but her resting frown remained. The news of the Region Boss' discovery spread like wildfire, after just over a month in this hell they had a lead, not even those in Canterlot had any such luck, whatever Malware did when he reset the game, it clearly tampered with the locations of the Bosses other than the Vaults

"I never agreed to anything, honestly, I'm here only to ensure the top players don't set us back by another month given some of their... debatable personalities," Idiots is what she meant. To her surprise, the guy hadn't lost his grin, in fact, he relaxed his smile

"Is that so? I'll say, I'm actually relieved," He put a hoof to his chest while noting her uncertain expression. "You wanted to hear me out before you made any concrete decision, right? That shows you're serious about this."

Finally, after so many weeks, Artorias chuckled with her forehooves wide. "And there is a God! 'Course I'm taking this seriously, its a Region Boss," She rolled her eyes. "In early Beta, we had like... two, available?" He nodded, "And the only one beaten was Canterlot's, God knows what White-Tail's looks like, the attack patterns, weapons, skills, hell, elemental damage," She shook her head, chuffing at the amusing memory. "Took us a week-and-a-half to clear Canterlot's, and that was by throwing bodies at the boss."

"I see, so you're a beta tester from that 'Raid'," He hummed, then cleared his throat with a hoof out. "Sorry, I should have started with this, my name is Gwyn, a Knight of this world."

Another laugh escaped Artorias. "Pfft, well then, 'Sir Knight', call me Artorias, although my left arm isn't broken." He laughed right back as they shook hooves. "I see you are a man of culture as well." She got his reference loud and clear

"Always a classic fight," Gwyn chuckled, the two let go while he crossed motioned to the redhead. "I've heard of you, lots of players keep spreading some rumors about a player in red helping others level faster by completing requests for them," Gwyn gave her a respectful look. "Some are joining us because of your aid."

"Strength can't make all miracles," Artorias replied, a smug smile crossing her lips at her growing renown, a little fame never hurt, and she certainly could take advantage of it later down the line

"Back on topic, you are right, we can't rush into this, but waiting around isn't an option," He regained a sense of fortitude as he spoke. "When we march on that temple, we're doing it to show the players, not just in White-Tail, but across this world that this game CAN be beaten, together!"

Artorias was silent but broke with a smile, shaking her head humorously. "Sorry, were you practicing your speech on me? If so, good execution, maybe lay off the friendship thing, but you certainly fit the bill of a classic 'Knight in Shining Armor'," Then her eyes narrowed, hoof to her chin. "But knights whose armor shines has never truly been tested, so I wonder, has your metal been tested?"

Gwyn was a good sport about her quick jabs, chuckling alongside her, something she only ever saw Skye or Riot ever do. "A person with a sense of humor is paramount in this world, so thanks, I needed that." Clearing his throat an idea sparked in his eyes, and he put a hoof on the pommel of his blade. "Look, I've done my best to rally players for the meeting, but some are still leveling and gathering Bits before coming here, so our manpower is somewhat limited in terms of setting up a route toward the temple."

She could recall the map location of the Region Boss being rather close to the edge of White-Tail, "This place is a trek, takes about two-to-three hours to travel here on foot," Artorias agreed, brow raised inquisitively. "What about it?"

"While the rest of us max out our equipment and skills for the fight ahead, setting out on foot can be time-consuming, so I wanted to put in a request with you," He brought up his menu. "Think you could link up the Teleport Runes both here and by the Temple entrance? It'll save us both time and energy for when it really counts."

"Eh, you're payin', so why not?" A tab appeared before her eyes and a 'wealthy' reward in the description. "Damn..."

[Request Accepted!]
|Teleport Gates|
[ ] Activate White-Tail Village Rune
[ ] Activate Temple of the Fang Rune
[Rewards]
1000 Bits
X5 Pure Stone

"Well then, I'm off," Artorias waved, now with the proper motivation. Though a thought occurred. "Why didn't he activate the Rune here? A thought occurs, why didn't I before or anyone else?" That was then dashed aside with a toothy grin and smug mindset. "I'm being paid for it, no skin off my nose!"

Across the slope leading down toward a large open expanse of white trees, Artorais flew over the lip of the hillside, the twilight closing in as several Kobalt Henchmen stormed after her, swinging their weapons wildly while she faceplanted the grass, rolling with inaudible curses and grunts as the mini Kobalts chased her.

"Ow-!" Thud. "Ow-!" Thud. "Ow-!" Thud. "Ow-!" She made it to the bottom. Murmuring sweet curses into the dirt she pried her face from and turned to see the Kobalts raising their weapons. "Can't I catch a break?" Twisting her sword she nonchalantly swung with sweeping the Kobalts from the air while allowing the momentum to toss her back onto her hooves for her to swing her sword like a nine-iron, putting the Kobalts across the glade

Across the fields and forests, the large spire of grey brick jutting just above the treeline above. Compared to the Vault entrances, it was tiny, but just the broken spire left an ominous impression over her. Artorias lifted her hoof to that twilight world above, above her, an artificial sky would soon fill with a universe unlike her own. It was a wave of excitement and sheer anxiety given her lack of knowledge on just how large Equestria was given Malware pulled them out of the restrictions set in Beta, some bugs were bound to rear their ugly heads sooner or later.

"Alright," Bringing her leg down she strolled across the path leading to a small camp just outside the boundaries of the forest, and the Rune awaiting activation. "Let's get paid."

There was a thin, grey obelisk bobbing in the air, dormant until Artorias placed her hoof on the white rune inscribed across the four faces. With a twinkle, the faces split slightly, revealing the funnel of sky blue light within.

Unlike the Teleport Gates, these floating, light-grey obelisks acted as teleports between areas across their respective Regions, so it was understandable to activate them so everyone could move about without having to waste time in the fields. Unlike the show, this world was massive in scale, from White-Tail to Ponyville it was a day's travel without teleportation. And to Canterlot... roughly several days, two at the least if you kept sprinting and chugging stamina potions.

When the prompt came up to warp, Artorias went ahead and teleported back to town to collect her reward, her other requests all awaiting delivery. She had amassed a fortune with this request service of hers, of course, those that would, ahem, 'request' not-so-subtle advances were met with the business end of a longsword, frightening them away. "Even in this world, you can't escape perverts with no real social lives."

Later that night...

"This is great! Here!" The static player handed her the reward as they closed off the transaction. "Um... say, do you maybe want to catch a drink later, just to say thanks, not... you know, what some other players do?"

Artorias considered it a moment but shook her head. "The offer of booze is a tempting one but I've got requests still pending, no rest for the wicked, chief."

He smiled warily, nodding. "Hey, worth a shot right?"

"Twas an attempt." With a wave they parted ways as players continued to flood into the town, having gathered supplies for the meeting tomorrow to discuss the strategy behind defeating the Region Boss

Through the parties, sitting by the large tree in the center of the town Artorias spotted Gwyn alone as he greeted any that came up to meet him. If Artorias didn't know better she'd say it was like nothing changed, no Death Game, just... players having fun, it'd be grand if they would keep it that way longer at times. All the doom and gloom can be taxing.

Upon her approach Gwyn smiled, patting her shoulder. "Thanks, with those two Runes active we've got players surging into town, and a quick and easy method to arrive at full strength."

"Piece of cake," She kept a cool manner while discussing the request. "So, the reward?"

"Here, as promised," In only a few clicks the transaction was complete, and Artorias was left satisfied with her work for the day. "We should have everyone here in the morning. They're a fiery bunch, but everyone's willing and ready for this fight."

"I see..." She murmured, then his hoof waved to the crowds here-and-there

"I've got people sacrificing their time to collecting Bits and earning levels to work on the frontlines, I'm taking no risks even if we come out of the fight with an easy win, it's best to be fully prepared." His level of forward-thinking was exactly what Artorias liked seeing, players willing and ready to push themselves but not to the point they forfeit awareness

Though Gwyn's trust is... concerning. "You put alot of faith in them, sure they won't just up and run?" With a sharp eye, Gwyn sighed with his back to the tree, nodding

"I understand, but they'll pull through, I've worked with them on the frontlines plenty of times, gave them the ropes, we're in this together after all," Gwyn replied confidently and without a second to consider any thought of those that would turn tail

The two sat there, silent as conversations filled the night air, laughter and trades between levels of varying heights, even some players Artorias helped out were here, now geared up, standing with allies. There was that girl from the fields earlier today too, siting with the boy as they ate by a bench, keeping to themselves.

"You don't trust easily," Gwyn broke the silence. "Some know you're a hardcore, solo beta tester, the title has been... testy for some that joined only the final day of the game's... 'release', they're people here that hate them, blaming them for the deaths that continue to fall by our laps, and some rumors are true, I can't say I don't understand the hatred." He lifted his eyes to the night. "Knowledge prior to the reset is invaluable to the newer players, people like you know things they don't, and some hate that."

"Oh yes, that much is crystal when they whine to the nearest info broker," She scoffed. "Let them think what they want, complaining won't solve anything, and threatening us is only gonna make rumors turn to facts if pushed too far." A hard reality that Artorias knew, Skye kept quiet about it too, less trouble

"You still won't be joining us? Your knowledge would be instrumental to our goals." Gwyn requested, but there was no price that would sway Artorias

"No dice," She turned to him, eyes rigid. "Climb to fame and glory, I'll catch up, but the people in these backwater towns need to know that even a scumbag like me has the decency to teach them a thing or two before passing along, if they squander my generosity, then screw 'em, if they end up becoming a Boss clearing master, so be it." "Besides, it's easy money."

He broke into a small chuckle. "And here I thought you were just out for yourself, guess that's another rumor I can cross off the list!" That made her eye twitch, but Gwyn remained as charismatic as ever. "You're a good person, I hope we'll fight alongside one another on the frontlines," He put his hoof forward after the two stood up

She slapped his hoof for a solid shake, clicking her tongue. "Sure-sure, seeya around, chief." Slipping away through the crowds, the night had grown too long anyhow, and she had work to do, however. "Oi!"

Gwyn stopped to look back at Artorias, her hoof waved back to him once with a cunning smirk. "Kick that boss' teeth in for me, Sir Knight!" As the flicker of lanterns shrouded Artorias in a blanket of shadows, Gwyn and herself departed with understanding and modest respect from one beta tester to another

[Ponyville| Teleport Plaza]

It had been two days, Artorias wandered through town with her appraised equipment. Things were looking up for the Blackjack-esque earth pony. Along her merry way, she felt her eyes glance to the ominous Barracks that served as Ponyville's miniature 'Crypt' for player usernames, or atleast the ones that remained; Players coming and going.

She snorted, "The assault team should be fighting the boss by now?" Curious to know if they succeeded, she made her way over to the barracks, stepping inside the cool interior as names crossed the walls around her by the thousands, and to her dismay, more were crossed off. "Over three-thousand-five-hundred people... Christ alive."

All of a sudden, a gong-like bell rattled the air, reminding everyone of the day this game began, only it was to make an announcement, about one of the few things to remind them all they were in a game.

~At 13:07, White-Tail Region Boss has been cleared~

Artorias let a small smile through for a moment as the first few players outside cheered, much as she would refuse to say it, Gwyn was right about one thing, it finally gave these players something to smile about if they lacked the capability to try it for themselves. Honestly, yeah, sucks were stuck in here but wallowing in grief isn't going to make it better.

"What the...?" Another name was struck off without her knowledge, a few minutes prior to the Region's completion. Stepping closer to inspect the reflective stone, she ran her hoof down the list, passing by many names with derivative creativity. Then, her limb stopped and slight snag in her throat as all cries of jubilation were muffled out. "..."

"You're a good person, I hope we'll fight alongside one another on the frontlines,"

"Kick that boss' teeth in for me, Sir Knight!"

Past all the names, unknown, meaning little to her, she froze at the one crossed out before her. She stepped back, eyes hidden by her bangs as she stared back at the letters, reading them over-and-over as the hollow feeling grew. It wasn't much, but... she'd be lying if she said she didn't feel something.

She bore her teeth, grinding them down. "God... dammit."

Gwyn - Lv. 9

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

And so the second-to-last episode of New Game ends with... yeah, that. Great to see everyone's enjoying this new beginning as much as I! I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode!

Next Episode: Scapegoat
Artorias is never the kind to wear her heart on her sleeve, she is, however, still human.

Episode 4 - Scapegoat

Act I - New Game

Items, like in any game, run on a rarity system. White. Green. Blue. Purple. Orange. But Red Tier items are much more ambiguous. Snuggled between Blue and Purple tier they are items that offer many uses that are not categorized, they could be a quest item, a material, or even an accessory that only serves to impede a player with debuffs, until they are categorized by the player that hold them they will remain a mystery across MLPR. However, one such item has been identified.

Simply called, Memory Fragment, so far, its only use is to serve as a small glimpse into an event that has transpired within a selected area, be it a conversation on the street, the rotation of mob patrols, or even a battle. Its use is pretty limited unless you know how to correctly use such an item like me.

[Temple of the Fang | Boss Room]

The halls were vacant, devoid of color or substance say the dull black and grey of the dungeon walls. A player passed beyond the blackiron doors left ajar, their hoofsteps reverberating off the long hallway. The player stopped just before the entrance, bringing up their menu with a flick of their hoof, diving into their Items menu they scrolled under the list landed on the red-barred item. Configuring it into an object the menu vanished and her hoof caught a small, rhombus diamond.

"Memory Defrag," Her words whispered to the jewel as it began to glow, shattering all around her as the tiny specks entered the hall, twinkling like stardust as ghostly outlines of ponies and the faint echoes of weaponry clashing and clanking against object reverberated across the dull hallway. Four specific outlines of white caught her eye, one towering over them, a bipedal beast clasping a long sword in its hand

"-A stun effect!!" A feminine pony gasped, a number of players rooted to the floor before the creature as it brought its large weapon back, snarling down at the players

"No, no, no..." One was frozen where Artorias stood, himself unable to lift his sword and shield in his magic. "Get outta there!"

The weapon came crashing down, so much so the memory of a huge gust of wind blew through Artorias as Gwyn lunged forward, parrying the massive downward slash with his shield, thereby saving the players who finally recovered. The one beside Artorias chuckled with relief. "Sir Gwyn!"

"Hurry up and move in with the tanks!" The familiar voice of Skye caught her attention, watching him and the female player from before rushing the vanguard in an effort to reinforce Gwyn's isolated defense. "The boss' going for a follow-up attack, take care of the team that's still stunned!" That made Artorias' brow raise, how did he know it was going for a follow-up?

"We're on it!" One player announced with another, larger figure stepping in

"And what about you both, your gear's-"

"We'll draw his aggro ourselves!" They announced as one

Whoever was with Skye tore across the battlefield, the lesser mobs that Boss kept with it shattered as they stormed the front, deflecting another vertical strike from the Boss, its body staggered slightly into bringing its weapon over the right shoulder, muzzle curled with a snarl. "Good, focus on deflecting, I'll tear out its throat and end this!" Gwyn declared, blocking another strike that almost brought him to his knees, yet he somehow held strong. "We're clearing this Boss together!!!"

Artorias felt it, this wasn't the right time for a counteroffensive. Skye's astral form snapped around, his hoof swung out before sprinting after his companion and the reckless Gywn. "No, you need to focus on defense-!" The Boss grinned, arm braced with a sharp flow of energy across the sword. "-Gywn, no!!"

"Cancel your skill, hurry!" Skye's warning was far too late, the light overtook Gwyn's, drawing down with a powerful gust of wind that tore at the ground, even outside the memory. Skye dived, tackling his partner down from the wave of light that tore across a wide area. When the dust and wind settled, Skye lifted his eyes as Artorias did, the pony under his hoof almost peering up

Gwyn's body slumped back, his blade shattered into pieces, kite shield battered across the hall, and everything from his upper jaw cleaved into shards, yet Artorias swore she saw something, not a pony breathing his final breath, but a knight with his index finger poised toward the fading forms of Skye and his partner and herself, "...I-I... le-leave the r-rest... t-to you..."

While the memory soon faded, that harrowing frame etched itself into her eyes as his body was reduced to shattered glass. It was the first time Artorias had seen someone die in this Death Game, a cruel and unfair way to die. She had only ever seen numbers and names stroked out across marble, only now, every slice of a blade's true edge dug deeper than before, filling her with rage.

*Groan-Creeeeak*

Across the dusky hall, an empty throne sat in the far back. Or it used to be, but a dark, imposing figure lifted his cheek from a palm, growling at the intruder.

She had no idea why she came here, of all places why would this matter to her? For Gywn? No, it was simple, players would come from the towns, they would level using the higher-ranking mobs from the temple, and then they'd grow curious, investigate the room the assault team struck against the Death Game, and they'd face 'Him'.

The room brightened up as the figure's eyes lit up, roaring as it leapt from its empty throne, slamming into the ground as the color reached the end of the hallway. The gashes in the walls came to life with white, so did the ceiling as three, curved health bars appeared above the forehead. Artorias' frown deepened with a tinge of malice etched into her pupils.

She drew her blade, buckler brought to bear as the boss roared. A buff, dark blue, bipedal wolf with broken chains linked to his wrists and ankles, a choker collar ringed with broken spikes. A pair of large, crimson eyes lacking features bearing down on her, the gums lifting to reveal curved teeth. Clutched in its right was a long, aged mace, the head crowned with curved blades.

<<>>

Two levels higher, this would be tough. Breaking left the mace shattered the floor beneath her, hoof pressed to the handle of the mace as Artorias brought her body upwards, right foreleg folded behind her back as she spun around, the twin blue slashes tearing through the boss' flesh. She landed, evading to the left as it missed, but she remained fixed to her spot, split through the thighs, her feet squeaking on the marble as she dove low, spinning around for a sonic blast to ripple across Dren's arms, parrying the left as she smashed her shield against its muzzle, bringing her sword down in a slant.

She threw herself back, the weapon's gleam shaving her muzzle as Dren swiped hastily to catch her. Artorias flanked, her ponytail grazed by his mace as she brought Silver across its stomach, twirling to smack the pommel off its chin as she hopped over the left arm, the mace missing while she pivoted, bringing her blade down to saw through the back of Dren's left knee.

The two spun around, Dren's mace crossed with her blade, the two deflecting before her sword came up over her shoulder to parry the low-bearing lunge of the blunt weapon, her buckler and his forearm's chain battering against one another briefly while their blades shuddered against the other, brittle sparks forcing them away with an intersecting contrail.

Digital blood was spilled, skills crackled like fireworks against robust steel, sweat and roars tossed across the halls while the two combatants danced to the rhythm of MLPR's melodies, their shadows dashing across the walls, distorting with clashes and the occasional body flung into a wall or ground. Neither knew how long the skirmished lasted, and neither NPC nor player cared.

Breaking apart from another ceaseless clash, the last health bar tainted red, shuddering, Dren cast off his weapon, and true to the report she read, Dren swung out a massive, bandaged katana from its waist. Artorias allowed herself a smirk. "You know there's a crude one-liner to be had," She lost her brief moment atop cloud nine, reverting to a glare that could set the world alight. "But it's not past noon."

The large, scarred wolfman proceeded to utterly outmaneuver the redhead as she kept her eyes pinged to every point it ricocheted toward, each step, every twist and turn to adjust its landing. She didn't budge, pulling her buckler to rest over her eyes as they caught the finest detail of the feet poised toward her from a pillar, the blade bathing her in a cherry-red light.

Her rose eyes widened behind her buckler as the light grew to consume her body, "Brightburn Shield!" To contrast the light, her shield released an immediate and blinding light, canceling out the skill above as she rolled backward, bending at her knees with her sword cast in the same kind of light.

Dren landed on his feet, drawing his weapon behind his shoulder once more, an almost unbearable, blue light gathering around the blade like a wind current. "So it is magic, Arc," Identifying the cause of Gywn's death she kept her skill alight, leaping at the last possible second as she felt her health take a hit from the sweeping gale-force under her hooves, the ground smothered in blue air.

Evading the massive counterattack, Artorias pressed her back hooves to the edge of the katana, diving toward Dren with her right forehoof outstretched. She brought the true edge through Dren's gut, spilling red shards while her hoof inverted the blade carving it through the same line once more. Stomping down on his wrist she spun herself through the wolfman's throat, twisting her sword in a split second to bring both her body and blade through the right-hand side of the boss, gouging out its throat as Gwyn once attempted.

The flaming force of the slashes threw Dren across the hall, body erupting into flames and a fountain of shards as the remains were washed away with a single swing from Artorias, her hair resting gradually from the hot updraft. "That's for Sir Knight," With the faintest respect she had, she brought her blade high, allowing the last light of the arena to catch across her Silver Grove before she sheathed it with a single click.

Then, a message popped up to her whimsical eye.

[Artorias - Lv. 12 -> 13]
|Bonus Drop!|
Proxima Coat ****
Health Boost - 365 | Defense - 56
Passive Skill: Frenzy - 10% Chance skill cost will be halved

Even as a gloomy shroud overtook the hall once more, a flash and flutter of cloth could be heard alongside the wearer's small chuff as they took off for the exit behind her. Subconsciously, her mind continued to cloud with Gwyn's final words, herself stopping at the right-hand side of the grand hall, eyeing the forgotten shield resting upright against the wall.

Did he mean those words for Skye? One of his 'heroic messages' like before? Something felt off about that, not that the words weren't for him, not entirely, did he know? She shook her head at the shield, scoffing, how could he possibly have guessed something so improbable, it made no logical sense. And yet here she was, listening to the past like an action movie, heck, she defeated the boss herself, granted, her gear was vastly superior to something as simple as a level.

Whatever the case may be, she added the kite shield to her inventory before turning and walking away with a heavy sigh.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Shorter but a necessary piece to Artorias' story as she takes her revenge against the Region Boss sometime after it was first beaten. Much like other games, you can pick up a quest to replay the bosses for a chance at exclusive loot.

This also marks the end of Act I - New Game. The next one's gonna be bigger, promise! I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Bloodied Blade
The game goes on, and with her time in Ponyville nearly at its end, Artorias sets off to work on one final mystery she hopes hasn't been changed since Malware's 'Reset'.

A/N: The flaming skill Artorias used is a 4-hit 1-handed sword skill called 'Crimson Square'

Episode 5 - Bloodied Blade

Act II - Rising Tide

Since the game first started up, just over a month has passed by, over three-thousand people out of the twenty-five-thousand MLPR players had lost their lives, but on July 20th, 2022 White-Tail Woods Region Boss was cleared. Now the hunt for the others had begun, hoping the insight can aid in unlocking the first visible Vault several miles from Canterlot. However, in the last eight days progress has been rough but not without results, everyone now part of the 'Assault Team' knew the bosses were beatable and were within each and good luck to them because I couldn't care less right now.

I was going to finally make track for Canterlot on foot - erm, hoof, as there was a small gathering of ruins along the way that I had to check in the hopes no one was wise enough to investigate the area for fear of monsters tearing them apart.

Right, I've been rambling, haven't I? Sigh, okay, let's get back to the story...

[Wilderness | Unknown Ruins]

Albatross wandered down the very much endless tunnels of the labyrinth alone, mindlessly humming to herself as she traced her hoof along the black rock walls, cobwebs and cracks dotted the place, and the occasional monster did come by. So far, she had been alone for... two hours.

She had undergone a complete makeover since the game began, with some mild headaches from attempting to use the crafting system and alot of Bits. She now wore a black, sleeveless tunic with a high-collar and V-neck, her stomach exposed as the fabric extended into a jacket, the tailcoat bobbing halfway down her back legs, her tail poking out of a small hole. A grey outline matched the belt strapped below her chest.

The chest was red at the sides and between the grey straps, a red triangle formed in the middle of the fabric, the rest black. Her shoulders were bare but she continued to wear bandages around her legs halfway up to the knee. A metal bracelet with rubies dotting the material on both forehooves. Her waistbelt was fixed with a belt similar to the one under her chest, fitted over her tailcoat, and sitting just below her stomach and around her black shorts. Artorias' thighs were exposed halfway.

Passing down another hall after the inspection of her gear Artorias came across a minor, broken statue in a grim bog marking the entrance to this dungeon's hidden lair, something only a certain level would find. Beyond the broken statue lies a narrow, deteriorated room. It's covered in skeletal remains, faded red markings, and dirt. The lantern aided Artorias in seeing far into the mossy stone depths of the catacombs, battered and ravished by time itself.

Further ahead were three paths, one lit with torches, someone else has been down here? Taking the twisted trail she passed by many empty rooms and deadends, boxes obscured some corners, but nothing appeared on radar, no player either.

Slowly marching onwards she passed by statues of pony knights, all stained with red streaks of what she could imagine was dried blood. Finally, there was the last door in the hallway, a grand, wooden door marked by symbols of weapons stained red, the central figure represented a large warrior with a sword risen above its head triumphantly, must be a tomb for this knight or something, but they're human? Stran -... wait...

"Sneak attack!" Artorias swung her sword horizontally, slicing a statue while nearly catching the pony who was standing behind it, the hooded figure rolling onto the floor and sitting up with their hooves risen, a cheeky, nervous smile on their face. Artorias grinned cockily. "I am a very paranoid person, don't think I'm not always on high alert!"

"Fufufu, not great with hellos, are ya?" She chuckled, lowering her hooves while Artorias sheaved her sword, viewing the earth pony's name as 'Gin'

Gin was a head smaller than Artorias, with a brown coat, gold eyes, and curly golden-brown hair. Wearing full-body cloth and leather armour, a hooded cloak, and also two red teardrops painted under her eyes. Her weapon is clearly a set of claws, a number of throwing picks attached to a belt too. With a toothy grin, she gave Artorias a salute.

"Name's Gin, what's yours, Red?" Artorias found the name rather derivative but rolled with it while lowering her guard

"Artorias, badass player, and overall narcissist." They reached out simultaneously and shook hooves, both of them knew of a secret chamber in the dungeon, maybe Gin got a tip from an Alpha Tester, like Artorias? The difference between Alpha and Beta is that the former was very exclusive and only given to a select few players, Artorias happened to be one of those in the bracket. Although some have been prone to abusing their knowledge lately according to what Artorias read up on, similar to some Beta Testers... "Anyways, my guess is that you set those torches back there?"

A nod. "That's right, had to see if this ol' place was still around, could give some valuable info and the like for a client, it'll cost 'im," Gin explained, tapping a hoof to the doorway. "Can't get through though, has to be a puzzle with these statues, that's why I was behind one of them before you struck it."

"I see..." Artorias put a hoof to her chin, eyes squinted. "Several statues with a similar symbol to that of the knight on the door, only they look more like guards..." She paced while Gin did the same, inspecting a statute. "So, since we're both here, how's about we split what's inside, fifty-fifty? It'd be a bother to fight over stuff I can split or gain someplace else."

"So long as the information is still solid and I get a cut of the Bits you can have the items and materials, then deal," In agreement, they bumped hooves and made the contract, now they remained on the task of finding a way inside

"A door and statues stained with blood... something about that either signifies a warning or presence of a monster hidden within, which is more than likely the case," Gin watched as Artorias murmured to herself, leaning toward the doorway. "But the blood on the door marked the weapons, all surrounding a single warrior with a blade risen high as if to triumph over the weapons its defeated." "If this theory of mine was correct it would be smooth sailing from here for both of us, others, like that 'ninja' guild, might discover this with their skill up high."

Making her way toward the doors Artorias drew her blade and held out her left hoof. Gin watched like a cat as Artorias sliced the bottom side open, the sensation numb as the red particles were gathered against her limb scattering them moments later against the door to see them shatter on impact.

"An offering of blood to the monster that slaughtered them all, atleast, that's what I'm getting from all these clues around us," Elaborating on her stupidity, the doors creaked open, all the symbols aglow ominously as a gust of wind was drawn into the sealed section of the dungeon, Artorias then frowned. "Seriously, who is this game targeted at? Blood sacrifices and dark dungeons?"

"Man, you and my client come up with the craziest plans, and yet they always work out to a degree," Gin complimented Artorias with a pat to the chest, taking the lead to slice a hidden wire inches from Artorias' hoof, clearly having a high enough skill to detect the traps inside. With a bow, she took the lead. "Follow me and I'll keep you safe."

"Gee, my hero..." The sarcasm wasn't lost to the redhead, but Artorias did just that while mapping out the next lost sector

With a hoof against the corner of a hallway, Gin's head peeked around, assessing the situation then motioned for Artorias to follow soon after. The environment had also taken a slight turn, walls were far more aged, bricks piled in the rubble with holes and seams running along the distorted halls, torches lying on the floor yet remained ignited.

Their journey took them down a pathway that overlooked a massive, black chasm at either end of a snaking, cobblestone path, the floor below engulfed in darkness. Taking a peek, Artorias saw nothing, only darkness, though there was a small indication of a floor since a ladder led down to the abyss below.

"Wouldn't recommend falling, place won't kill ya but the trap will trigger monsters to appear, see the smog?" Gin pointed down at the thin layer of haze resting in the darkness. "Weakness debuff, nasty at our level -- BOO!" Gin's jolt to the redhead's back had her reel with a yell, falling on her ass while Gin laughed slyly to herself. "Too easy."

"You Goddamn psychopath!" Artorias bellowed, seeing Gin walk away while she stumbled to her hooves, marching in beside the blonde. "Anyways... you're an Info Broker, aren't you?"

Her eyebrow quirked at Artorias. "And what if I am?"

"Then why are you here? Normally Info Brokers rely on clients to bring favorable information to sell for a price, like a back-and-forth exchange." Artorias did a back-and-forth motion with her hoof. "After facing the Region boss, people say that certain aspects have changed from the beta, like the fact it can use powerful skills, after someone they called a Cheater who used to be an Alpha Tester and knew how to beat the boss and everything, and they blame him for... someone's death." Artorias slowed at her words, realizing the only idiot that would fit the bill

Gin shrugged, looking unimpressed for some reason. "Eh, it's true things have changed, that's why I'm down here, trying to source out if this place has been updated, accordin' to an Alpha Tester, it was an unused path for a Region Boss dungeon," Gin's expression soon morphed into a cunning grin, eyes glowing with a glimmer of greed. "So far, that door never opened 'till you used those shards as blood, and now we're enterin' uncharted waters."

"I see... but wait, I want to know something." Artorias stopped her just before a steep flight of stairs, littered with dusty armor and more stained walls, pillars embedded with swords and large gash marks that still radiated with a strange, red glow

"It'll cost ya~" With two hooves rubbed together for emphasis, Artorias relented then sat down

"How much do you know about the coding of the AIs in the VR Rig or just Full-Dive as a whole?" The question stumped Gin for a second, herself scrunching up her face in thought

"Not as much as most, though I wonder why'd ya ask?" She motioned for Artorias to continue, watching her growing suspicions rise to her features

"Malware appeared out of the blue, took over the game, and hasn't said a word since could be he doesn't really care for his mortal captives offing themselves, but I wonder." Gin caught on with a wide blink

"Ya thinkin' someone's pulling strings? Like the developer Ryder?" At the name of the man that cursed them to his nightmare Artorias shook her head

"Maybe, I'm not clueless, I pride myself on being quite the multitasker, it's just..." She paused, thinking on how to phrase it. "I actually admire the guy, you know? He built all of this from nothing!" She threw her hooves out to the gloomy world. "He turned a popular kids show into a Full-Dive universe, so to see Malware's almost inhuman actions, I just... I may not care much for humanity as a whole but, something of this nature isn't something he'd do."

For a pregnant pause, Gin looked Artorias up and down, assessing her with inquisitive eyes, her lips forming into an 'O' as she tugged on her hood, chuckling to herself with a shrug. "Yep, ya fit the bill Blu-boy described," Gin's reply brought Artorias' expression up to her toothy one. "You're sincere, not much of that goes around, an' I trust Blu-boy so... alright, for that little brain teaser I'll go free-of-charge, only 'cause I've been bugged out by the situation, not much to go on though."

Sadly, Artorias' lips pursed, crossing her forelegs. "Problem is we need an Admin Console."

Gin nodded solemnly. "That ya do, good thing you ran into me, I can help but pricin' stuff like that ain't easy," She rubbed her chin, then Artorias clopped her hooves

"Here's a thought," Gin raised a brow. "You gather info yourself, and I'm typically running solo, and looking for an Admin console requires delving into places no one else can find, right?" Slowly, Gin's smile grew at what exactly the redhead was insinuating. "I gather info on new, unknown places, mobs, and drops, stuff like that."

"A partnership, eh?" She laughed boisterously. "Could be profitable, and works out the kinks in yer info costs -- Deal!" Gin stepped up to face Artorias eye-to-eye, the torches providing them with illumination to see her teardrop face smile and wink

"We'll iron out everythin' once we got the info here, go back, grab a drink, and begin your contractual obligations for an awesome Broker like Lil ol' me." With a skip she jogged on up the stairs, leaving Artorias to process what she just said, the result leading to a smile on the girl's face as a faint glimmer of hope brought her motivation back on cloud-nine

"Deal, Miss Informant!" That made her laugh

"Fufufu, yer a fun one, Red, how enticing..."

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

After they ran up the stairs, the girls came to a long, black hallway aligned with torches leading them toward a large, black-iron door. The pathway was jagged and sloped in many angles from whatever tore through the dungeon. Massive gashes dotted the walls and floor, their prime indication of a boss room ahead.

"Seems this is it, either pay or bust now." Artorias murmured, pushing the doorway open and allowing more light to encompass them. The light came from the ceiling, revealing a large gash in the side of the dungeon, sunlight pouring into the massive, circular arena of grass and stone, a river encompassing the circumference

Most of the arena was flat, say for a few fallen pillars now turned to rubble and dust over time. Sat in the middle of it all, a single sword protruding from cobblestone painted in a fountain of blood, matching the scarlet blade. Both halted in their approach, staying on the adjacent side of the stream with mixed feelings of curiosity and caution.

"This is definitely a boss..." Gin muttered, flicking her claws out, Artorias just drew her sword, adjusting the buckler as her eyes never left the blade. "What's up? Spot something?"

"No, just... that blade... I'm getting some creepy vibes from it..." She heard a faint whisper, motioning with a hoof for Gin to stay at the rear while Artorias took point with her shield

[Artorias - Lv. 14]

[Argo - Lv. 13]

!!!

"Up there!" Artorias raised the sword, facing a figure hanging high above in the shadows created by the sunlight, it wore dark colors and made itself almost undetectable by her skill, say for the stream of dust that shifted when it moved its body. Upon being spotted, the fingers relaxed and the knees bent, throwing the enemy into a backflip through the air

It flew into a nearby wall, carving a hand through stone, feet pressing against the wall and flying upside down toward them, hand effortlessly freeing the sword in the ground, severing the air in front of them with a massive wave of crackling scarlet. Artorias' shield taking the brunt of the horizontal swipe.

Slamming a foot into the ground, the back arched as it rose to its full height. A skeleton knight in black, twisted armor, large, curved pauldron with three road spikes. The chest was exposed slightly, bound with two thick belts crossing the black metal that encompassed the torso. Thick, black bracers covered the full length of its arms, two spikes dawning the elbows with a thick, leather gloves. It wore a windswept kilt lined with leather straps and hooks, the legs wrapped in bandages down to the plated feet. The head was exposed, revealing a flaming skull with beady blue eyes.

<<>>

"I'll focus on DPS, you inflict every kind of status effect you can, a battle of attrition might be our only option with that speed!" Artorias instructed Gin who had already taken off in a large flank, currently, the aggro was on Artorias herself, Narga's head craning her direction with the sword starting to glow an ominous cherry red

Artorias' body soared across the stone, blade basking us in blue light with her blade two feet from his guard

*Shing-Crack!*

She felt her eyes bulge, he negated her skill, sinking her blade with his into the ground, with a free hand he shoved a fist against Artorias' muzzle, pummeling the pony into the stone with him reliving his sword and thrusting down. Rolling immediately, the blade sunk through the ground while Artorias knelt down, sword basked in mint green for .

Again they clashed, yet her swirling momentum was cut as she found her right foreleg straining against Narga's equally matched skill, a cyan hue clashing with her mint green. The two of their skills bounced off the other fiercely, trying to press the advantage. With a sharp clang, the two of them slid past each other, light dimming while they pivoted.

Artorias motioned toward the boss, seeing the eyes stare with a desirable rage swelling among the flaming skull. "Atleast you don't have a second sword." She widened her stance, glaring back with a snort. "Just makes this more fun."

Two flashes of gold struck Narga's back, bolts of lightning coursing over his form with a strained slant to Gin, herself ducking under the lunge to carve a single stroke of rose, the claw inflicting 'Defence Down' alongside 'Paralysis', now locked she spun on her front hooves, back legs glowing blue to land two rapid heels to Narga's chest.

"Switch!" She backflipped over Artorias' head, sword burning honeycomb as crashed against Narga's chest, throwing the boss back with a powerful crash of glass. Pressing the advantage, Artorias' sword rested on her shoulder, basking it in gold as she brought down atop Narga's head, shrouding the flames in 'Darkness' as it impeded its ability to land hits temporarily

Narga retaliated, blade toward his right in a large arc, but it phased through Artorias, luckily. She dodged the sword again before stepping back, spinning, her blade slicing across his own. With her shield raised to block a downward strike, what followed was a hand grasping the buckler, Narga jutting its elbow into her face as the cold sensation of a sword dug into Artorias' stomach. With a sudden pivot of the longsword, he lacerated her shoulder and side, making Artorias curse, drawing her left hoof high on retreat.

A small burst of green light and boosted her health, rejuvenating some too while the scarlet sword struck the face of her buckler, followed quickly by another fist, his sword burning a light blue. Artorias countered, lifting her sword and bringing it back down, hard, with to his , both prismatic edges connected, Artorias clipped the chin and sliced through his hip, while his swept her legs.

She recovered with a hoofstand, quickly flicking herself back into a stance.

Gin came through, using a set of skills tailored to her claws, . Her hooves struck the blade, both parried, then followed by her left claw acting as a tonfa, twisting the movement of Narga's sword giving her ample time to sink her right claw into his side, carving through and finishing off with a backflip-kick, stunning him. Her switch-out was met with an inhuman recovery speed, Narga lunged at her, the scarlet blade slicing along her back in an 'X', throwing her body to the dirt. Her HP quickly fell into the yellow.

"Crap!" Sprinting to her aid, Artorias grabbed a potion of Strength and downed the contents. The shield took the brunt of Narga's next attack, the redhead's health chipping away some more while she remained a wall for Gin to recover. Retaliating, she slammed the buckler into the sword's true edge, diverting it away as Artorias felt her footing begin to tremble

Narga fled, digging the sword into the ground to slow his slide, each inch of the hole created left a remnant of red energy. "That sword's messed up. If I could beat him I might just claim that sword as a rare drop, but the chances were slim at best, but if there's a chance, I'll bet it all on a single move!"

He held his sword up yet again in one hand, walking toward them with a straight posture. Even though Artorias felt weak and ragged, this wasn't like any low-ranking miniboss, his skill was parallel to her own, and this was only a small-time boss, how and why still didn't make sense at all. She bound over his swing, slicing across the shoulder and skull, with herself spinning around and slicing down his back, yet he turned, blade sweeping her hooves.

Reacting with the flow, Artorias pressed a hoof to the ground, hopping up over another low slant, another missing her body as she bent back around, landing on her back hooves. Shield raised to block several rapid thrusts from scarring her face, sparks flailing while she twisted her right forehoof out far.

A toothy grin stretched, "Horizontal..." Spat with venom, her hoof lunged through his left, tearing apart metal and bone as his guard fell, allowing the redhead the time to slam the butt of the shield against his sword, disarming the boss and giving her a clear view of his flaming scalp

Despite all her efforts, he regained his sword, plunging it through her calf and using his arm to pry the girl off him. They broke away momentarily, Artorias poising the sword to the left, Narga's risen high to the right in both hands. They lunged, Atrotias with sliding just barely under his thrust, a pair of claws diving over her head to take the blow, Gin slicing back with her forelegs crossed.

*Shing-Crack*

The flames died out immediately, Narga swallowed the steel of Silver Grove as it pierced the occipital bone. Pushing with all her might, she threw Narga's head back into the floor with a massive red score through the scalp. Relinquishing her sword at the sight of his health bars vanishing filling them both with satisfying relief, a wave of shattered glass rising to the outside world.

"Get bent, haha!" Artorias did a small, cocky guestre to the remains of glass, the only thing remaining was that of the crimson sword now lying in the grass, no longer glowing red but rather staying a shade of scarlet metal. "Huh?"

"Not a bad fight, had a few close calls though -- Not to mention the skill level this guy was at," Gin commented with her hooves crossed, her expression filled with as much confusion and concern as Artorias

"It shouldn't be this powerful, not at this level anyway, maybe it wasn't meant to be found?" That explanation was flimsy to them both, Gin looking very unconvinced. Artorias drooped. "Yeah, didn't believe it either."

"Even if that were the case, the criteria to findin' this shoulda been higher than our Detect skill." While a grim notion, both girls noted the tab appearing before them, rewards and experience from the boss awaiting collection. Then another tab appeared, one specifically for Artorias' curious eye, and Gin's sparkling ones. "Oooh!"

[Rare Item Drop!]
Genesis Veil ****
Damage Value - 35 | Attack Delay - 80 | Type - Slash
Effect: 10% chance to buff Sword Skills (Red glow indicates this buff)

The sword, now up close in person, was silver and red. The handle and guard were a metallic grey with a rounded ruby fixed to the pommel. The guard was missing, alongside a slot for a gem in the center above the three-pointed metal joint connecting the handle to rectangular slots missing at either side of the blade. The blade was silver with the majority of the face being a solid red tone, a silver edge gleaming in the light. It had better stats than her 'Silver Grove', equipping it, she now had a matching sword to her equipment.

"If I'm stuck in this body might as well look the part, right?" Artorias spun around with glee. Turning to Gin, then suddenly another new tab came between them. "Seriously, what -- oh?"

[New Quest Added!]
|Bloodied Blade|
Upon retrieving the Genesis Veil, it appears to be missing several pieces to make it whole. Traverse Equestria and repair the once-powerful sword with the pieces gathered.

[ ] Defeat Treasured Serpent
[ ] Defeat Crimson Blade
[ ] Defeat Trench, the Scourge of Kranon

"A new quest with several objectives to make a powerful One-Handed Longsword... only found in a dungeon between Ponyville and Hoofprint... has not been confirmed to be a regular spawning boss until further investigation... okay, yep, got it!" Gin clicked her tongue, closing a message tab with a hard pat to Artorias' back, she grinned while inspecting the sword. "Could prove to be quite powerful, Red, combined with yer fightin' style too -- You completed the other hidden quest too, huh?"

"Took me several days dealing with that crusty old man, but yes, I did," She was talking about the same questline Gin completed to earn the skills used in hoof-to-hoof weaponry. It was a pain in the ass but worth the passive mobility skill and gave her buckler a more offensive use too. "Same with you too -- Also, why the teardrops?" She emphasized with her hoof toward the Broker, but Gin just gave Artorias' hoof a gentle bump

"Fufufu, that info will cost ya greatly, but we can discuss that back in town," Gin danced away from the question, humming with a sly grin. "Of course, unless you were expecting me to take them off just for you, the knight in shining armor who jumped in to save Lil ol' me?" She then looked at Artorias with faked innocence and a few blinks.

Artorias' brow raised with a faint stutter, "You swing that wa -- Nope, do not want to know whichever way you -- Nope-Nope not thinking -- Actually, screw you and your bartering!" That made her laugh and Artorias' flustered state worsen. "This is why I work solo..."

"Red, lesson one, when in business with me, never expect cheap as a substitute for quality."

"Of all the Info Brokers, I get the rat -- fantastic." With a final look back at the dungeon's hidden arena, the two of them left for the safe zone of Ponyville

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Bigger chapter as promised to start off the new act. A mysterious quest is unlocked and Artorias gains a new contact. To clarify, the 'Attack Delay' stat is to indicate swing speed, the higher the number the faster it is. I'm also thinking of switching to first-person unless third is necessary, just to capture Artorias' real perspective on situations and her mindset.

Hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Weaponless
As time goes by, Artorias arrives in the nearest town to Canterlot, requested by her recent contact, Gin, in investigating a string of missing items from players around the town.

Episode 5.5 - Wood Chipper

[Ponyville | Emerald Glade]

Death was starting to look comforting to Artorias, her hooves striking again and again with gusto and strain. Even with the Pain Inhibitor only adjusted by Malware's tampering, resulting in some pain when struck or striking objects incorrectly, it still amounted to much discomfort overtime. Her hooves felt raw and weak, her stamina bar tapped out once more, leaving her ragged until it refilled slowly, even with the aid of stamina potions here and there.

She was performing a quest to achieve a new skill tree, the prerequisite was that she had to break a dark tree trunk that basically had a metric-ton of health, you couldn't use weapons, magic was off-limits and only your hooves could do damage. Anything that increased speed was allowed. This was Artorias' routine every day for several days, after doing her requests and grinding she'd come in the afternoon to chip away at the tree, her progress slowly degrading her mental capacity for patience.

"Graaah! Would you topple over for fuck sake!?" She growled, headbutting the tree angrily as the pain shot through her forehead for a second. "This right here is what's going to push me toward arson, I swear to God."

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

Eight-Thousand-eighty... Artorias lost count somewhere around the four thousand mark, she didn't feel the need to continue, her mind preoccupied with attempting to keep her hooves from wringing the neck of the old stallion that kept trying to peep on her. Sure, as a pony she didn't have the trouble of people staring at her chest but it was the eyes themselves that gave off that stupid, staring intention. Only now with her fatigued state, her mind wasn't as rational as her norm.

"Oh God, my hooves are hurting but he's still theeeere!" Her dry eyes craned toward the elder pony sat on a stool in the field, watching her diligently, more specifically at her ass. "Go awaaaay...~!" She whined, seeing that he had moved, now he was sitting to the far left. "I can still see you!!"

Another half-an-hour had passed, her stamina slowly returning out the corner of her eye, that blue bar mocking her lack of progress. Panting against the thick trunk she groaned, slamming her head against the tree. "How did I get myself into this crap quest, I could have gotten more Bits and experience through stupid side-quests for Pinkie!"

Even more of the day fizzled away, her hooves striking the solid trunk with gusto. "Why do I-" Thunk! "-have to go-" Thunk! "-through hours-" Thunk! "-of this crap!" She stopped for a breather. "Why did I even come back today!?"

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

Time was dead and meaning held no meaning, the universe felt upsidedown and this stupid, insurable tree trunk reigned supreme. Artorias didn't know how many hours had passed, she had looked up actual info in the Beginner's Guide for answers she had grown so desperate to make it end. Sadly, all she was reminded of was the actual number of Hit Points the tree had, and she lost count once it dipped into the red, that meant she was close, somewhere, she didn't care anymore.

*Pow-Shatter*

Her hoof flew forward and through the fragmented remains of the tree, flopping to the grass with a hoarse chuckle, watching the individual shards trickle away into the afternoon sun. Flying to her hooves she climbed atop the stump, lifting her hooves high with a scream, letting out the last ounces of pain and torment from her burning lungs. "YES, MOTHER OF GOD! I AM THE TREE SLAYER, SLAYER OF THE TREES!!" Her eyes were wide with fury, one of the newly acquired skills resonating across her forehooves with an aqua glow. "GAIA QUIVERS BEFORE ME!!"

[Side-Quest Completed!]
|Way of the Hoof|
The old stallion's teachings have paid off, you have unlocked the secret strength residing in your hooves, use this power wisely.

Reward!
-Access to Martial Arts skills

With a mighty sigh, Artorias plucked from her toolbar a hoof-sized crystal, blue in texture like the ocean. "Screw you, old man, I'm going home and going to bed! Hahaha! Teleport, Ponyville!" With a proud declaration the blinding light overtook Artortias in seconds, her only mindset was that of the comfort of an inn bed

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

This small skit ties in with the upcoming episode, there are a few references, the most obvious is the skill, Martial Arts, and the whole 'breaking a near-invisible object'. Anywho, hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Episode 6 - Weaponless

Act II - Rising Tide

Another entry. So, a few more deaths have occurred and my inability to care has been seamless! Of course, some by accident, others by sheer stupidity, I watched a guy stand in a campfire while screaming 'Flame On'. I'm convinced people have a pool going for the dumbest, most avoidable deaths possible. Off-topic, lets get back to where I was, today I was aiding the Rat, also known as Gin with a mystery that had cropped up in the town of Hoofprint...

[Hoofprint | Central Plaza]

"A-ah! Son of a --!" Biting my curse I rubbed my eyes of all the black spots that danced around, shaking my head clear while stepping off the white platform. "Who adjusted the brightness of these Runes anyway?"

Blinking a couple of times I stopped to view the most... plain and uninteresting town so far. The area used to be like the rest of the wilderness between Ponyville and Canterlot, wilderness and forests. Now, it's all water and moats didn't do anything for the main town, I've seen black and white movies with more glamor. The large lake the town was situated on was shaped like a hoof, guess where the name came from.

The town was located in a hoof-shaped basin, all its buildings were made from bright white stone and had stone-paved streets filled with water to make canals, meaning you had to use a gondola to get anywhere. I blinked slowly. "Looks like chalk floating in the middle of a lake..." "Also, why are the entrances to the buildings on the second floor? What topsy-turvy town is this?"

Taking a moment to procure a bench to sit by and watch time fly by, I decided to get a 'certain' skill ready. It was sunset, but I had time to kill before my partner arrives to conduct business. Parting my hooves the menu appeared as I pressed the 'items' icon, then went to 'Skills'. Now a list of many skills in a line with branches leading downward to higher, locked levels appeared. Dashing my hoof to the left to rotate the horizontal list I stopped at the skill I needed.

~Level 6 Req.~

When under the cover of darkness you gain increased speed and reduced stamina depletion for twenty seconds.

"...What else do I have?" Now I had gone down the preverbal rabbit hole

Closing my menu I rubbed a hoof over my face, peering up at a lamppost, completely bored out of my mind, how long is this going to take? I'm finally level sixteen so I can take on my personal quest, the Bloodied Blade, I have the supplies for the quest but of course, a monkey wrench was going to fall by my hooves.

*Thump*

I screamed, yet the blowback from a limb covering my mouth made it almost inaudible. My glare titled back to come nose-to-nose with that smug Rat again. Her eyes narrowed with a condescending smile.

"Ah wll emm yowr exithtese yew weched wat!" My muted insult only made her toothy smile widen, her hoof finally releasing me

"Fufufu, all this time and that's the 'hello' I get, not very welcoming, Red." She looked mocked, but I just sent her a fierce glare

"Burn in hell you Rat." Gin laughed me off, hopping over the spine, and sitting down next to me. "A little career advice, maybe don't treat your employee like she's an object and she might stick around to actually ingest whatever comes out your mouth."

Her posture bent a little, her grin shrinking a little. "Never gonna change, eh?"

*Staaaaare*

"Alright," Her hooves rose for a moment. "So, these sorts of requests aren't my business and Blu-boy's got himself wrapped up in another issue so my time's nicked, but given how bloated the issue's become, I thought that somethin' unexpected requires and unexpected solution."

"Yeah, with any luck I expect little to no sleep as of right now," My voice dripping with sarcasm, but she once more smiled devilishly. "Unless you already took care of that issue?"

"Fufufu, never underestimate the lengths I would go fer info and a reward, especially since stealth is more my forte," Her elbow soon jabbed me, a cocky expression just radiating off her. "You're leagues away from ever bein' able to pull off my kind of espionage with that half-assed set of skills!"

"Atleast I can fight better than you!" I barked back

So, how did your little 'espionage' go anyhow? :/

Fufufu, better than yer social interactions :3

Stop doing that laugh, it's like you're constantly fucking with me >:(

Gin sat with her back to a wall, hidden among the shadows with her hood as to not draw any attention to her presence. Around the corner, down a small alley sat several players, three of which were low levels trying to trade some old gear for something substantial, nothing special or out of their price range.

A few ranking players, two of which were rather weak, while one of those Assault-League players led them, had some decked out equipment too :)

You mean the overly incompetent guild that's not a guild that's been able to clear the Ponyville Region Boss despite their leaders being idiots? :/

The same guys! :3

She had been tailing them for an hour and finally, they stopped before a man with a nervous disposition, their blonde mane was frazzled and beard unkempt. He looked ready to faint until his magic pulled from behind his back a potion and popped the cork, the thin test-tube was twisted into a helix, containing what looked like stardust.

Upon obtaining their weapons, including the AL player's overcompensating sword, the man muttered something under his breath as he threw the liquid in the air around them, at first Gin tilted her head, blinking without much to guess as to the three guys... waving goodbye without their weapons, spouting how good their new and improved gear was, or lack of any.

Gin's little tale came to an end with my forelegs crossed, lips pressed into a thin line. She shared an unusual expression of concern and bafflement.

"And after that, the guy just wandered off with their weapons in-toe?" She nodded once. For a moment I said nothing, groaning audibly as I stood up, tapping my hoof against the inside of my Platinum shield, it looked like a standard shield now.

"I'm getting paid for this so why not? Where do we start?"

Her hoof wiggled before me. "Tisk-tisk, first we meet with two from that guild, they'll be our witnesses so that we both don't end up pickin' fights with the wrong crowd, not that it wouldn't be fun to see them try." Well, that's true. Then she raised a second hoof. "Then, once we get the situation explained, we'll proceed to the hideout where this guy's storing the goods or even where he's gettin' those potions from."

Without another word of complaints, I followed her into the gondola toward the market street of Hoofprint, passing by many stalls and shops that continued to serve throughout the night. We took our time, pointing out different locals of interest for future reference. After many streets, we came to stop before a corner tavern under a large building.

From the outside, the tavern looked very rustic in contrast to the rest of the town, just the golden glow from the small windows gave me the sign it was open, I mean, why wouldn't it be? Large stones and wooden details make up most of the building's outer structure. When Gin held the door open for us, we were greeted with a relaxing atmosphere, and surprisingly, there were players here in this rather old fashion place.

The bartender looked quite busy but still managed to welcome us with a short wave. It was okay, not screaming 'perfection', but taking a more public place to discuss a string of robberies wouldn't be such a smart idea. Rounded, wooden beams support the upper floor and the light fixtures attached to them. The walls are littered with all sorts of memorabilia, Approaching a smooth, oak table, two light-armored players sat anxiously as though they believed the whole place was about to draw their weapons on them. Sitting down, I pushed the lantern aside to view the two in a better light.

The one on the left was a white unicorn with long, blonde hair tied into a ponytail like me with emerald eyes, a few freckles on her cheeks. Her armor was like the rest of the AL, lighter than what I was expecting. She wore a pure white chest plate covering a bit more of her upper abdomen trimmed with gold lining and similarly-colored bracers. Additionally, she wore black gloves with gold-colored metal armor plates over her hooves with a gold-pelt sash.

The guy, a pegasus, wore the same as her, must be friends if they wanted to look apart from the rest of that so-and-so guild. His coat was light blue with a mane that was curled a little with a dark blue hue, his eyes the same color.

[Tahchi - Lv. 14]

[OmniSloth - Lv. 14]

"So, Miss Informant, was it?" Gin nodded to the mare while I held a hoof to my chest, the other covering my mouth as I held back a laugh. Her eyes did glance in my direction, her rather serious expression shifting to uncertainty. "And this is...?"

"...hehehehe... that name..." I wheezed, I was about ready to die as I waved my hoof to the girl, teeth knitted together for a moment. "I-I'm a... hehehehe... I can't!"

"Is she alright?" Oh yes, your holiness. I slammed my head against the table for a moment to laugh out loud, Gin also trying to hide her mirth

"His name is OmniSloth, this is... the greatest day of my life!" I wept with joy, wiping a few tears from my eyes as I cleared my throat, Gin patting me on the back. "Okay... Okay, I'm good, hehehe, that, that is a brilliant name."

"Come back down, Red, take a breath," I did, holding it for a moment with a mellow sigh

"Anyways," Tahchi didn't sound all too amused by my attitude so far, while 'Sloth' housed his own look of levity over the situation turned comedic by my introduction. "You wanted to discuss something about why players have had their weapons mysteriously stolen?"

"That's right, did some diggin' around and found a lead that could take us to the source, or atleast a promisin' lead -- Acts similar to the Quick-Change scam a while back," Gin jabbed a hoof in my bemused direction, cheek in-hoof. "This gal's our way of getting the info we want, of course, you two for extra hands encase things get too sour for my taste."

"More like I'm herding sheep, but whatever you say," I murmured, my eye caught the twitch in Tahchi's expression. While Sloth looked a little insulted by my remark. "The only reason you two are here is that, surprise, I could be doing a million better things than helping the so-and-so guild that puts 'being the hero' over actually doing their jobs in helping clear the game."

"You act as though you can single-handedly take down what we can assume is a group of six or more players of our level, while capturing the culprit behind all of this? And where were you on the day of the Region bosses, huh?" Tahchi's vexing response brought a smug look back to my features while I leaned in

"Oh don't think I can't do it too. I am quite the multitasker." I proclaimed, glaring playfully back at the knight who looked ready to put my head through the table. "From what I can see, you wouldn't be this close to the truth if not for the Broker beside me--"

"Happy to help!" She waved jollily

"--So be honest, how much did you know of this issue beforehand?" I awaited the answer that never came, her mouth opened, but nothing came out, instead, she sat back down, closing her mouth. While I leaned back on my chair. "I rest my case."

"God, you are insufferable." Tahchi's grouch just kept adding the fuel. "Forgive my saying, but you don't quite look the part yourself."

I did a once-over of her, Sloth rubbing his temples at realizing what she had just started. "Ah, of course, I could just tell by your... typical knightly attire that you're just fit for a fight." That made her face turn red, either from embarrassment or anger or very well both

"I--"

"Please," Sloth finally spoke up, looking desperate for the end of this spat between us, while Gin sat in silence, humming at the scene without woe. "I know we may not seem like it, but we are fully prepared to fight other players if need be, and we will help however we can to ensure no other player has to be robbed of their valuables."

He put his hooves together on the table, looking down. "My friend had suffered from this too, he kept spouting about this new, powerful weapon of his and yet he had no such thing... and... the next day he nearly died, only then did he miraculously realize he was unarmed."

I quirked a brow but remained silent. Then Tahchi cleared her throat, putting a hoof on his shoulder for assurance.

"Looking past everything, if this continues, the chances of stronger players being robbed and slowing progress of clearing Regions grows with each day this occurs," Her eyes reached me, anger still rich in those emerald orbs. "I do not care for you, nor how you act, I only want to see an end to this, now."

For a pregnant pause, none of us spoke, Gin all too busy in her menu working on something that kept her attention away from the tension. With a pat of the table, I leaned in again, frowning.

"Looks like your guild isn't just filled with shiny idiots who fancy themselves heroes," Their eyes widened a little. "You got the marker set, Gin, let's complete this quest already."

"Did so while you flirted with the knight," Amusing, but Tahchi didn't seem to think so, looking away as I stood up. "We need to move, and quickly."

"Why?" Sloth asked, Gin's own expression darkening

"By now, most players would have begun noticing this trend of robberies too, and if they find out who's been behind them they'll be out for revenge, and since there's no way to salvage their gear if it's been sold," Gin raised a hoof at the thought. "With rage and lust for revenge, it'll lead to a public PK, just like what they near did back at the second Region fight."

"A...player kill...!" Sloth gaped, while I crossed my arms - legs... whatever. "I was there... that guy in a hood wanted us to kill a guy who had conned many players out of the gear to treat himself, maybe he's to do with this... he seemed adamant about PKing when we were ready to go through with it."

"Then we need to move, now!" Tahchi shot up, grabbing her broadsword from under the table, the black strap attached to the white and gold scabbard. "Where do we go, Miss Informant?"

I shrugged. "Guess we best make haste." "So this quest was added from the Developer Streams...? Seriously, who is this game aimed at!?"

"You know, I am utterly lost right now, where the hell are we?" I motioned wide to the crossroads of street number four, the three of us following Gin down her old hoofsteps, quite literally now that we were in a party and could 'see' her steps from later today banking near a long, curved row of buildings with only one visible alley in-sight

"Should be down there, but if you don't mind..." She motioned for me to take the lead, the four of us now nearing the alley in a street that was surprisingly empty, okay, that was strange. I approached the left corner, slowly pivoting my head around for a better look

"The longer we wait the more likely the culprit will leave," Tahchi proclaimed impatiently, stepping past me. "We don't even know he is still--"

*Ba*

I yanked her backward by her collar, throwing her against the wall beside me as several shiny objects flew past my face, splitting a few locks of hair on the way. To the left of us, Gin and Sloth stood back a little more.

"I'm sorry, am I the only person in this game that understands how DETECTION works!?" I yelled in her face, moving to stand before the alley with my sword poised. "I want double once this is over."

"Fire away, Red." Gin waved passively

Three more long, silver blades flew out from the darkness, I swung down diagonally then raised my shield, effortlessly blocking all the knives with a yellow substance coating them. I yanked one off my shield, backhanding another with my shield, raising my leg back in quick succession.

"Yeet!" I spun, flicking the knife toward the shadows while slicing three more upon my initial twirl, the metal clanking against the right wall as I stomped my way forward, sword scraping the stone. "." My shield lit up partially

Now illuminated, the alley broke off into a 'T', with somepony laying on the ground with a knife in their shoulder, the 'Paralysis' debuff applied. I heard the hoofsteps behind me while I used my left forehoof to push the pony back down. Lo-and-Behold, it's the same guy Gin saw trick those players, only now I could see the yellow cursor.

"Busted." Gin huffed and the man looked to me with fear in his eyes

"Now, I haven't the time nor the ability to ask nicely, so let me make this clear to you," I leaned down, pointing Genisis toward his neck. "I'm a reasonable girl, you cough up what we want to know, or I'll do everything in my power to force you to watch someone kick a wall with a toothpick between their toenails."

Everyone shuddering painfully at the thought while the man gulped, finally opting to speak.

"L-Look, I-I'll talk alright! Just... just don't let them catch me, or... make me watch that, please!" I sheathed my sword, still with my hoof planted on his chest. "Okay, so when this whole Death Game started so many people were left in the dust, some of us couldn't even level up without running into people taking up profitable spots to gain experience and gear."

"Then why did you not decide to wait? Or go to a nearby town?" Tahchi questioned, the man sharing my blunt look

"You want to fight high-level monsters far away from a Safe Zone? Make pocket money off of repeatable quests? You're crazy, lady!" He's got a point, even I wouldn't risk that, atleast not yet anyways. There's a fine line between progress and greed, most players die of the latter. "Without a Region, Boss beaten the loot and XP will eventually slow down, so what else was I suppose to do?"

This was something Malware never told us, unsurprising. With every Region Boss slew, the levels of monsters across MLPR increased, so the reward was growing but the threat of death was far more apparent if you went out ill-prepared, a couple dozen players found that out the hard way.

"Don't listen to blonde, listen to the redhead who's starting to forget the deal she just struck with your sorry ass!" I pushed down on his chest, hearing him grunt uncomfortably

"You sure you're not a red player?" Ignoring the whispered remark I awaited the unicorn's answer

"Look, woman, I just follow orders! They gave me these Potions of Starlight and tell me to use the skill , I don't get how it works, but they just end up in this weird trance where they believe anything you say for a moment, once it wears off they don't remember a thing," He started to sweat, Sloth looking down at him angrily. "I... I didn't think it would cause any side-effects, honest!"

I threw my head back, "Ah, fuck, that's a quest that was going to be added but canceled due to the effects..." I ran my hoof over my muzzle. "Your boss hasn't completed it, so you get an infinite supply of the stuff," This was bad, and judging by Gin's expression she knew all too well

"From what I heard. It was a potion that stimulated a player or monster's senses, like a drug, giving off sensory illusions tailored to whatever the brewer wants, it was so broken with since the skill enhances the darkness debuff, but it was canceled because it caused headaches and such IRL," She shook her head, hoof tapping to the other. "My guess Malware's undone the code, threw it back in when the 'Reset' occurred."

"You bastard," Now a new sword had been drawn down on the pony, this time from Sloth. "My friend nearly died because of you, all the while you and your friends sat and laughed about it, how broken are you inside to think that was okay?"

"Sloth, calm down," Tahchi moved to put her hoof on his wrist, the sword trembling before the unicorn's throat while I did nothing, seeing the effect of paralysis die out, so I pressed the man firmly to the stone. "It's okay, we can stop this before anyone else gets hurt, okay?"

His grip loosened somewhat, and I took the chance to bring my head down toward the man. "Location, spill it."

"T-the other side of town, in a shop called 'Nimbus', blue and white sign out the front." I smiled, then brought my heel up and slammed it into his forehead, knocking the man out

"How long would it take to get there?" I asked Gin, her marker already changing on my minimap

"Not long." I nodded and proceeded down the right alley. "I'll get the rest ready then!?"

I waved once, already dead-set on what I had to do next. My plan certainly had a few steps that could send it spiraling downward, but the outcome would remain the same, and besides, even if this a temporary solution it won't be skin off my nose. That being said, I stopped at the set of hoofsteps behind me.

"Here we go." I turned around, the newest in a long line of problems for me to pile in the right corner. "Am I supposed to be surprised or were you expecting a different reaction?"

"This has nothing to do with you being capable of this alone, more so... my way of applying what you said," Now I was lost, and her tone of voice had changed to be less... annoyingly serious. With her hoof to her chest, she proceeded at my blank stare. "You were right... our guild is weak."

"While I never said that, I will proceed to add that to the long list." My casual remark made her eyebrow twitch again

"Anyways. I want to do better than just sitting around or waiting for the next boss, what good is it if everyone else is risking their lives to end this Death Game when our guild cares more about reputation, not even bothering to power level, it's all just pointless," She looked angry, but more at herself and me probably. "I want to make a difference, I want players to feel safe knowing that so many are trying every day to make light of this Game."

"So please, let me help you put a stop to these thieves, atleast allow me that much." I was already walking away by the time she had probably noticed, but I tapped my shield to the wall irritably

"Are you going to continue your little heroic speech or should I keep walking?" That made her scowl return, while I smiled. "I get dibs on their leader, by the way."

"Let me break his nose then sure." Now she was actually looking at me with less murderous intent in her eyes

"Meh, deal Blondie, I'll be breaking more than that..." I muttered the last part as the two of us ran off through the streets and toward the canals

The place was discernible through the weeds and grasses that had reclaimed it. The windows were boarded up haphazardly with the sign swaying in the wind, now rusted and the paintwork chipped. There were people about, but only a handful. Comparing this shop to the rest of the town was like night and day.

"Love what they've done with the place, just screams 'Welcoming'." I drawled with a cheery attitude

"Do you just love the sound of your own voice?" Tahchi scoffed beside me, and I put a hoof to the door with one on my chest

"It's my gift to the world." That made her mutter under her breath as we walked in, a bell above us giving the entire shop the indication someone was here. "Yo, anybody home!?"

"You sure that's a wise idea?" Tahchi stepped in next to me, magic wrapping around her weapon's pommel while we walked down the middle of the dusty shop stands, looks like it definitely sold potions, most looked grey or broken now, and cobwebs covered a number of shelves

"Relax, if someone was here they'd have set a trap foooor..." We stopped before the counter, seeing a player down, struggling to breathe

"Oh my God." Tahchi leapt over the counter, myself doing the same while she tended to the player, his armor was mainly made of boiled leather with a grey cloak attached by a silver chain, a knife embedded in his chest. "Would you mind helping me, he's dying!"

"Correction, he's suffering," I pointed out with mirth lacing my words, throwing a carpet off a not-so-hidden hatch, pointing above my head to where my health would be. "Probably hurts like a bitch but his health won't drop into the red. Besides, he's one of the guys were after."

"What?" I saw her back away from the pony, his eyes shut in pain, but just above his right forehoof's wrist was a strange, ivy serpent coiled around a dagger. "Wait... I've seen that before. But why strike down their own?"

"Why else? He's the one that supplied the guy from the alleyway." God, I have to explain everything. Judging by her expression I brought my sword out, wedging it between the floor and hatch. "Those first three knives were from this guy, who ran after seeing we were on to them, so he left us with the salesman Gin had tailed, but he already used up all his knives on me in vain. When this guy got back the boss probably got mad and punished him, and right now the group is waiting down here to ambush us."

"You figured all that out from a few knives thrown?" Tahchi sounded astonished, and I finally snapped the lock off with a smile

"I like to consider myself as the girl always several steps ahead of the rest," Flinging the hatch open, I jumped down into the illuminated depths, stepping aside to allow Tahchi down also. "."

Candles gave some light to the large room underneath, but now we could see it for all it was. A basement around two stories taller than the shop itself, rotten support beams stretching across the ceiling and pillars connected with rusted steel. Tables, chairs, and shelves littered with items, most of which were the same for the empty and slightly empty bottles of Stardust. Holes dotted the walls with webs and dust coating most where players left it untouched.

On my minimap, I spotted several hidden targets, but from how they were spaced among the shadows near a long, dark tunnel at the far end of the room, some had higher stealth skills than my detection. Holding my blade downward we stood with our backs to the wall.

"For the love of God, would you come out already?" My snappish reply brought the whole group out, creepy smiles and weapons drawn with a few dark chuckles here-and-there. Six in total, two axes, one greatsword, two short swords, and a katana of East-Asia make. "Did I stutter? I said everyone Skeletor!"

Finally, from the damp tunnel in the back came out a man of more distinguished features, the rest all looking rather boring, some were tall and lanky, another was fat, one wore a mask so no use trying to tell who he was. Their leader, however, looked more dangerous.

His very long-sleeved, dark-grey animal skin jacket covered him to just below his waist and is barely tied with string at the center. The sleeves of his jacket are a little wide and reach down to well below his hands, they're decorated with a single thread lining and a decorative band.

The jacket has a wide v-neck which reveals part of the plate armor worn below it and is worn with a dark leather belt, which is held together by a decorative pin. The leather belt is almost entirely a functional addition. His pants are simple and wide and reach down to his back hooves. He also wore an eye mask, but nothing to hide his silver mullet. Oh, and he's a dark-grey earth pony too.

[Nocturne - Lv. 16]

"Impressive, you managed to see through most of our hidden skills, even going so far as to call me out despite not knowing I was here," Was he... making his voice gravely? Oooh, Jesus. Rolling my eyes I listened anyway. "But you should have thought better than to bring a rookie of the Assault League and yourself against us, Poison Scale."

"Haha, 'Poison Scale'? I've never even heard of you," I smirked with a twirl of my blade. "I thought you'd atleast be someone of credible danger, but you probably strike fear into the hearts of those that are surprised when a new mechanic notfrom the Beta is introduced."

"Another reason why our guild is still... flimsy." Tahchi defeatively muttered. Stepping toward the group, I used the tip of my sword to poke at an empty bottle of Stardust.

"I have to admit, how you got your hands on the quest for this recipe not meant to not exist anymore is strange, but I quite frankly don't have the time, nor the reward big enough for the details," My sword flicked between us. "So, I'll be taking both the event quest and your sorry asses to jail."

"An 'Event Quest'?" Tahchi questioned to my affirming nod

"It's why no one else has the quest, once it's completed it'll be gone forever, the reward is a hefty sum of Bits, half a dozen Stardust Potions, and a good portion of exp," I licked my lips. "I'll be taking the rewards to sell, thanks," Flinging the bottle against the far wall, I looked around at the group with a sly smile. "Now, while my tagalong might not agree, I am going to start breaking your legs and dragging you in, and please, please refuse to give up."

"You have quite the mouth, brat. But I've heard of you, the Red Warrior, that's all you have, isn't it?" Nocturne chuckled, while his eyes were covered I could imagine he looked as though all the cards were in his favor. "A child so absorbed in being the invincible, sarcastic, heroin when in reality you are as weak and pathetic as anyone else her age, being trapped here must have been a blessing for you."

I didn't waver at all, my smile still resting on my features with my hoof hidden behind my shield, hoof flicking back subtly, "How the hell you put up that front all day is certainly commendable, but, like I say to everyone like you." I raised my sword, shield shimmering a little brighter this time. "If you're going to be a smartass, be sure you're actually smart, otherwise you're just an ass."

"!" I covered my eyes with a sleeve, my shield bathing the basement in a powerful flash of light. Seeing that I affected every player bar myself and Tahchi I bucked a chair, using my shield to bash it against the face of one of the thieves, with my sword I flipped it around, shoving the pommel against another's jaw while ducking to avoid a lunge from an axe, this time I held my shield close. "."

The air blast sent all three flying from me. To the far left, Tahchi rolled onto the table, smashing her sheaved sword against the thief's greatsword, the parry knocked him back, giving her a clear shot to kick him straight in the Netherlands. He fell with a squeal, another swinging low and taking most of the items off the table. Tahchi jumped, hooves hooked around the beam while she kicked out with both feet, landing and channeling a powerful violet into her blade.

"." The sheaved blade held high in both hooves, she brought it down through the table with an earth-shattering impact, chucking splinters across the basement, a strange, black object landing by my feet. I picked it up, slamming my shield against an idiot who came at me with a warcry

It was a scroll, markings lining the object with a silver seal on either end, to my surprise, a message popped up, just as I ducked under the swing of another's sword, so I swiveled my blade down his own, flicking it from his grip and holding him at bladepoint.

|Side-Quest Obtained!|
Starless Night
A strange contractor requests an unusual potion for his travels, filling in his request will offer you a fitting reward
|Quest Item!|
-Stardust Potion-

"Hah, not bad, Blondie." I spun the scroll on my hoof with a grin

"Hey, Artorias!" I snapped out of my trance, seeing Tahchi block again with her weapon, pushing a pony against the wall. "He's getting away, down the tunnel!"

"Right!" Their leader was rattling away. I was so caught up with the notification of a quest that he managed to worm his way down the tunnel he came from. I took chase, fly-kicking a pegasus out of my way, slamming through some barrels blocking the tunnel. From the stench, it led to a sewer

The small tunnel was a fissure within the wall of the massive sewer system. The walls stretched around in a U-shape, about ten feet below was the sewage, while mossy cobblestone pillars bent up and around the massive arch-shaped tunnel, torches lining the walls for us. I sprinted down the left side, the masked brewer on the right, roughly twenty meters apart from my pathway, both of ours diverging at the far end in a 'T'. I couldn't let him leave around that bend, no when I was so close to catching him.

*Shing-Shing-Shing*

My eyes wide I spun around, blocking the three knives coated in the same substance as the rest, he was really desperate to just up and abandon his 'guild', coward. I turned, seeing my path had diverged, leaving a large gap with only a few broken pillars to bridge the way. Grumbling under my breath I sped up, shutting my eyes momentarily to focus.

"." Now smothered in a blanket of shadows, my speed dramatically increased, pushing off a small cornerstone and onto the first pillar, slamming my hoof down and propelling myself toward the next, then with a hoofstand I flipped over onto the third, making a final dash over the gap and back onto the stable pathway, this time with my sword poised back

In a shimmer of scarlet, my body flew across the gap with a powerful lunge of energy, sinking blade through stone, startling Nocturne, who swung back with several more knives. With my blade still charged I bent it down and through the wall, spraying the path in dust and debris, hearing him cough painfully.

Taking my chance I tackled through the dust cloud, slamming into his body while he was trying to leave through another tunnel this time revealing the light of a lantern on the other side. I drove my curled hoof into his jaw, throwing him across the path, he kicked back, my shield raised to block it and two more knives.

"You should have looked the other way, Warrior!" He again threw more knives than the rest of his cronies, and I had enough, charging him down with my shield raised, something grazing my calf while I barreled into him, the two of us slamming through whatever blocked off the pathway out. "Agh!"

We fell atleast a story down onto the pavement, the unused drain we fell from having been situated just above a busy street, poor construction really. Many gasped and mumbled among themselves as I fell onto my back, finding it difficult to raise my legs even by some margin. I was paralyzed. And Nocturne? Well, he was coughing and laughing in a higher, crow-like voice.

"Hahaha, you're too late, brat, I win!" He stood proud, this time raising one of those knives in his hoof a look of malice written over his face, the mask broke to reveal heterochromatic eyes, one blue, the other red. "I can't kill you here, but I think this ought to be a lesson for you when you play around where you don't be-long!"

His knife came down on my right shoulder, it took biting my cheek to ignoring any pain that burned through my shoulder, luckily this one wasn't laced with paralysis venom. But the pain was certainly real, and there were no players among the crowd so I was kind-of defenseless.

"How does that feel, brat? Tell me?" He twisted the blade, sinking it further into the wound he made, and I struggled to hold in a pained groan, yet I twisted my lips into a cocky grin, catching him with a trickle of fear in his eyes. "What the hell are you so happy about."

"...Heh, yeet." The second those words left my lips, a large, wooden barrel smashed against his muzzle, throwing him across the pavement while the debuff finally wore itself out, since no knife was lodged in my shoulder. I sat up, rubbing where his knife sunk through while grabbing my sword. "Perfect timing, Gin."

"As much as I like to sit back and enjoy the show..." Gin sat upon a crate, legs crossed and looking understandably peeved, eyes trained on the recovering thief. "Seeing someone take pleasure in torturing someone sickens me."

"N-now hold on," He was trembling, he had no real weapon, did he? I had my head low, sword scraping against the cobblestone road, himself taking a hesitant step back. "Y-you can't kill me in here, and if you actually h-harm me, you'll turn yellow just like--"

*Shiiiiig*

My blade slid across his cheek, making the man tremble at the sensation of pain, the pain inhibitor wasn't low but you could still feel some pain since this Death Game began, thanks, Ryder. He wasn't some fear-inducing thief, he was just as scared as the rest of them, too cowardly to leave the Safe Zone, too shaken to lift a real weapon toward someone who aimed to kill.

"Want to my little secret?" My blade crackled with gold, resting the edge against my shoulder. He was sweating buckets as I leaned closer. "I'm the best player in the game, asshole."

"W-what?" He was truly baffled

"Tch, hail to the queen." I lunged forward, wind brushing through his mane while my sword grazed his neck, my hoof pulling on his jacket, his knees buckled, all the while I glared toward him. "You're lucky, I made a deal."

I threw him backward, his haunches slamming into someone else, he quickly turned, only to find a hoof strike him across the face, a resounding 'crack' causing us all to wince. The earth pony fell back in pain, clutching his now broken nose while Tahchi stepped over his wailing body, a few players from AL finally arriving at the scene of the orange player. It probably stings, what a drama queen.

"Take this guy away, he's the ring-leader for the string of robberies lately, the rest are detained inside an old shop called 'Nimbus', might want to get others before they escape," She ordered the two players, who eyed the recovering Nocturne with hardened expressions

"Thanks for the help, we'll inform the rest." The two nodded, leaving me unscathed while Sloth emerged from the crowd with Gin beside him, the night still long as ponies talked among themselves about the ordeal before them, meanwhile, we regrouped, myself downing a health pot

"Well, that was an adventure." I broke the awkward silence first, stretching my right shoulder again with a smile. "Good as new!"

"Okay-okay, back up for a moment," Tahchi waved her hoof toward me and Gin, the two of us blinking at the same time. "How are you here so suddenly? We left long before you two, and yes, I did leave all those men paralyzed in that basement before you ask."

"Nevermind." I retracted my hoof with a simple smile. "But to answer, I was planning on the idiot taking the sewer route out, and for going on the right side where there so happened to be an exit into a public place, the perfect chance to escape unseen, all while leaving his lackeys with us."

"You... planned all of this?" Sloth's head was smoking, trying desperately to comprehend my genius. I ran a hoof across my muzzle to hide my grin, pointing to Gin

"She asked for my help since she's a gatherer of info and supplier of such, she's no fighter and tends to stick to passing along the good word," She nodded to that with an 'Mmmhmm'. "She brought me here to handle the information given to me and I acted accordingly. Thus, here we are."

"Despite all this crazy nonsense, I will admit we... really couldn't have solved this mystery, atleast not in a single night, without your help, so... thank you, Artorias." Tahchi swallowed her pride to say that, okay, I guess I can say she's changed from two hours ago, maybe not completely, but she's not hopeless I guess. "What will you do now? I can imagine the guild would offer you a reward for both your efforts."

"Na." We replied, much to their combined gawking

"I just keep the good word rollin'." Gin ushed with her hoof. "My livin's lucrative, this was a side-job."

"And I'm being paid by Gin here, so I don't care for whatever your shamble you call a guild will offer me, and if it's an invite I'll pass, guilds aren't my style, besides, I got a quest to complete," With my business concluded, I turned and walked away, tugging Proxima closer to my body. "Seeya around, Rat."

"You too, Red!" She smirked

All-in-all, a rather informative chain of events, and the addition of the event quest too. I just need to find an inn and prepare for the rest of Genesis' questline.

"Hey, Artorias!" I stopped, looking over my shoulder and seeing Tahchi wave, lowering the hoof to the side of her mouth. "Seeya around!"

"And thank you... really." OmniSloth bowed with genuine appreciation on his face. I turned away, snorting once while flicking my hoof back once as I made my way through the crowd of ponies once more, eyes set on the uncertain road ahead

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

This is the longest episode by far, but it was just too good to split into two parts, so here's the bulk of the small mystery among the town of Hoofprint. I hope you enjoyed the new characters and more narcissism from Artorias, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode!

Next Episode: Rose at Twilight
While leveling for the Region Boss of Hoofprint, Artorias encounters a strange tree, and the challenge waiting at the base of the trunk.

P.S. Last post of 2020 so happy new year to all of you and thank you for all your support ^_^

Episode 7 - Rose at Twilight

Act II - Rising Tide

[Hoofprint Fields | Bear Forest]

I was unaware a new Campaign was even going on around me. To my obliviousness, Gin had tipped me off that the frontline players were currently competing to reach the end of the story and in turn, the Region Boss before anyone else. There were three teams, roughly. AL, another group and Skye's, though it was only really him, Riot, and one other player, Gin somewhat.

I traversed the forest in search of just any would do to complete a quest for this Royal Guard Captain called , to my surprise the AI was almost impossible to tell apart from a person, say for a few choice pieces of dialogue, did not like the stink eye the guards gave me though.

Eventually, my map started to branch out, given the fact the forest was by far as thick as the Everfree. The trees peeled back to allow a large, white tree to push through the thicket, sunlight bathing the ground, yellow roses reflecting the sunlight like gold. By far the most radiant sight in this forest.

"Wow..." The tranquility was amazing. Stepping forward I admired the tree up close, the branches twisted and from the leaves fallen to the ground, it was similar to White-Tail Woods, only with a silvery sheen to the leaves. With a chuff, I patted the trunk. "Guess not all changes are bad."

This moment of serenity fell apart.

"H-help... me!" Twisting around to the way I came through, I watched a Royal Guard pony fall to his stomach, clutching a small, circular stone in his hoof, red lashes taken out of his form, his health halved. Now alert I sprinted to his side, helping him sit up. "...a-a... mare...?"

"No, I'm a squid," Retort aside. "What the hell happened to you? You look like you dove headfirst into a bear's den?"

He chuckled hoarsely. "W-would have been a m-mercy..." Pulling his leg over my shoulder I helped him to the tree, his pale-blue eyes lifting to its radiant form. "The... Silver Tree... it's real..."

"Take all the pictures you want later, start talking," I put him down, drawing Genesis to the shifty shadows beyond

With a pained grunt, he clutched that stone tighter, afraid to let it slip. "I... need t-to protect it... k-keep it from the A-abyss, L-Lady Cassandra, s-she must know..." That Captain chick? Fantastic. Suddenly, his eyes widened with fright, and my sword craned toward the thicket

"Just say behind me, and don't let that stone go shiny boy." Keeping my voice low, I saw the red cursors appear, health bars appearing. Four in total, this would be... my eyes widened, and I felt sick looking ahead. "W-What the hell are you?"

They were ponies, or... they were once. Their armor was tainted by a black substance, pulsating and webbing across the uninfected borders of the ink. Half of their faces were smothered in the goo, one eye glowing crimson with a contrail, their skeletal face exposed. Two had their swords merged with their leg, thorny as they twitched forward.

[Blood of Kranon - Lv. 20]

[Side-Quest Updated!]
|Blood of Kranon|
His blood drips from his Shattered Throne, yearning for chaos. Cut down this growth before it can spread.
[ ] X6 Defeat 'Blood of Kranon'

"Two levels higher... fantastic, and the game can't count apparently." Cracking my neck I held my ground, my kill quest updated too, guess I don't need to wander around aimlessly. Seems the Guard behind me's connected to the quest with that stone, Cassandra might know more, "Alright, Alright, Alright! Wanna fight?" My sword glimmered within the grove. "Come and get me."

Taking the initiative, their crooked swords split across the roses, trampling them as I stood between the golden bundles carefully. I reacted in a second, swinging Genesis low for to force them into a defensive pattern. Drawing my blade up toward the right I deflected the first blow while using my shield's edge to slam the second across and into its allies.

With the yellow edge split one of their shields, impaling the first into a nearby tree as the third swung high, diverting with my buckler I kicked the hoof away then pried my sword three, slashing them both while casting my sword in a blue radiance. With parallel lines crossing both axes, the contrail square shattered the third's armor, their body bursting.

Dipping under the second and forth's attacks I stepped back to clear the space. The first slumped against the tree still, but that dark infection seemed to grow, consuming more of its being, and to my horror, the level grew by one. "It's increasing its level!?" "Fine then, Airlock Shield!" The pale-grey ball of wind forced the Blood back, in time for me to raise Genesis beside my cheek again, blade turning scarlet.

A single, devastating thrust forward as their guards remained low enough for Genesis to pierce the fourth's side. With a lunge I doubled over the Blood, tearing his blade through their armor, disintegrating the enemy as I parried a from the second Blood, twirling with my right back hoof a moonlight blue.

Jumping high I spun my back hoof down in a snap kick, buried the enemy into the ground, the skull pulverized into the ground. Landing I heard that injured Guard scream as the Blood from before twitched toward him, blade digging through the soil. To his back were two more Blood, and making me regret my comment earlier.

"Hold on Shi--"

"Hiyaaaaah!" Another voice from the large, silver tree dove into the opening. I didn't catch them at all as they touched down with a violet sword, spinning in a large ring that sliced across the Blood's shields while providing the Guard with breathing room

With her sword held low, the... bat pony grinned sharply at the scene. She had long, purplish-black hair, the bangs parted by a red headband. She had red eyes, a royal purple tunic that reached halfway down her thighs with a yellow outline and white cuffs. Her midsection strapped with a maroon... corset? I think? And black, skin-tight shorts with a red line across the legs.

Last was the scabbard for her sword. The name appearing below her cursor.

[Purplrain - Lv. 17]

"Man, you guys are everywhere out here, no wonder the reward was big!" Rain commented to the mindless drones, their swords already coming to bear while she pouted. "Not even a retort? Guess this black abyss stuff's to blame," Her eyes then met mine as I blinked slowly. "Hey! Saw you risking your life for this poor Guard so I came to chip in!"

"I..." "She did kinda save him for me, dammit." Sighing, I hopped in next to her. "Alright, I'll take the bigger grunt, you get his lackeys."

"Fine by me, let's do this!" Rain grinned, twirling her sword as a gust of wind left my back, then I dived to the side, the blade taking a chunk from the ground as the sword swung high, nicking a few strands of my mane as I did a backflip, my hooves topaz as the contrail tore across its skeletal face with a crack

Its sword crackled dark orange, static gathering across the joint as I brought my buckler to bear, side-stepping slowly as the blade came down swiftly to the right, then whipped back around to cut me off to the left, bolts of lightning crackling as it leveled the blade above its head, bringing the corrupted sword down atop my buckler, my health dropped but the shield took the clap of thunder for me.

Shoving the edge off I dove forward for a composite skill, achieved by merging to compatible skills into one, I picked up thanks to the skirmish with Nocturne. Tossing my sword upwards I curved my hoof for a smooth but neck-breaking fast punch to its chest, the impact repelling the enemy as it lost its stance. With a massive lunge forward, I brandished my hoof over my head, clasping Genesis as it became veiled in scorching flames.

"!" With one hoof I soared down, cutting a straight line of flames through the Blood's center, flames erupting around us with a massive updraft of heat. The body slumped, then shattered into thousands of pieces.

"Woah! Amazing~!" Rain's eyes sparkled at the spectacle as I placed Genesis back in its scabbard, the last of the Blood gone, and the Guard with the stone finally able to smile weakly. I held a resting frown, Rain keeping quiet as I stood beside the Guard

"Got rid of them shiny-boy, still got the stone?" At my inquiry, he held it out shakily, almost dropping it before I caught his hoof and the stone

"The key... is safe..." A key? "Another found... one, maybe now, t-there's a chance," His hazy eyes held but a faint, flickering spark. "Y-you can stop this... hehe, you are... strong..." He coughed, and I felt his hoof tremble... an AI with so much humanity... was dying. "...By Princess Celestia's light... t-there is hope..."

I shook my head. "I don't know what you're expecting, but I don't even know what this thing is, but you do?" He had hardly any time left but if he knew something then--

His hoof loosened on the stone. It was ancient, inscribed with a rune, like a wave, it hummed a soft blue to mine and Rain's surprise, and the Guard's eased. "It means... s-sea, the others... will join it... c-cure this sickness..." His breath vanished and his body soon joined the defeated in a shower of shards, the Key left to me

I put the Key in my inventory. Then a tab appeared.

[Quest Added!]
-The Shattered Throne-
You have acquired the Sea key, but Four Keys remain. A dark power resonates from across the earth, an evil presence senses your light.
[✔] Aquire Sea Key
[ ] Join the Sky Key
[ ] Join the Earth Key
[ ] Join the Sun Key

"So there's three left out there..." I murmured then stood to address the smiling bat-pony. Something that shouldn't be accessible as a player model yet

"He was really kind to trust you with the rune, what a stroke of fate!" She was an optimist, fantastic... She then put out her hoof, eyes closed momentarily for a smile. "I'm Purplrain, or just Rain, stranger!"

"Artorias, your resident narcissist," I shook, then she eyed me very closely, making my back go rigid. "U-Um, you... don't know what a 'personal bubble' is, do you?"

"Are you really a narcissist? You seem more... sarcastic!" She tilted her head oddly, even as I nodded dismissively

"Wow, either you find my word lacking or you've never actually encountered one before, lucky you, you get to experience the best up close," My dry voice had her pull back, but she smiled kindly

"There it is," She's taunting me, "Well, you don't look like the kind of person to lie or be some creep." Oh geez, thanks... "Sorry, I've only been here a while, some players are really rude, but I... can't leave."

Now that raised a questionable brow. "'Can't leave'? Really," I drawled sarcastically, my hooves crossed as we sat. "I guess it can be confusing since there are so many VRMMOs, especially ones where you play as colorful ponies; Welcome to My Little Pony Realization, the broken the game where you can't even log-out - Where the hell do you think we are!?" I snapped at her blatant stupidity

Rain, for lack of a better word, looked stumped, as if she had never seen Malware's gloating in the sky and was asleep for it all. She stepped back, then lost her smile, and... it honestly didn't look right, weird as that sounds.

"I-I'm... in MLPR? N-no, that..." She tried to hold her smile, but then her brow creased with a hoof on her chin. "I was inside another game, I'm sure of it! Then... something bugged out... then everything went all fuzzy," My own mind raced backward a moment before the Death Game began

A single, orange eye aligning in the static as the noise seemed to originate from the figure as its tongue flicked. "Ｗ𝔼𝓵Ć𝓸𝐌ε Ｔό ๓у ฬ𝔬𝓻𝐋∂."

My eyes blinked with an unpleasant shiver, Rain sat backward, pressing her back to the tree. "This is baaaad, very bad." She whined, running her hooves in circles across her temples. She started to mutter so quickly I couldn't so much as catch a word as they all bounced off my face in big, black letters.

I clamped her muzzle shut, wishing I could pinch the bridge of my nose, "Will. You. Stop. Talking!?" She blinked, then nodded rapidly as I removed my hoof, scratching my head. "Okay, okay, so we're both a subject to some strange, static-like glitch, that's comforting to know I'm not suffering alone," Eyeing Rain I asked. "So, if you've only been here a while how'd you power-level so quickly? I'm generally impressed given the circumstances of hunting spots being hoarded."

Rain patted her chest. "Well I sorta fluctuated as an extra sword in parties, then did some soloing myself, eventually I caught up, and I've played some games with combat in them so the muscle memory and stuff transfers." There were a few other smaller titles before MLPR, but the 'Full-Dive' kit wasn't nearly as advanced. "Still, this is like destiny or something, meeting you with the same kind of problems... erm, not in a bad way!"

"I don't do 'destiny', but whatever floats your boat," I answered, flicking across my map.

"Guess I should go back to that Captain-chick and tell her about the rune, could be a hidden step." This is too much optimism for my tastes

"Hey, Artorias?" Oh no. Foolishly, I turned around to see her nervous smile. "You think we could team up? I can help--"

"I don't do 'teams' either," I don't do alot of normal things. "The last 'team' I was with consisted of a Rat, and two somewhat incompetent players, I ain't pullin' the pin on that grenade."

"Come oo~oo~oon! Just for this Region Boss even!" That was a varying time! I kept walking, then paused mid-step

"Hold up, what?" I turned, seeing Rain pout

"The last party I was with said they might challenge it tomorrow, some strangely angry pony that was shorter than me was spouting about, ahem, 'I'll show that Cheater brat when we clear this Region while he plays the goodie-two-shoes Royal hero!', I left out the cussing," Rain rolled her eyes after her horrible impression of someone, but I rubbed mine. Are they serious? Last I checked it's been Skye doing half the work if what Gin tells me is factual.

I face-hoofed. "Those idiots are gonna die," I smirked devilishly, hooves connected. "Hehehe, Gooood."

Rain turned completely white all over. "Um, that's kinda creepy and morbid, don't you think!?" She smiled rigidly

Why was I considering this? Stupid isolation is getting to me again. With gusto I made my way back to the forest, leaving Rain behind as I stopped at the treeline, seeing her somewhat disappointed face. "Well?" Her ears perked up with surprise. "If anyone's getting the glory this time it's me, but we need levels for that, come on!" Now her smile came back fully

"Haha! Knew you would agree!" Like night meeting blinding, scorching day. Guess I'll bite, for now, no way was I dumb enough to face an unknown Region Boss alone that's for sure, and if its anything like Dren, we're in for one annoying fight

[Hoofprint Field| Waking Ruins]

The inside was rather bleak, then again it's ruins occupied by the Royal Guard. Stepping into a large meeting room of stone brick. Three large, arch windows to the far end overlooking the makeshift camps with a dark wood ceiling lined with beams and lanterns to illuminate a large, ring table on a dark green, square carpet.

Inside was the lilac unicorn Captain of the Royal Guard, Cassandra, and a few other Guards preparing for what I believe was the next stage of the campaign, what they didn't know was that the day after tomorrow a bunch of idiots would throw themselves at a Region Boss. How tragic...

Cassandra had a short, dark purple mane and onyx eyes. She sported a contrasting gold and white armor like all other Royal Guards, her sword strapped to her left hip. Spotting us she approached with an ever-so-stoic expression. "You have returned."

"You make it sound like I wouldn't?" I quirked a brow but she shook her head

"No, just... I have heard reports from my scouts, this, 'Abyss' that has tainted ponies and animals of all races, turning them into vicious monsters," She looked sickened by the thought as I was when I laid eyes on them.

"They killed some scout of yours carrying a rune, said it meant, 'Sea', so I want to know something since I helped stem the issue," I pulled out the glowing rune from my inventory. "What in the Anti-Christ's name are these things and why did he know about them?"

With almost startled eyes, she gently took the rune in her pink magic, inspecting it meticulously, and with her lips in the shape of an 'O'. I and Rain glanced at one another, herself shrugging as I was handed the rune again.

"It... is a legend, a foal's story but," She sighed, shaking her head. "With the signs and events, and a few insightful allies I can safely say that 'Fairy tales' can be just as factual," Clearing her throat, Cassandra answered, "The tale of the Shattered Throne, and the Abyss that consumed it."

"Here we go..." I sighed breathlessly, grabbing a chair for what I imagined would be a long story. With a raised brow the other mares followed my lead as we listened to her fairy tale.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Ta-da, Purplrain's back, or atleast the style and name is. Got a small skit planned to just toss in some exposition with a little flair to help spice things up, mainly about skills. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, and seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Dark Rising
Cassandra requests Artorias and Rain to venture into the glades surrounding the Waking Ruins to investigate the growing corruption while she stays to aid her other allies elsewhere, fearing a far more sinister threat looms in the future.

Episode 7.5 - The Skill of Skills

"Alright you chuckle-[BEEP]s, sit down and shut up, class is in session!" Artorias slammed an invisible textbook on a nonexistent table with a notice board behind her, names, and elemental symbols drawn up in chalk. "Professor Artorias here to break down the art of skills in MLPR, don't know what a skill is then how you're still alive astounds me! Also, praise is appreciated but no brown-nosing - Got that - Good, moving on!"

Her hoof retrieved a large ruler, slapping the board as the chalk changed to several names with small examples in colored chalk. "Let's get serious, there are several 'Types' of skills in the game, each with their own specified usage in and out of combat." She circled the first, the text erasing the rest to consume the blackboard

"First, the types-" She smiled, stepping back to reveal the board gleefully, putting a pair of blue-rimmed glasses on her snout. "There are Passive Skills, Magic Skills, Weapon or Sword Skills, and Unique Skills which are rarer or hidden, like the Martial Arts skill,"

She tapped the first. "Passives are your buffs and debuffs, any player can learn them depending on what skill tree they descend, for instance, going down Medic Pony will grant you access to more stamina increasing and efficiency skills, vitality, healing, the works," She continued, clearing her throat. "Whereas Warpath Pony focuses on your buffs for strength speed, etc," She leaned forward, gushing her voice. "There also might sorta be a near-limitless number of skills, just sayin'."

The board changed at a slap of the ruler, herself twirling to stand on the right-hand-side of the board. "Onto magic. There are four elements in the game that players can use; Arc, Solar, Gaia, and Rime," A simple, chibi drawing of Artorias fighting Dren appeared, the sword highlighted with light blue swirls. "Arc is related to things like air, lightning, water, stuff like that,"

Next was of Twilight in her flaming rage mode, "Solar is something everyone can use, strangely, so fire - Duh - and light, like my shield's skills," Another drawing displayed Twilight's chibi being flashbang with while Artorias chuckled mockingly. "Suck it, Egghead - ahem, moving on~!"

The blackboard rewrote itself, chibi chalk drawings of Applejack bucking a large boulder while a wizard Artorias, with a small, curly beard brought her hooves up, conjuring hail, "To summarize, Gaia really only consists of earth and some plant magic, like vines, really barebones compared to the rest, however. Rime grants us mere mortals the ability to harness ice and snow! The wrath of winter is in your hooves, my students!" She winked, spinning the board around on its hinges as she slapped it with the ruler, stopping it on a new picture

The images were that of weapons of all shapes and sizes, from swords and hammers to the more complex halberds and morningstars. Artorias grumbled, rubbing her glasses. "Again, who is this targeted for? Ugh, poor promotional stunt aside, sword skills are the backbone of every battle, varying on the weapon held by a player and their level of intelligence, such as myself, so awesome, haha," Grinning she tapped the sword drawing, the others vanishing to show chibi forms of herself using colorful sword techniques. "They can range from heavy-hitting attacks to applying debuffs or the opposite to yourself, you got AOE for crowd control, and remember, just because the sword skill has more hits doesn't mean its better, remember that!"

Two smaller drawings of Kyo and Sora being saved by Artorias as her chibi form tore through the Dire Wolf with two large arcs of blue chalk, stars twinkling around her form. Running her hoof over the board the images morphed into that of her Proxima Coat and a small necklace with a gem attached to the end. "Items can help to bolster your skill usage through passive skills or modifications to equipment," She then tapped her forehead, motioning to two copies of her coat on the board. "Note that like other RPGs with this loot element, not all copies of equipment's gonna do the same thing, some give cooldowns to skills, others provide health or magic boosts, mix and match and all that but more on equipment next lesson."

With one final detailing, it was of her most recent battle in the Bear Forest alongside Rain, her chibi sketch tossing Genesis high into the air as it burned with small flicks of flames. "Lastly, and my favorite mechanic in MLPR is Composite skills, or the 'Composite Effect' to be precise," Adjusting her glasses she continued, waving her ruler like a blade. "It is the fusion of multiple skills, typically two or more, both of which reaching a certain level of proficiency, okay bare with me." Artorias cleared her throat

"For combat-orientated skills this may refer to the fusion of two weapon types, unlocking a secret set of skills tailored between them, for instance, my Meteor Fall> Is a fusion of one-handed swords and Martial Arts," Beside the sketch was that of potions and cooking. "Stuff like crafting potions and the like can be achieved this way too, you just have to experiment or pay a broker to pass along some advice, nothing is listed in the system for every player, meaning you may see the skills but another player must learn for themselves," A small, yellow drawing of Gin appeared with bits bobbing above her head.

With that, she tossed the ruler like a spear off-screen, the last of the images coming together to form one last text message before Artorias while she snorted smugly. "Want to be the best, learn to think outside the boundaries of 'flashy skills' and understand the fundamentals and motions with every form of art, do so, and you might just survive, Professor Artorias' class is out, dismissed!" She gave a bow and slowly walked away to the right with a whistle. "That means go and bloody do something productive already!"

Lesson One
|The Skill of Skills|
Fight. Level. Survive.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

A little something I came up with to help summarize the mechanics of the game, stuff like this can't really be thrown in without sounding forced for exposition, so here we have Artorias breaking it down for everyone with a little flair as always.

Hope this was enjoyable and helpful, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Episode 8 - Dark Rising

Act II - Rising Tide

[Hoofprint Field | Bear Forest]

She's late. I have been standing in this forest for the last fifteen minutes, alone, waiting for Rain after she ran off to God knows where leaving me stranded on the outskirts of the Waking Ruins. With a heavy sigh, I started walking forwards.

"Heeeey!" I kept walking, even as the grey bat-pony flew to my side with an anxious smile. "Heh, sorry about that, got caught up trying to find a new sword, this one..." She tugged at her belt. "Yeah, it's kinda lacking now, those inky ponies were alot tougher than I thought."

I didn't care. "You're stretching the idea of this partnership thin, aren't you?"

Rain put her hooves behind her back while she flew gently beside me, humming thoughtfully. "Most parties I joined only had me around for one quest or hunt, then I left but," She smiled my way. "You've got a cool quest and the way you fight is was like a hero or something, that's awesome in my books!" Rain winked cheerily

I was less annoyed now. Clearing my throat I made my tab public to show her the quest we received from Cassandra, herself wanting us to investigate this 'Abyss' while she, Skye, and another person hunt for the last of missing Runes, good for them not my issue, mine is catching up to the guys storming the Region Boss today, but we need one more level to really bump us up.

"So, this 'Shattered Throne', what is it?" Keeping my questions brief we awaited Cassandra's explanation, Rain herself sitting like a child hearing a bedtime story, eyes wide with wonder, she does look younger than me

The purple unicorn's eyes drifted to the windows, contemplating before answering. "When I was younger, I read of a time when the countries of Equestria weren't so split when the lands overflowed with all walks of life before a time they were torn and twisted under chaotic rulers and tyrants." She stared back at me evenly

"One kingdom of an ancient civilization engrossed technology far exceeding any to date, even outplaying the best magic in Equestria, they had learned to tame monsters, fly high above the clouds, creating spires that touched the heavens," Cassandra looked lost in that world as Rain 'awed' while I chuffed

"Give it a minute..." I whispered to her

"However," My brow raised to Rain expectantly. "They dared to step beyond that which nature set in stone, they twisted life, distorted the world's designs into... a horrific beast, one amassing power of thousands, they had created life," Cassandra put her hooves together angrily. "This was one of the catalysts for the destruction of a world I only ever knew through fairy tales and myths."

"They played God and paid the price, typical," I added, bemusement lacing my tone. Then I put a hoof forward. "So this, 'Abyss', it's like the remnants of their abomination, Kranon?"

Her head bowed solemnly. "Very little is known beyond what I just told you, scattered relics of the old world dot this one, that sword," She motioned to my scabbard. "It too is a relic of that time, while a fragment of its former self, I will have to look into it again but all I know is that once whole it will be a formidable weapon."

"I like that," My anticipated whisper had my hoof tapping the blade giddily. "Knew you were worth the trouble."

With a curious look, Rain spoke next. "So those creepy ponies, they're being tainted by this stuff, aaaand you want us to stop it?" Her optimistic point was indeed correct

Hardening her gaze, Cassandra put a hoof on her chin. "The race for the final Rune comes tomorrow, and while I trust in my companions I still feel unsure... however," Closing her eyes with a heavy sigh, she gazed to me. "Artorias, you are the one with the Sea Rune, the key to this ghost of the past is entirely yours to bear. I will not force a burden such as this on anyone, but if you can, please," She stood up, bowing before me as I remained as stoic as ever. "Do not allow this past sin to take away this world."

[Side-Quest Added!]
|Fist of Kranon|
The sins of the past have started to taint Equestria, you hold the means to understanding further if you dare. The corruption spreads, cut the infection at its source within the Vault of Kranon. First, you must sever his ties to the outside realm.
[ ] Defeat 'Fist of Kranon'

"That just screams 'Bad' in every sense of the word, its a risk but what good are we if we can't take that chance?" Her determined face was a change of pace, though I'd say she was starting to get wrapped up in the story too much, can't say I wasn't intrigued with where this leads

"There's a fine line between risk and reward in this world," I withdrew Genesis, seeing it glint in the sunlight as I smiled. "But where's the fun in worrying about our final death? I'd say that's what makes this Death Game more enjoyable."

"Hmm, you think so?" I lowered my sword to view Rain's wary frown. "I kept hearing people talk about death, and being scared of leaving, some even looked like they hadn't slept in weeks, then you told me and... I get it," Her eyes returned to the road ahead, but her frown wasn't sorrowful. "Its why, since I'm stuck here too, I'll do what I can to keep people's hope burning, and the best way to do that is to get stronger and conquer the Bosses!"

"Your optimism astounds me," My dry remark made her nearly trip as she wore a flat stare

"Coming from Miss. Moody that's something," I heard car breaks in my ears as Rain walked ahead of me, then I chuckled, a smile twisting

"Oh, I think we'll get along just fine, little one," To add salt I petted her on the head, seeing her cowlick bob while she flailed her hooves at me. "Sorry, short-stack, what's that?"

"You wanna go!? I'm up for a fight!" Now a fire burned in her eyes, but I just pulled her down to ground level, hoof to my ear

"Sorry, I couldn't hear you all the way down there." If a kettle was boiling it too represented Rain's expression as I cackled loudly

"I'm only a head shorter than you!!" She screamed, steam pumping from her pointy ears

A joke comes to mind. "So, several idiots walk into a glade..." My mellow voice began, then the ground shook with a tremendous rumble, then the screaming began. I sighed. "Interrupting my joke, honestly."

"Artorias, let's go -- Wah!" I yanked Rain back to the hillside, keeping her legs from springing into action

"Hold it, young grasshopper, first, we observe," She pouted but sat down next to me as I did my hardest not to laugh, but nothing could hide my smile. "I should have brought a drink with me, this is quality."

In the open field below near the lake surrounding Hoofprint, a group of players were struggling with the newly manifested Mini-Boss. Large, black rocks jutted from the ground like a sickness, the grass tainted and grey while this monster tore across the ground, the shockwaves of its attacks throwing the players to the ground, some dipping into the yellow, one pegasus flew up high, dispersing small fireballs from his hooves under a mage cloak.

It was a large, stone-brick golem. A sapphire core for an eye and joint between the cubic waist and pillar-carved legs. A dark-red flame hissing across its ancient, mossy form. The very arms themselves were built like clubs or the very pillars ripped from the base. But again, the corruption tainted its form, spikes protruding across its back and down the right arm.

<<>>

"Take a look at the debuff on the lemons," Prodding my hoof down, some of the players had these black particles swirling around their bodies. "I've never seen that before."

"A new debuff?" Then Rain paled. "We need to help them, they're strong-looking members are paralyzed!"

I brushed off her worries. "They'll be fine..." Then the golem stomped over their bodies, creating a black cyclone with its arms, tearing their health bars apart and down into the red as my eyes blinked wide. "I give idiots too much credit."

"Arto-- huh?" Rain was left speechless behind me as I brought my blade across the core, twisting back with a leap, slashing upward sharply, splitting a few spikes while the boss stumbled back

Reacting immediately to my intrusion, the golem's body curved back slightly, left arm folded back and in a flash, the dirt underneath my feet split, my eyes bulged for a moment at how sudden the assault was. Diving backward with a kick I skidded from the burst of red flames. "So this thing's faster than it looks, keeping that tabbed..."

"!" Raising my voice the golem's left arm narrowly skimmed my tail as I used the momentum to soar across the field, slicing through the joints with four straight slashes of flames, rippling across the body. The arm swung through the embers, a torrent of wind tearing into the trees nearby.

I flanked the lumbering golem, striking across the backs of the knees, hastily tracing again with a twirl, snapping Genesis across the edge of the torso, the strike chipping Muru as it swung both arms down to crush me so I slid between the legs, swiping once with , bringing it down to a knee.

Above, the purple blur zipped onto the field as Rain carved a crackling yellow square through the back, a roar from Muru effectively pointing out the critical hit. Frozen momentarily, Rain could easily outmaneuver it, since it had two stubby legs to lug around so much weight. Abruptly, the golem's flames flickered and gathered prominently around both arms, the second Rain flew within a few feet of it, the body pivoted on the sapphire orb connected at the waist.

I brought my buckler to bear while Rain swept back herself with a startled gasp. The entire torso spun around like a whirlwind of stone, the updraft created a funnel of red flames. That was unexpected, but now I understand how these guys got caught off guard so easily, it had way more skills, just like the boss guarding Genesis. Also -- Hot, very, very hot! I patted my mane quickly from the spray of embers.

"Artorias, switch!" Rain waved, slashing across the left arm to divert into the ground. Dashing forward I noticed her smile as I tossed my sword skyward, landing a less-than-effective punch to the orb, diving over the spin of the fists to whisk my hoof toward Genesis, the blade a harsh orange

Balled in my left hoof I allowed a sharp burst of red glass to course over me, the added combined during my descent. Rain distracting Muru while our audience watched, catching flies. came down like a collision course. A single, wide slice pulverized the ground under us, large bolts of crimson traced my body and blade as I landed behind the severed right arm, the joint shattering.

What came next was within a spur of the moment, "Rain, come on!" I glanced sharply while avoiding another two thrusts of its remaining arm noting her somewhat perplexed expression twisting to a bright smile.

"Duck!" I did, then lifted my shield as her hooves bounced off its face, seeing her hooves skim by the hurdling fist, blade a cherry red

High above the boss' reach, Rain swung with a diagonal slash from her bottom right, followed by a horizontal slash from the left. When she slid by the front of the golem, she concluded with another diagonal slash, this time from the top right as she drove the blade through the stone. Now I sped onto the scene, switching once more as Muru missed its mark.

"Im'ma about to rock your four-meter world," I blinded it with a flash from my buckler, dashing to the right of a blind swing as my sword carved through the tainted stone, the health dropping into the red. Then it roared... somehow, pushing me back as the flames turned dark red.

Lowering my arm I flashed a grin and slid across the ground, a whirlwind fluttering above me while my left back hoof hummed, Rain dug a quick flurry of thrusts into the orb, stunning the boss as I performed a breakneck backflip, hoof swiping the edge of Muru's form while the left it stunned again.

Responding, the golem charged toward us, shaking the ground with each quaking step. I held my body low, sucking in a breath as I observed the left arm bending backward, each second was critical to my next move, if I messed this up I might need more than a healing crystal to pry me from the earth like a dumbass tree. Exhaling, the arm swung low, tearing apart the ground as I dived over the arm and Rain ducked to the left.

I swung myself up and around the thick arm, pushing off the surface as Genesis tore across the orb's face, and I felt the golem pull at the intrusion of the blade. Rain swiping the legs once to bring it down. This very attack forced Muru into a state of sporadic twitches, the dark energy crackling across the weathered stone, and my chance was lighting up before me. Stomping down with my left, I bent my body to the side, pulling my arm back as the radiant blue aura gathered inside the orb.

"Horizontaru Aku!!" One pull from right to left fractured the orb, the golem swaying backward, then I pried Genesis from the left, shattering the orb within as the body became catatonic, body flashing blue before I faceplanted the grass with a wave of glass. With a flop I rolled onto my back, hoof waved high, "Nailed it."

The cheering began, with Rain pumping her own hooves high with a hearty laugh as she landed. Then came the praise and that nickname again.

"You're really her, the Red Warrior!" "I thought she was with the assault team?" "You both are amazing, you saved our asses!" "...She's pretty cute..." "I know right!"

"And they just keep coming and they won't stop coming..." My muttered verse fell on death's ears while I stood up, then blinked as my body flashed gold. "Oh?" That boss alone was worth... "Holy crap we went up two levels from a single boss!?"

[Artorias - Lv. 20 -> Lv. 22]

[Purplrain - Lv. 18 -> Lv. 20]

"Woohoo! Think that's high enough to catch up to the assault team?" Rain asked curiously, smiling bashfully at the comments she received herself. A valid question though we should be good given the nature of the boss

[Side-Quest Complete!]
|Fist of Kranon|
[✔] Defeat 'Fist of Kranon'
[Rewards]
3895 EXP | 1224 Bits | Sapphire Crystals X3 | Blackrock Stone X2

With that out of the way, time for what's next on the agenda, "Hey, who's the leader here?" Between the talks, an earth pony in full body armor stepped up, and he looked nervous, visibly shaking somewhat

"I-I am, Ma'am," I kept my silence. "Thanks again, I-I did try to talk them out of this f-fight but they--"

"Yeah-yeah, idiots looking for glory -- Question, where's the assault team right now?" It's been a while and today was the twenty-seventh as Rain recalled. The player thought about it, then waved to the forest, more particularly the distant pillars poking through the treetops

"Well, I-I heard they left an h-hour ago, they must b-be at the boss right now," That was bad news, primarily it means we have to play catch-up, but more worryingly is that innocent people might end up dead because their egos never bothered to look into changes to the boss

"Right, okay; Oi, Rain!" She jumped at her name. "Limber up, we got some climbing to do!" Without a Teleport Rune nearby we have to take the long way, shouldn't be hard, the map's always made public before the boss

"All the way over there?" She bent her body back to view the spire in the distance, eyes spinning. "R-really, there's not some... quick way, is there?"

"What was it you spouted before, about, 'I'll do what I can to keep people's hope burning, and the best way to do that is to get stronger and conquer the floors'?" I don't deal with those that go back on their word. However, Rain looked visibly surprised, mouthing something. "What?"

A small, easy-going smile appeared. "Hehe, nothing, you're right, so let's go!" Hmph, that's better

"You can claim you beat the boss or whatever, I don't care," I waved dismissively to the party's leader, grabbing a teleport crystal to save for lost time. "We've got a bigger score in mind."

"Happy hunting~!" Rain waved

"Teleport, Waking Ruins!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I do hope the 'Quest Updates' don't feel too out of place, I try not to throw them everywhere. Anywho, another boss is next, and its time for a little reuniting. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: High Tide
Several parties battle for the glory of slaying the next Region Boss, only one can prevail, but is it worth risking the lives not just of their parties, but the lives of those trapped in Equestria?

Episode 9 - High Tide

Act II - Rising Tide

[Temple of the Trench | Labrynth]

"Who designed these places!?" Rain whined from a few steps behind me, her wings flapping heavily. For me? I was about ready to pass out

"A bastard sadist by the name of Ryder!" I spat, grabbing a stamina pot and downing the contents, Rain doing the same with hers as we recovered immediately. "Alright, let's keep going," I said in a calm manner, taking off at the speed of sound as we went round and round the spiral staircase. "Funny, the quest I got with Genesis actually told me this Region's boss' name!"

"What is it called!?" Rain called, flying to glide beside me

"It's called, Trench, and it seems this 'Kranon' might have tainted it!" This was probably a water-type boss so Crimson Square was out of the question, guess it's time to switch things up

We finally made it to the final level of the underground ruins, and while our road ahead would be a large U-turn, we had enemies between us and the boss room. The dark stone walls lined with goblets of blue fire, the entire structure segmented by archways, and some indents on the stone floor.

Drawing Genesis, I lunged forward, sliding onto my knees as I brought across the stone, the thin contrail tearing through the cannon fodder for Rain to thrust her sword through a . One leapt from behind, but in a flash of amethyst, her blade sliced upright through the rippling scales.

"Keep moving!" I ran by, bucking another from our path. I parried a blow with my buckler, shoving two Serpents away with a blast of air. With a subtle focus, I was enveloped by shadows once again, my speed increasing as I spotted Rain crossing the ruined hallways with the same skill active, our movements faster than the fangs and spears of could catch

Moving in great strides toward the end of my minimap, the monsters continued to cut our path forward. A few sword swings or head bashes with my buckler kept the way clear, Rain finishing them off with Sword Skills covering a large breadth, lighting the chambers like fireworks up above.

In the gloom of the halls, my instincts flared as I jumped, sinking my sword into the floor as a large wave of water cascaded through the halls, Rain merely flew higher to evade the raging torrent that left me in a foot-deep pool. "Uhh, you okay, Artorias?" Seeing the nervous grin on the flying bat pony I kept my gaze straight

"Well, since the stench of sweat does exist in this game, I am no longer sweaty," Coughing up some water I yanked my sword free and ran for the bright light ahead, hearing the yells and skirmish within. "Idea! Rain, toss me!"

"What?" She blinked, kicking through the water behind me, splashing me yet again

Spitting out the freshwater I jabbed my sword ahead of us. "I cannot make the distance so you have to toss me!" I shook my hoof to her. Shrugging, she grinned and pulled me back for a swing, lifting me from the water while I bent my bracer to rest against my lower back. "Toss me!"

"Here you... GO!!" It wasn't feeble as I was thrown farther than if I swayed through the water alone. However, once flashed a large crescent of water roared behind me, my speed gradually increasing as I shot through the dungeon at unbelievable speeds

The boss room itself was structured like a coliseum. The entire room was blue with an outer ring of water along bright blue walls decorated with dark blue wave patterns. The columns and roof atop them were also blue in color, leading to a stairway and black doorway that remained sealed. The floor, surprise, is also blue, I know shocker, the same wave-like runes in a ring at the center.

The boss stood over a few drenched players, raising its front hooves. A pale, bluish-black equine body with a wavy, seaweed-style mane. The backend was covered in dark scales starting from the waist, leading down to a large tail with bright blue fins, webbing of black tainting the texture, the patterns many shades of blue underneath. The eyes were a heterochromia red and blue, lacking pupils as it 'neighed'.

<<< Trench, the Scourge of Kranon - Lv. 26>>>

"Time to strut my stuff," Lining my body for a steady landing, I bent my right foreleg back to line my sword parallel with my cheek, the hiss of gold stained red crackling across Genesis. A roar of a jet drowned the equine's voice, and with a powerful thrust my body and blade subsequently struck the head with the force of a person nearing terminal velocity

Genesis hissed and crashed against the thick-skinned Hippocampus but threw the boss backward from dealing a serious blow to some of the players, myself landing perfectly with only a slight stumble. "I here I thought you guys actually defeated the boss before I could make an appearance," I scoffed, rubbing my nose. "Here I go sounding like an optimist."

When I turned to the player on the ground, I found it to be none other than the man in black himself, Skye. No longer just wearing blue but with a black overcoat, his old chestplate underneath. He blinked, somewhat surprised by my guest appearance as I held out my hoof, genuinely happy to see him. "Sup, fellow gamer."

"A-Artorias," He let a wary smile appear. "Took your time catching up?"

"Eh, what can I say, I have better things in my life to worry about," I smugly remarked, then waved my sword to the Royal Captain herself. "Fancy seeing you here, Cassandra."

She was actually happy to see me? So she does have a smile it seems. "And you too, your timing couldn't have been better."

Letting go of Skye's hand I spun to face the boss, now focused on the other players that were being completely trashed by its water attacks. So it focused more on AOE, not many close-range moves either. Another two players ran over, one a -- wow, that pony's intimidating looking, I like him, and a girl with long, pink hair, that same girl Gin mentioned.

"Skye who's this?" She asked but I merely bowed with a smile

"Love to catch up bud, but recover, for now, let the veteran tag in, eh?" I waved, spinning around as I saw Rain fly into the chamber, completing this little show of ours, perfect. I put my sword up, angling it as if I were trying to set up a picture frame, squinting my eyes. "The scene is set, the audience is captivated, let's wrap up the final act!"

With a boost of strength and vitality, I galloped into the fray, evading the massive waterspout conjured around us. Swishing through the wall I drove through its thigh, twisting then creating a lightning-quick incision with . Rain flew in between two players, rolling away from an obviously telegraphed charge.

With a burst of speed, I brought Genesis close to the ground, drawing up with a powerful gleam of red, the skill tearing into its hide as I rolled aside of a water hose attack, blade spun behind me as I struck in four quick successive right angles, locking the boss in place for Rain to switch over my head, carving her sword through Trench's muzzle, flicking her emerald green sword left and right as a broken shield appeared below the boss' name.

"There, switch!" She called as I slid under her flying backflip, another spit of water grazing my cheek as I dived upward for a powerful uppercut with the true edge. Eye-level with Trench, I twisted my waist, both back hooves hazel as I gave the neighing boss two roundhouse kicks to the crown, hearing the crack underneath

"Hey, get--" I didn't need advice from the stands as we moved far enough away from several fountains of water rising around Trench, followed by a sudden charge across the arena toward Skye's party. He looked ready to fight as he stepped aside with Cassandra, and the other two, the tall, dark-furred earth pony, Axel, and the cream-colored unicorn from before, Seraph

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

[No POV]

With the assault team still on the fence, Skye and Artorias rallied around the boss, the massive spout of water falling as they rushed in together. Skye and Artorias took the lead. Fanning to the sides of a charge the two pivoted, thrusting together with a combined their skills clanging across the boss' skin as it kicked back, spraying another horizontal line of water, the two flipped forward, evading the spray.

"Switch!" They called, Rain and Seraph flanking Trench, Seraph prodded the boss first with a sudden four-hit skill, immobilizing it for a second. Rain slid under its belly, blade cast pink as she carved from right to left, then crossed with a horizontal slash that rotated as she hopped to her hooves, brandishing her left forehoof for a vertical slit across the belly, scoring the boss with an abundance of energy as she laughed, sliding away for Axel's ax to zip by her face

His ax came down heavy, embedding a massive flash of gold light across Trench's back, he was then pushed aside by Cassandra's magic, the two narrowly escaping another AOE ring of water spouts as it charged the two. Cassandra raised her sword to counter but found Artorias by her side to deflect the charge, executing the parry at the last possible second.

Cassandra nodded graciously and yelled while driving her blade through the neck, slicing with a sonic blast dispersing the water by their hooves. "Fall back!" She declared as the rising tornado of freshwater cut off their view, then came the horizontal and vertical spray of water from the hippocampus' maw as it neighed, slamming its front hooves down, releasing a wall of water in the process as the assault team was divided.

"Its health is in the red..." "Come ooooon!!" Artorias cried, braving a wall of water with , clearing the way for her and Rain, both bringing their swords to bear on the tail, blocking the thrash. "Rain, if you got the same elemental move like me, use it!" It was a gamble on her part, but what's teamwork without trust, right? They quickly angled their swords horizontally, both edges turning a shade of white, blue mist exhaled from their blades while they executed a twin

With two arcs of white mist splitting through the front hooves, ice erupted from the wounds, freezing the boss to the floor while its already soaking body shivered and struggled in the chilling debuff. Trench roared in agony, back legs bucking wildly with random intervals of water spraying from its maw. It wasn't going to go down so easily.

"Skye, you owe me!" Artorias remarked as she slid straight into the AOE funnels of water, body tossed skyward but she was ultimately unphased, flicking her mane from her eyes as she held her shield down, smacking straight into the hippocampus' snout. "Say cheese, Buckaroo."

Like a flashbang the boss wailing uncomfortably to the blinding light. Upon realizing the plan Skye and Seraph ran across the semi-flooded floor. "The boss is stunned, now's our chance!" Seraph rallied Axel, Rain, and Cassandra from around the boss, the other players trying to play catch-up now that they were left to the sidelines for so long, recovering from debuffs

"You heard her." Artorias grinned to Skye, herself by Rain. "Want to show them how us real beta players roll?"

He couldn't suppress a chuckle, a glint of glory in his emerald eyes, "Sure, let's do it."

Trench raised its hooves again, bringing them down as it released multiple small walls of freshwater to keep their retaliation at bay, but they kept on their toes, weaving between the gaps. Seraph poised her rapier for a single-thrust skill encased in rose, contrasting her magic aura. Artorias spotted Rain through the waves and brought her shield against Rain's back, startling her.

"Wha-!"

"Hold on tight!" With a vague warning, Rain was sent flying, the water dispersed as she adjusted her body's weight, bringing her hoof forward for a destructive pierce alongside Seraph's own red gash, their skills connecting as it downed the boss with an orange halo.

"Now's our turn to add some muscle!" Axel hollered, his heavy ax drawn behind his back with both hooves, the head of the curved blade came crashing down atop Trench's temple with a flash of lightning that webbed the floor, a sharp 'tiiiing' of metal ringing. Cassandra hopped across the beast's back, slicing in a flurry, deepening the wounds still present across its backside

She flipped off one hoof, bring her blade across the back of the crown, shaving the mane completely, but both her and Axel were caught by the large columns of water, tossing them to the ground before the enraged boss as it readied the area for a massive tornado of liquid. All eyes in the arena frozen, even the leaders of the two so-and-so guilds wouldn't make it through the wall of water the boss created.

There was only the sight of red and black crossing through the maelstrom, their health dropping gradually within the heart of the tempest. Skye wasn't going to let up, not while the boss was a hair away from the end. Artorias, having clawed her way forward, actually gaining a reliable partner, she wouldn't falter because of a little splashing.

At that moment, both their minds burned for the same truth. "I will clear this Region on my own terms!!"

Artorias bound over a wave, swiveling under Trench's throat, her right forehoof tugging Genesis through the sloshing waves, cast in a light blue tint. Skye soared above, clasping his Silver Grove sword in both hooves with the same color basking his sword. With resounding strokes their skills crossed at the axis, decapitating the annoyingly loud Trench in a flash of starlight blue that broke apart in the air between them, the water cast aside in dazzling twinkle of droplets.

Headless, the boss seized up and flopped to the ground, both bursting with a grand spectacle. Rain watched with wide eyes, her mouth agape. Seraph looked relieved while the crowd remained dead quiet. The two beta testers had landed atop one another, drenched and panting, but managed small smiles while bumping a hoof together.

[CONGRATULATIONS!!]

|||||||||||><|||||||||||

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

[Artorias' POV]

"Quite the finishing move," She mused, going somewhat rigid as Skye loomed over her body. "Um... hey bud, little space?" Seeing the position they were in he threw himself back, chuckling a little while she sat up, laughing alongside him

"Sorry 'bout that," Skye sheathed his blade as I did, "Seems you haven't changed much since the start."

"I don't know if that's a compliment, but I'll take it anyways, ditto, by the way." I winked, our allies walking over while the crowd patted themselves on the back, all of us having leveled up again with gusto. Then aside from the boss drops, sadly without the Final Attack Bonus, lucky bastard, my quest finally updated

[Rare Item Drop]

Drowned Guard (Key Item)

[Quest Updated!]
|Bloodied Blade|
Genesis Veil resonates with the lost guard, increasing its power. Continue to pave your legacy red and restore Genesis to its former glory.
[ ] Defeat Treasured Serpent
[ ] Defeat Crimson Blade
[✔] Defeat Trench, the Scourge of Kranon

True to its word, the guard appeared, black in coloration, both appeared like pointed wings angled down at the tips. And from the status screen, all of its stats had risen considerably, it could probably take me to level thirty-five!

"That was some fine teamwork, and you two were definitely the top players this time," Axel chuffed with his dark brown eyes on us, nudging Rain's shoulder. "You both came in and saved his neck."

"Yeah-yeah, don't let me live it down..." Skye scratched the back of his head

"I wasn't easy babysitting AL and KOH, though." Seraph sighed, glancing from under her hood to the players in question, I had to agree, they didn't even try to remotely get involved, which I found to be the only good thing to come out of this. "The boss blasted them around, stacking them atop one another, and STILL they bickered with each other."

I slumped, whining. "You okay, Artorias?" Rain asked as I nodded, pouting with a gloomy aura over my shoulders, dark swirls gathering around my head

"Why... why wasn't I here for it!?" I put my hooves together and spun around to where the Rat was standing. "Please tell me you recorded it!?"

"Nope! Got washed away myself after I pried the doors open!" That is a tragedy

"It was fun to watch." Skye smiled with a hoof on his pommel

"Eh, no skin off my nose," I shrugged, pursing my lips. "Honestly, I've seen sheep with better coordination than those bumbling idiots, weren't they going on about one-upping you?" I gazed to Skye, tilting to one side

He nodded, though with exasperation. "They've been doing it since the first Region Boss, call me a Cheater but I accept that if it keeps them motivated to clearing bosses." A scapegoat then, a rather bold sacrifice on his part

"First Skye and now... sorry, who are you, and, you know each other?" Seraph brought up the question, even Cassandra looked curious as to why I believe Skye never mentioned me. I blinked, then a sly smirk slithered onto my face as I wrapped my hoof around him, hugging him tightly

"Aw, you never mentioned me? And here I thought we were close, two beta testers against the masses!" I chuckled boisterously as Seraph slowly turned red. And Cassandra was confused as Rain since I only mentioned Skye in passing, Axel was smiling knowingly like me while Skye gawked like a deer in headlights. "What's wrong, bud, cat got your tongue?"

"I see," Cassandra hummed, rubbing her chin. "Are you two...?" That brought out a crimson fury across Skye's face as I pulled away with a cackle, almost toppling over

"WE'RE NOT TOGETHER!!" His face was a picture and a half

"Oh hahaha, you know you really didn't need to deny it that hard, I feel wounded!" My mocked sadness couldn't hide my bumbling snickers. "Pfft, sorry, I can't, this is too freakin' funny...!"

"You're the worst." He grumbled, running a hoof over his face as I slowly climbed back down from the clouds

"What a strange companion of yours," Cassandra remarked, but then frowned. "Back on topic, while this is indeed a triumphant day, the other trials will not come by so easily."

Recovering, I agreed. "You guys all got info beforehand thanks to Cassandra, right?" A few nods and that only made the mood sour. "Thing is, info like that won't come by every time, how long will these 'deathless' assaults go on for? When will everyone here stroke out?"

Rain hummed, frowning. "I guess, these guys were so hung up on beating each other that I left to continue leveling alone, they rushed in without a plan or anything." This was apparent when we arrived, seemed Skye did most of the work with these three by his side

"They relied solely on info from the Dev Streams--" Axel added

"--Which never said we'd be fighting a water pony... if that makes sense!" I blurted out

He continued regardless. "--Which we now know isn't even useful."

With that, I clopped my hooves. "Well, this has been fun, really, it has, buuut," I walked between them. "Canterlot is waiting and I am done looking at large open expanses for a while," With a flick of my hoof I wandered off toward the doorway that remained shut. "Seeya around, Skye."

"Same to you, we'll probably catch up later anyhow," That actually felt great to hear... strange, I never usually feel excited when meeting with old allies, hmm, guess Skye's just on my wavelength

"Wait just a damn minute!!" A voice silenced the lot, and I continued on my merry way, eager to see what's changed for the road ahead-- "Oi, I'm talkin' to you, Red!" I slowed at the steps, turning my head as I mockingly put a hoof to my ear while looking around the arena. "Don't ignore me!"

"Ooooh, you meant me," Turning completely I kept a neutral smile and lazy eyes. "Whatsup, my guy?"

It was a short yet solidly built unicorn clad in scale-mail armour, but it had a strange sheen to it that even I couldn't place, a buckler on his right hoof, and a black longsword on his left hip. His coat was brown and had spiky, cactus-styled hair and tail, orange in tone with a matching goatee and orange eyes. He had an irritating way about him just from how he gave me the stink eye. "The hell you get off swoopin' in for the killing blow, huh!?"

"'Killing blow'? Um, you guys do know it still had three-quarters of its health until we arrived to clean up your screw up, right? Your welcome, by the way," I can't be alone here. All watched on, Skye's group with pretty relaxed expressions say a few tense nerves, clearly, this is routine, but the others, some didn't like me. Oh? I can use this. "Actually, better question, why didn't you guys jump in -- Oh, unless you were waiting to land the killing blow?"

The unicorn known as, 'Bombard', looked stumped, but remained as boisterous as ever, waving his hoof to me angrily. "Don't go changing the subject! You and your little brat there came in to take the glory for yourself while we're out here bustin' our asses to--" I chuffed, then giggled, then broke into full-blown laughter in seconds

Slowly, I climbed back down from the high horse, smiling crudely from the staircase. "Buddy, if I wanted to I could clear several more bosses than you and your little gaggle of idiots could in a year," My smile twisted as his temper rose, his magic crackling from his horn. "That includes both guilds FYI!"

"You kill stealer!" "Bet she's with that Cheater too, did you see how they fought together!?" "Yeah, hand over your rewards, you didn't earn 'em!" The lists kept on coming, and I couldn't be in a more blissful state

"You brat! Don't think I don't know who you are. Red Warrior right? The petty, self-absorbed chick who solos, gathering great drops 'cause she used to be an Alpha Tester!" He snarled, I'm surprised he knew that. His eyes narrowed at my smug stare. "Am I wrong?" More yells and demands were made of me, and Skye to my far left looked tense, biting his lip

I kept smiling. "Yeah, that's me, Bombard," He sneered as I stepped forward. "Let me be transparent, a bit of... Alpha advise, no changes made!" With an elegant twirl of my hoof, I constructed my sage-like wisdom for the runt. "Don't pat yourselves on the back, be grateful you can still crack a smile."

"'Cause when there's a 'next time', no one will be there to save you but yourself," I stepped closer, a mere inch between us. "All you are is an adequate meat shield, and no one can take that away from any of you," Stepping up the last of the blue marble steps I fanned my hoof out. "So reach for the stars with blazing speed!" It dropped. "It'll be that much more fun to kick you back into the dirt." My condescending smirk only fueled the fires

With a bow, I turned and walked away, hearing hoofsteps behind me. If it's a fight he wants then I've got enough bite left in me to -- I stopped, finding Rain waiting before me patiently. "Our contract as expired, you are free of my progressive narcissism."

She rolled her eyes. "You serious? No way, I'm sticking with you!" I'm sorry, what? I blinked slowly, hoof on the iron door to the exit. Rain trotted over to put her hoof on the adjacent door, smiling with unwavering confidence. "You were so cool, the way we took on the boss, back and forth with Skye and his friends, it was amazing!"

I kept my eyes forward to the metal. "Then stick with them--"

"Nope, I told you, it's totally like destiny our meeting, not in some cheesy way, but," Her voice was lower, but still brighter than mine. "You and I were changed differently than anyone else. You saw something similar to me before the death game, maybe it was this Malware guy that dragged me to this game, I want to help but I want to help you."

Again with that 'destiny' crap. Still... she really wanted to help me? I'm stuck in this stupid, pony body of my own mistake for being curious, and I know how abrasive my attitude can be. She really wouldn't leave? She... wouldn't use my trust?

"I..." Letting out a sigh, I flicked the side of her head

"Ow, what was that for!?" She then saw my hoof held between us, blinking while I tried to suppress a small, pink hue rising to my muzzle

"Alright, your funeral, and no backsies." That was paramount and indisputable. She laughed and I for once did to, without an ounce of sarcasm or needless procrastination. With her hoof against mine, we pushed our way forward toward the next step in this Death Game

"Now the real fun begins."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I like writing Artortias, I've only ever written one other narcissist and I really enjoyed it, I like the kind of narcissist that has the aforementioned skill to back it up, thus, Artorias is born. Also, another returning character from AO, Bombard, though I'm giving him more personality this time around, still kind of a jerk. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next act players!

Next Act: Act III - Dark Within
Artorias and Purplrain may have arrived in Canterlot but their next trial will be chasing the Shattered Throne as its corruption continues to spread.

Episode 10 - Vault of the Abomination

Act III - Dark Within

So after the events of Trench, the Scourge of Kranon, the three days after were easy sailing. I and my partner, Purplrain, or Rain for short, arrived at Canterlot's massive gates. Much like the towns before us, players and ponies alike dotted the streets, some more than others to complete quests, gather items, or to relax, not everyone fought, some generally lacked the courage to step beyond the walls, I can't blame them, you either go out there smart or be reduced to shards.

But on the First of July, after nearly two months, the pieces across what safe zones were unlocked, the runes gathered for the Vault were to gather in a Guild Hall just outside the castle for a meeting. It was time to make the first-ever move toward the end of this Death Game, to commence the Raid of the ver first Vault. Even for my confidence, the fight ahead wasn't going to be easy.

[Canterlot | Bronze Bull Inn]

Groggily I opened my eyes to the sunlight piercing my room, it wasn't much in terms of size. One bed and a small table beside it with a window to my left. A desk and chair in the right corner with the door to its left. All wood with white walls too. It was homely and suited myself and my other occupant just fine. Yeah, so to save on Bits we decided to room for a while, I didn't care, less debt meant better equipment in the future. One downside.

Leering down at my stomach I found the smiling form of the bat pony hugging my waist, nuzzling my side as she snored softly. I may be cold but my God was it adorable, however- "Get off," My left hoof struck out, shoving her off me and subsequently the bed with a yelp and groan. "We have a king-sized bed, quit gravitating toward me as a pillow," "Though pony fur is surprisingly soft - not the issue here."

"Morning..." She moaned, rubbing her forehead while I stretched. "So, when's the meeting?" Her curious tilt brought my hoof to my chin while focusing just beside my status bars in the top left corner of my vision, seeing the clock state it was '10:30 AM'.

"Hrm, we got time, come on," I hopped out of bed, popping my legs. "Might as well prep beforehand."

"Shopping it is then!" Always excited for the day, I'm no morning person so someone had to be. She paused mid-hoof raise, smiling sheepishly at my gloomy state. "...And coffee!" Now that perked my ears

"Mmm, music I can dance to."

[Canterlot | Guild Hall]

"This place looks cozy." Rain's observation would be correct at our approach

From the outside, it looks cozy, rustic, and inviting compared to the far more pristine city surrounding it. Hardwooden planks and marble pillars make up most of the building's outer structure. It's tough to see through the large, curtained windows, but the laughter from within can be felt outside. Ponies came and went from the open doors, some in teams and others alone.

We stepped inside and were greeted by a rather enchanting atmosphere. The inside of the bar-turned-Guild was as busy as you'd expect. Boards sat on either side of the hall, requests, and side-quests posted up for others to inspect. Squared, wooden beams support the upper floor and the light fixtures attached to them. The walls are decorated with paintings and lanterns.

The Guild Hall itself housed several long tables occupied by separate groups of players, all enjoying themselves, but they keep to themselves. At the center, before a large fireplace was what I assumed was the gathered players for the Raid. I was about to approach until someone nudged my side, causing me to yelp.

"Hey, Arto-" Skye's words died in his mouth as I glared back at him for startling me, seeing his plain, scared expression eye me with a hoof raised. "S-sorry, a pleasure to be working with you again." He bowed his head rapidly as I blinked

"Don't... startle me," Clearing my throat of my almost broken facade I grinned. "So, you brought your tagalongs?" I tilted past him to find Seraph, Axel, and - "Heey buddy!" It was Riot, flashing a toothy grin as his hoof immediately threw itself to bump mine. He sported quite the bulky armor, primarily the thick, blackiron gauntlets around his hooves, and the metal that outlined his muzzle and head like a vice

"Hey, man, great to see you again!" As outgoing as Rain. He moved closer to Skye, wrapping a hoof around his neck. "Like you'd leave me out of all the fun, I got your back!" He bumped Skye's chest, the 'Cheater' smiling with a nod

"Thanks again, man,"

"Hey, no worries, bro, with us three this'll be a sinch." Confident in his words I turned, motioning to the awaiting players

"Guess we should join them, wonder if any have some intelligence among their groups, 'cause if not we're dead," I was offering them too much credit but who knows. "If anything we'll just take things from here."

"That might work out better, AL and KOH are sending their rune holders," Axel's deep voice broke my stride, causing me to trip into Rain's quick hooves

"Oh come on... just Once can we have a clean run?" This was alot to ask of the Gods, but for all that was cruel in this world, why did it have to be them. Running my hooves down my face I groaned bitterly. "I can't work with sheep, they just... fail every order you attempt to give! How can I work with that!?"

"They aren't that bad," Seraph tried to calm me down but I just chuckled at her assuring voice

"'Aren't that bad'? Where the hell were you fighting Trench, I want to meet these competent, coordinated teams!" My eyes were wide with sarcasm, some groups in the hall watching us as I ranted. "If a bunch of nobody-glory-seeking players can't master the 'Three Cs of Raids' - Coordination, Communication, and Competence - then there is nothing I want to do with them!" Some around us sent glares my way as I snorted. "What? Don't like the truth, that's fine, I couldn't care less for your opinions!"

As the berating and shouting began, Skye face-hoofed while Rain chuckled softly, rubbing his back while Seraph stood completely flabbergasted and Axel kept his mouth shut, Riot did what he could get me to calm down. "This is going to be a long day."

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

After a... heated debate on the intelligence of many players the Guild Hall emptied, leaving only the parties that would amass for the Raid on the Vault just off the horizon of Canterlot. The one orchestrating the strategy was actually a dragon player, surprising me and Skye as we thought the class wasn't available until the full release. He was like an adult version of Spike, only his spines were doubled, and with black tips, alongside his yellowish-orange eyes, and silver armour modeled after the Night Guard.

Beside him was his only companion, a mute pegasus in all black, the only thing showing was his black legs, his silver, spiky tail, and the locks from under the hood, a bandana covering his muzzle. His belt lined with two curved daggers. As the conversations died out we saw the dragon, raise his hand.

With a sharp smile, he gave everyone a welcoming look, just like... I felt my body go rigid but said nothing. "Welcome, I first want to say 'thank you' to all of you, the work and effort you've put in to acquire the runes to access the Vault proves that those gathered here are the brightest and most well-equipped players for this dangerous task!" Skye jabbed my side to keep me from laughing, I rolled my eyes

"Now, you're all the top players in the game and are the top frontliners in our progress over two months so I won't beat around the bush as to why you're all here," Klaw's smile became far more stern, placing his claws on the table. "We're all here to defeat the boss at the end of the Vault known as, the 'Vault of the Abomination', is that clear?"

Numerous nods and hums occurred. Klaw smiled, materializing a rune similar to mind from his menu, the symbol was that of a sun. "Now, can those that hold a rune please present them to everyone, this will allow us to advocate team leaders for the Raid?" Doing as instructed I flicked open my menu to procure my Sea Rune

To my right, Skye produced the Earth Rune. Across the table was AL's leader, Bombard, with a stern frown he dropped his Sky Rune to the table. In reaction to the gathering of the runes all their symbols started to glow. Mine light blue, Skye's a bronze, Bombard's was white, and Klaw's gold. Then our notification appeared.

[Quest Updated!]
-The Shattered Throne-
You have united your Rune with the others, the gateway awaits your keys, and so does that which lurks in the dark.
[ ] Enter Vault of the Abomination
[ ] Reach the Shattered Throne
[ ] Defeat the Vault Warrior

"Looks like that answers one question," I muttered, setting my rune to the table. "If I'm to make a suggestion, chief, best make three teams, one for frontlines, another for defense and to switch with the vanguard, then the third team acts as support."

Klaw's brow raised curiously, then Bombard opened his mouth. "Hold on a second, who died and made you leader!?"

I slipped up but it was too late, "Gwyn did due to your incompetence, now shut up." My deathly stare washed over his party, seeing him open his mouth to retort but it just came out as a grunt with his hooves crossed. Breathing out my nose I continued my reasoning. "We have to maximize our weak points effectively, this was a piece to the game that had never been seen outside trailers and sneak peeks, every room, every hallway is an unknown variable, our best chances are to accommodate each other's strengths."

"I agree," Skye spoke up, cutting me off. He wasn't budging on the subject either it seems, his hoof on the table. "Given the many diverse changes, not just to the system but the Regional bosses it's safe to assume any pre-existing info we have on the game is a bust, the most effective way to accomplish out goal would be to play things cautiously until we can find a solution, even if that means we're in there longer."

After a lengthy pause, Klaw chuffed, nodding to his companion who in return did the same. "I'm glad both of you are on the same wavelength, this makes my decision far less rigorous," Motioning with a claw between me and Skye he smiled. "I would like for you two to be apart of the vanguard then, alongside your chosen partners if you wish."

We both jumped, looking to one another while pointing a hoof at each other. "Seriously?" Give the fact he was the famous 'Cheater' and I was currently antagonizing half the city I don't see how this will fair well with the others

"What the hell - Erk!" My sharp gaze shut someone up as Klaw continued.

"I understand there may be some bad blood between some of you, and I am not asking you to be friends but to simply trust in each others ability to win," His words kept them all attentive, placing a hand to his chest. "I myself find it hard to put my faith in those I do not know personally, this is a large set for myself as well, this is why I want all of us to try and for this moment push aside our rivalries, at the end of the day, it is our strength that will display itself to the players that this game isn't unbeatable, that there is a chance we can take to move forward."

Was this what you said to them that day? You understood their goals, their morales, and encouraged them to look past such trivial nonsense to fight for a just cause? Is this how I failed you, Sir Knight? I didn't quite listen to whatever else was said, my head just couldn't forget that day, seeing that name crossed out, why now, why was I feeling guilty for something out of my control?

"-It's settled," Klaw declared, "This afternoon we will gather at the gateway into the Vault, as for the team leaders, we have Skye as Team Vanguard, myself as Team Defense, and Bombard for Team Support, any questions?" No answer was given and he clapped. "Very well, make whatever preparations you can and meet beneath the Vault tower at four this afternoon, meeting adjourned people!" He threw his arm wide as we broke away from the table

I was waiting by the Teleport Rune to the Vault, Rain happily conversing with Seraph, both looked to be having fun, whatever it was they were laughing about involved them pointing to me, hrm. Off to the other end of the park was Axel and Riot, both actually having a decent conversation with Bombard who looked to be taking what they said on the chin, must be about our heated issues. So that left me to mull over Klaw and his ally, man with literally no words.

He and Gywn were so similar, the way they just... united people with promising yet realistic words, it wasn't some bloated or misleading speech about friendship, yeah I know, the audacity. Hell, even I believed in his words when I didn't for Gwyn, maybe I'm just fooling myself? I tapped my forehead, disgruntled by the thoughts I've never had before.

"Dammit," Closing my eyes for a moment I remembered I still had something in my inventory. Blinking, I flung my hooves wide and brought my menu up, scrolling through my items until I found the blue-tier equipment slowly stop before my hoof. 'Bedrock Shield', it had good defense and the ability to break minerals as fast as a pickaxe, odd but handy skill if you're just out on a quest

"Hey," My eyes flew from the menu to the sandwich held before my muzzle, smells pretty good too, toasted. Even as my mind wandered with stupid thoughts I couldn't stop from almost drooling at the sight. Skye smiled down at me, sitting down as he procured his own from his menu. "Found this nice stand not far from here, thought I'd buy a few, so here, on me."

"Uh-um, thanks," Almost uncharacteristic soft of me I took his offered food and bit into the sandwich. It wasn't 'Oh My God I'm going to blush!' sorta tasty, just... nice, satisfying. With a hum, I gave a wink. "Not a bad choice, who thought salmon could taste so real in the virtual world."

Skye too smiled, nodding. "I knwn rght?" He answered with his mouth full, myself blowing a raspberry

"Not one for manners I see?" He gulped, looking down at his sandwich in his hooves as I chuckled, nudging his side. "Roll with the punches, my guy, you get used to them."

I don't know how long we sat and ate without a word, it felt nice, perplexing as the idea was to someone like me, who doesn't like waiting around. Skye was just strange, he kept a calm, almost lax aura around him yet when he fights he might very well be on equal ground to me, how long has it been since someone's achieved that form of experience? No one really knows who I am, better off not knowing, I certainly wish I was that ignorant.

"Skye?" He looked away from his menu while shifting through weapons. I kept my eyes to the sky. "Was Gw - Sir Knight, what did he say to you before the boss fight?"

I could see his expression so I just waited for a reply. "He said... 'You're the best damn group I could possibly hope for. Let's win this thing. Let's go'," Every word I could easily see him saying in that heroic voice of his, stupid as it was, heh, wonder how he rallied people like Bombard beforehand?

"Tell me something else, is it true, that it's not just 'Cheater' you're called?" I eyed him out the corner of my eye, seeing him shift sharply. "That you're his son, Ryder's I mean?" It was whispered here-and-there, even Gin kept silent when I asked, but the rumor was that he proclaimed to have known far more about MLPR because he knew the man that created the game, that put quite the reputation on Skye's back, and not a sweet, Gary-Sue kind

A howl in the wind passed between us I awaited his reply, if he didn't say that was fine, I couldn't care less if he's related to Ryder or not, he wasn't the one that created Malware, if he did then I'd have kicked him in the balls by now. Finally, his muzzle opened. "...Yeah," He sighed, sounding exhausted. "That's me, though I only really know-"

"-Didn't ask for insight, just wanted to know if all this hot air had some form of tangible truth - man, you worry too much," Standing up with a smile I offered my hoof to Skye, "When this Raid's over... I want to tell you something, from one Alpha Tester to another, sound fair?"

He didn't say anything, merely eyeing me as his baffled, skeptical expression morphed to relief while reaching for my hoof. "Sure, deal."

"Fuck! Why!?" I snapped as the blinding light dissipated in my pupils, leaving me reeling from the flash. In time, and many complaints, all of us now stood in the middle of a glade uprooted by the abrasive spire that tore from the earth, forming jagged cliffs and waterfalls to pour into the dark abyss below. A large, marble road led to the spire, archways and bricks broken and overtaken by debris and nature

"Wow, it's really big up close!" Rain gawked, nearly falling backward in flight trying to measure the height of the spire of black stone with white edges, it looked like several ribs grew from the earth to brace the base as we strolled. "How tall is the dungeon?"

"From this height?" I pondered, then whistled. "Probably a dozen floors, maybe more?"

"There's the doorway!" Someone from Bombard's party stated the obvious ahead. A large pair of black doors with gold trimming and elegant designs marked the entry. Those same shiny textures circling four holes in the doorway, something we ourselves needn't struggle with as the whole world trembled with a low bellow of a horn

From nowhere our four Runes appeared by force. Floating high above the broken archway to slot themselves into the holes, lightning up several scores on the doors. Within the moment the vibration ceased, we stood back at the gust of wind rushing past us as I held onto my coat before the wind mellowed out, and the black corridor of vines, leaves, and thorns greeted us from behind the doors.

"Alright, everyone, this is it," Klaw stated, standing before the stairway leading inside. "Once we go through there will be no telling what we may encounter so remember to stay on your toes and stick by your partners, understood!?" A chorus of yells and agreements were met. "Good! Then come, let us show Malware not to underestimate our devotion to survive"

"Ready?" Skye asked brow raised curiously

I chuffed like there was any doubt before. "Armed and ready."

"Let's go, you guys!" Rain cheered beside me, energized for what lies beyond

With one step forward, the shadow of the Vault shrouded us all in its chilling visage.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Time to enter the first Raid, and things will be different from AO's first Raid, so be prepared. Surprise again, Silver and Klaw return, though Silver is completely mute in this and with an added extra trait ;). I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: What Lies Beyond
The Raid Team delves into the remains of the Vault, however, traps and monsters lay in waiting to impede their race to the top.

Episode 11 - What Lies Beyond

Act III - Dark Within

[Vault of the Abomination | Dungeon Floor 7]

I turned to see two more shatter. During our initial entry to the dungeon, the walls immediately triggered a reaction, closing off the exit and dividing our groups among the gloomy halls of forestation. We were forced to find our way up without any real contact with our allies say for their stats below our own. It was just me, Silver, and Klaw.

The hollow moans were all around us now, while the clanking and clopping echoed. My buckler aided in lighting the way. It was almost morbid with how dark it had become, the loud noises of unknown monsters with the snapping vines, and what sounded like crunching in the darkness of the tree-like ground, no longer dirt, or even grass, just bumpy vines, and bark. Then, the sickly green glow that emanated from the cracks in the wall split at a crossroads.

"Great, more divides, this makes it, what, seven floors now?" I mused dryly, tapping my chin with a hoof. "Okay, Silver's turn to decide."

The silent player stepped toward the crossroads, eyeing each passage carefully, then, he withdrew a rounded potion like a health pot, swishing around the black liquid inside. Then he handed it to me. I quirked a brow but he nodded anyway, pushing it to my hoof. "If you say so - or don't, that's fine too," Popping the cork off, I downing the grape-flavored elixir

"Maybe we should keeping going straight, I don't see any reason we should wander around in circles." Klaw offered while I stepped in front of them, swinging Genesis to brush some weeds near the central tunnel. "Is something the matter, Artorias?"

"Nope, just... three, two, one..."

I drew Genesis upward, swiping an arrow from the sky. From the darkness sprung forth several enemies. Four armored ponies with the same tainted skin, skeletal socket lost in a crimson glow. Behind the Blood were two unicorns under the same infection, only their dark magic leveled two bows high, nocking an arrow each. These archer ponies were all of them roughly level twenty-seven to twenty-eight, two higher than us.

Keeping my shield tight to my foreleg, I lowered my sword down with a dark green glow, my hooves firm while the first two Bloods pushed for the attack, swords glowing gold. Twisting Genesis back, I swung horizontally, tearing through the duo with twin halos of the resulting AOE dividing them into shards. Sliding to a halt I lifted my buckler to take two arrows and a from the right.

I pushed back to my back hooves, swinging over my head and down with a powerful lunge, slicing across the third Blood's shoulder, it pushed me back while the fourth lunged to defend its allies, both slowly beginning to rejuvenate health among this cursed Vault. I held my shield before my face, the surface turning a light blue against the darkness.

"!" The second they retaliated was when the concussive blast of air rippled through the third's chest, its body colliding with the forth while my cheek took an arrow for me as I drew through them both, drawing back around for the Arc variant, the twin slashes slaying the corrupted ponies.

Inverting my grip, I swung up through the dark, deflecting an arrow while trailing my sword back toward the archers.

*Schhwaff-Schhwaff*

My body was grazed slightly at the last moment I pulled my head back. feel my hooves tremble at the ice infecting the ground the arrows pierced. Keeping to the left I rushed the duo, both unable to pin me as I kept flanking, lunging with a scarlet blade. tore across the gap, impaling the first Eye while my back right hoof was flung forward to snap-kick the second Eye from piercing me. Wrenching my sword free I raised it high and plunged it through both Eyes, their health vanishing and reducing their bodies to glass before my eyes. With a spin of Genesis, I sheathed it once more, my attention back on my group while I popped a health potion.

Dashing my tabs away I bowed to Silver. "Nice thinking with the aggro potion," He reciprocated the nod, eyeing Klaw who was down the hall to our left. Looking between us we shrugged and approached our curious ally. "What's up, chie - woooooo-" There was a massive chasm between here and the next staircase leading upward. "-oow, that's a freaking huge hole," I then sneezed moments after saying that

Klaw hummed slowly. "I could fly you across, there seems to be no sign of any traps along the length of the tunnel," His claw poked at the walls. "Seems if you lack wings there's a form of jumping puzzle, my guess is that they fall after a couple of seconds."

"Interesting, so a dungeon that progressively tests all races, so inherently without either of you I'd be at a disadvantage." Smart planning, flawed given I had a purple dragon in shiny armor to carry me over. "I'd say this is the point you carry the damsel across danger but we both know who's carrying who in this Raid."

Klaw chuckled at that, patting my back. "You have been instrumental so far, my friend-" I don't know about 'friend'. "-Not to worry, I'll be swift as to save your pride."

I put a mock hoof to my chest. "My hero," Allowing him to pick me up while Silver appeared to have already crossed, glaring daggers at us we flew. "I think he's peeved at our mucking about?" Man, there's a fire in those eyes

Klaw's arms shuddered slightly. "Ah, yes, well Silver's silence is only matched by his, ahem, short temper." He murmured to my ear as we landed safely. "Shall we continue?"

"Aye, let's," I motioned for Silver to take the lead for us, himself nodding slowly before proceeding

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

[Dungeon Floor 10]

"I think we're stuck," Rain murmured over the bubbling pits of green magma, or whatever it was that flowed from old, withered ports in the walls, it stunk like a sewer and was painful to look at. They had to cross hallways filled with the stuff using platforms but some weren't as stable as others, sinking into the green sludge. "There's not alot of rocks to use."

"Just keep goin'!" Rain pouted at the rude yelling from Bombard, she was all for getting to the next floor but blurting out commands like when she teamed with his group in the past wasn't helping. "You can fly, so go and check them!"

"What's that gonna do?" She questioned, the only other pegasi of his group flying next to her. Bombard starting stomping his foot, terrifying the others as they felt the ground rumble under them

"We can't just throw ourselves at the rocks so you fly and wait 'till they sink, then once they come back up we can time crossing 'em!" He spouted off and Rain blinked with surprise, looking back down the hall as some of the mounds of stone did indeed bob to the surface again. "We can't cross and get all panicked because the island starts sinking fast so you're both our best shot at the crossing!"

Rain then giggled, landing on a new platform. "You're pretty smart for a short, grumpy guy who yells alot."

"Watch it with that mouth, you brat!" He snapped back, herself rolling her eyes while scratching her cheek

"Yeah-yeah, I hear ya loud and clear." "A little too loudly actually."

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

[Dungeon Floor 9]

"Hyah!" Riot struck with his reinforced gauntlets, the bronze sheen fading as the impact tore the head off a Timberwolf, now infected and turned into a , the wolf's body crumbled and shattered as another pounced through, forcing him to spin on his forehooves, spinning his back hooves, striking with the midnight blue arc shattering across the lunging wolf's side, followed by a contrasting hue across his left hoof, slapping a third into Axel's massive upswing with his ax, the mint-green light crashing into the Fang's frame as it slammed into the ceiling

"Just a few more and we've reached the next floor!" Axel grunted, shoving a Fang back from his ax while Riot slid in beside him, grinning as his heart raced

"Come on, we can bust through these mutts no sweat!" With a mighty yell, the boys engaged their targets

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

[Dungeon Floor 11]

"Keep moving!" Seraph called back to Skye, thrusting her rapier through the shambling Bloods as they crawled after them to the next floor, both having opted to outmaneuver their targets to save time and resources. It was tricky with the pitfall traps but judging from the distant explosions it was clear the others weren't far behind. "Skye, how's the staircase!?"

"We're clear, move up!" He declared, "Switch!" She leapt up while he threw himself down the flight, striking with an emerald roundhouse kick to the first pony, itself crashing into the others as they lost their footing and tumbled down the steps. "Let's run!"

Her hood bobbed, "On it!" Soon the duo made their escape from the dark corridor unscathed

[Vault of the Abomination | Testing Ground 013]

After hours of climbing, we arrived at the top of the spire, or atleast we weren't climbing anymore. Through a large archway of grey stone, we came out into a massive, glowing pit in the middle of the chamber, a single ring of stone lining the outside of the molten, cursed sea below, the pungent smell infecting my snout. It was like a swamp, a green smog hung around in a thin layer above the green lake.

Deadpanning, I spotted two other entries across the chamber, seeing Skye and his partner come out of one. "Oh, I know what this is..." Out the final doorway came Bombard and Rain with their allies. "We're in a boss arena." Time to clinch the buttcheeks

"How are you-" Klaw doubted my word, then allow this perfectly timed event to unfold

*Rumble... RUMBLE... CRASH*

The archways hummed as thorny vines unraveled from the cracks, caging us inside the chamber while it began to shake violently. Most of us drew our weapons and fanned out across the outer ring in preparation for the fight. All of us waited for the shaking to cease while pressing our bodies to the walls to secure our footing. The first thing to occur was a sudden fountain of green magma to erupt, followed by a massive, black hand of brambles and bark.

The hand crashed down, clasped onto a platform to hoist its other arm on the adjacent side. Whatever bubbled beneath the waves was pulled forth with a cascade of molten liquid, the lower-half sinking back into the pool below. It was a mass of vines, both normal, and tainted with Kranon's corruption. Trees sprouted atop its broad shoulders, a forest seemed to grow on its chest too, alongside lime-green energy pulsing among the vines like blood, some it of them splitting the thick hide. The head was akin to a knight, radiating green eyes that lacked pupils with no mouth. Bare tree jutting from its head like a twisted crown. Bark covered its joints like natural armor, runes crackling to life across its arms, splitting some of the bark while flexing out its digits.

<<< Agater, Hands of Kranon - Lv. 30>>>

The declaration of its name led to the three health bars appearing below its name while it lurched up, the branches twisted and snapped, as it seemed to release an inhumane roar of defiance at our presence. Lowering my guard, I just gawked at the monster, swinging my hoof out. "Seriously!? What is the target audience with this amalgamation of the trees!?"

Sensing my presence a fist embedded itself in the wall just inches from my face, myself completely unphased by the surprise attack as everyone went on the move to avoid the arms. Klaw flew high, drawing his greatsword as it gleamed in the emerald pool below. "Ready yourselves and keep away from its arms, long-range fighters aim for its face!" He declared, drawing his massive weapon around as a whirlwind gathered in a white tint around his true edge. "!" As the name implied, a torrent of razor wind tore from the sword, slashing at the brambles while he flew downward, evading the backswing of an arm

From the wall, Silver dove over a sweep of the left-hand side of the arena, both curved daggers gold as he tore across the length of the arm like a razor-blade, lightning crackling with each strike as Agater reeled back, throwing Silver off its shoulder before crushing the ground just inches from his hooves, the hooded pony shaking off the stun while running away. His speed and Klaw's strength made for a good combo, but those attacks combined with the other players wasn't scratching it. Maybe those symbols...?

"You figure something out?" Skye ran up to me with Seraph behind him, Rain was up above with a pegasus and Klaw, the trio keeping the arms from swiping us into the fires below. Back to Skye, he was right, though my info is limited to speculation

"It's a gamble, but..." Looking to Seraph I saw her blink with a confused expression. "Mind being my lab rat for a sec? Relax, I'm not killing you... yet." You never know with these things

"I um, I feel I don't have a choice?"

"You're right, you don't, now move!" I slapped her flank to get her moving a few feet ahead of us, her face burning crimson at my chuckle as the particles left the bottle in my hoof, attaching themselves to her form. "Aggro buff."

"You sure she'll be fine?" Skye asked warily, raising a hoof at my questioning stare. "I-I just rather not get haunted by her for this."

I chuffed, "Just follow my lead, fellow gamer." Winking the boss stopped its attack on Bombard's team, drawing its sickening gaze over to Seraph who slowed herself to a halt, eyeing the tree golem as its left arm craned back, thundering toward her form at an alarming rate. The fist connected to the wall, digging further than intended while Seraph leapt aside, brushing the sweat from her brow. "Now!"

Suddenly, the path behind us was slapped with a massive hand, the large mass sweeping toward us as we ran. We kept up our pace, leaping just shy of the hand and onto the wriggling arm. "Aim for the runes!" I galloped up the length of the tree arm, Skye and I cut off by the right hand attempting to crush me as I spotted one of the weakened plates of bark inscribed with a rune. Kicking back on my hooves the hand skimmed my mane, Genesis glowing scarlet with a powerful, cross through the rune as the green sap spewed from the wound, a good chunk taken from the health bar as the arm buckled. Down near the palm, Skye copied my motion, stabbing the rune as another piece was taken.

The arm freed itself, throwing Skye off while I climbed up to the shoulder, hooking my left hoof around a vine while drawing my blade back, casting it in gold for a powerful thrust to stun Agater, green blood sprayed while I drew my buckler between it and my chest. "!" The airwaves shoved me back, my hooves skidding back on all fours while the left arm twitched and slipped from the platform, the side of its head crashing into the stone ring with a long groan.

"It's head's down, go-go-go!" Bombard spoke with genuine clarity as we grouped on the head, using skills and buffs to our speed and strength to rip apart its head further now that it was no longer out of our reach. In the corner of my eye, the first bar was shattered, a backswing from Klaw and Axel's weaponry tossing the head back as the hand slid between us, pushing it back with a moan. "Craaap, run!"

"Wow, what a real hero." My dry remark did little to stop the sweep of a hand as I was forced to block the wall of wood with my buckler, taking some damage as it swept through me, and a few others. "We need that right arm bruised next!"

"Leave it us, man!" I heard Riot proclaim with Axel, Rain, and Klaw by his sides. "You guys step back, I got this!" He grinned, brushing them off as he took a stand, myself, and my small group evading the left arm as it attempted to flatten us. "Come on, big guy, right here!" Hearing his cry it loomed over his toothy smile, both gauntlets on his forehooves expanding into... duel shields? Is he-? "That's right, I'm the front-horse of this Raid, I'm !"

True to his word, his fur hardened into steel, locking the two square shields forward to take the might of a direct hit from Agater, a cloud of dust and crunch of stone scraping against steel. Even I was surprised to see him holding back the massive fist with just two trick-shields and a defense buff, an impressive one at that. Riot's straightforward but this takes it to another level. Despite his hold on the fist, his health was chipping away gradually, his hooves strained and dug into the cracked stone beneath him.

"We're up!" Rain declared from above, casting her blade in a blue hue for several slashes straight to the palm, the square tearing into the rune as the fist struggled against Riot's defense. "Switch!" She flew past Klaw upside-down, allowing the dragon to land on the wrist, plunging his large sword into the dark, flaming igniting from the handle and down the length of the sword

"!" The magic spell enhanced his weapon with fire, his arms dragging the sword up and through the second rune with a powerful crescent of flames to split vines and evaporate sap with a single thrust. "Switch!"

His claw slapped to Axel's hoof, the dark earth pony, jumping once to avoid the left arm's palm-heel strike, bringing his ax down in a diagonal line with both hooves, a forest green encapsulating the blade, created a seismic impact to the shoulder's rune, obliterating the weaker bark with a massive blast of emerald light that threw the large stallion back, both Rain and Klaw catching him before he could plummet to the pool below.

That last strike resulted in Agater losing his posture, collapsing to the platform for our awaiting blades. The same mesh of flashing strobes of light and call of skills ranged for nearly half-a-minute, burying every digit we could through the monster's skull with vicious ferocity. One final wave of attacks caused the head to jerk away instantly, all of us missing one another narrowly with our weapons as it threw its head high, slamming both fists into the walkway with a terrifying amount of force, effectively dividing the pathways with a large gap.

"Tch, the final phase," Bombard grinned, posing his weapon. "This time you'll lose out on that last attack bonus."

Was that all he cared about? Well, granted, I wasn't going to lose to Skye this time so all's fair from this point on. Agater unleashed a deafening roar. "It's becoming Phase Two, get out of there!" Skye barked at the pegasus; they moved for an escape, only to have two massive arms block their attempts, the hands punching the walls of the arena. "He's been cut off!"

"I'm on it!" Rain didn't even hesitate to take flight, however, that faceplate of Agater's finally fell away, a horrifying visage taking its place

Its face was like a molten slag, green sap dripping from its skeletal features, the mouth opened wide to the player with green ooze dripping from its gargling maw. Rain partially dove as she evaded the stream of sap vomited atop the trapped player, drowning out his cries in the revolting smell of rotten sap. But we all just stared in shock, the sludge where the player was burst into glass, the shards fizzling to nothing.

"In one hit...!" Riot gaped, whilst I backed up slightly, looking back to the others who just stood, frozen in shock. I can't blame them, that... was the first person I've seen with my own eyes perish from this world, sure, I saw the memory of Gwyn but this was here and now, and I couldn't do anything. That just... bothered me so much

"How can we take something like this down? There no more weak points." Axel was wrong, we can take it down, it just took me a second, in a way, that player won't die in vain, I may not have ever known him or her, hell, I couldn't recall their name, but I'll be damned if I let another life just be scrubbed clean from the world without proper respect

"Klaw, Riot, Axel, slash the right wrist!" I waved my sword to boys, just as the lumbering boss craned its head toward us, growling as the maw leaked sap. "Skye, Bombard, Silver, and Seraph take the left!" Enhancing myself with a flash of red I felt my muscles tense. "Me, Rain, and...?" I waited for the unicorn to answer

"V-Valiant, Ma'am!" Good.

"Valiant, you're with us, once that ugly mug comes crashing down we unleash everything we got into its mouth, aim for the spot between the eyes!" Without any other deliberation, our squad disassembled as a fist drove itself through the ring, segmenting more of the platform while the right sunk its fingers into the pathway. "We're only a step away from the end of this, balls deep no retreat!" Man, I love that saying, even got a small chuckle from me in this predicament. "Here goes..."

From my item bar, I withdrew my own Aggro Potion, downing the contents as a hand collided with my shield, throwing me across the chamber while my health slowly fell into the yellow. With myself as his new favorite pony in the world, Agater placed both hands on either side of him, fingers tear at the pathways while leering down at me with a gargling growl. While Valiant and Rain rushed to my sides I could only pray that now the players before me could pull off this stupid gamble of mine, less we become a mesh of melted ponies and slime.

"This seems too risky..." Rain murmured, tensing up beside me as the others moved in with their skills alight in this radiant arena. Patting her head I felt her body jolt as her big eyes looked up at me and my smile

"Don't worry your little head, I got this," It's me after all. "May not be much but we've got our ace in the hole." Slowly, her bright smile returned, nodding as I nudged Valiant. "Keep your spear straight, kid."

"R-right, of course!" He stammered under her blonde mane, bringing his spear around in his gold magic

"Take this!!" Riot cried aloud, a massive explosion of red particles from the right arm as the shoulder and bicep buckled. To the left, a current of ice and water was carved an arc through the air, splitting the left wrist as it to sway, the torso of Agater shaking under the loss of grip strength, the sickly sap dripping from the eyes, nose, and mouth while it plummeted toward us, the forehead smashing into the edge of the pathway as it bounced back from the shockwave

"It's down!!" Klaw commended the lot while I drew my forehoof back, channeling my stamina into a dark red cone forming around the tip. Valiant's spear did the same only gold ribbons enveloped the shaft. To my left, Rain's purple blade turned a vastly luminous variant of its tone, crackling like lightning caught in a bottle

This was our one chance, a single stroke to the center of the monstrosity's core. My pupils dilated and my breathing snagged. Why I said what I was never thinking didn't quite register in my head, but as of right now, I couldn't care any less, "Don't let anyone else die, come on!!" With a furious battle cry, the three of us lunged for Agater's skeletal face, the maw wide and unable to produce any sap in the time it took for us to bridge the brief gap between us.

The combined strength of , , and tore clean through the soft flesh hidden under layers of wood and vine, the crackle and hiss of our skills mingling against the boss' face causing a massive explosion of light and stardust, three small halos of our colorful attacks ringing out from Agater's crown, the impact enough to shatter the face tenfold, spewing sap as the hands fell back, unable to hold the boss up any longer as the last of its health was stripped away from its critical point.

With one final spasm and roar, the arms went limp, slipping back into the pool of molten slag below, the torso slowly following suit as the shattered skull slumped to one side, sliding back beneath the molten waves, ushering in silence both from us and the music. Then, I just lowered my head with an empty sigh.

[CONGRATULATIONS!!]

|||||||||||><|||||||||||

The small group cheered for our victory, all of us going up a level in the process, one thing this game got right was not making Bosses like this crazy strong and overly complex, otherwise, we'd have met our match. I'm good at what I do but even people like me can't predict and work out strategies one the first go all the time, if this were a boss with a wipe mechanic we'd probably be reduced to fragments right around now.

[Artorias - Lv. 27-> Lv. 28]

[Purplrain - Lv. 26 -> Lv. 27]

[Skye - Lv. 27 -> Lv. 28]
[Seraph - Lv. 27 -> Lv. 28]

|Bonus Drop!|
Reflective Breastplate ****
Stamina Increase - 50 | Defense - 56
Passive Skill: Mirror - Random chance attack will reflect, dealing 15% of its original damage onto the opponent

I whistled as the tabs disappeared, my hoof tapping the circle to equip the new armor. Under my Proxima Coat the shiny, mirror-like breastplate began to form, strapping itself around my torso with a little 'shiing' for added effect. "Daaamn, now we're talking," Rubbing the back of my head I eyed Bombard as he looked through his own rewards, frowning sorrowfully down at the molten pit. "Oi, Bombard!" He glanced at me. "What's his name?"

"What?" He muttered

"You're dumb enough already, just tell me," I berated as he grumbled for a moment, then stared directly at me

"Wyoming," So the state, huh? Nodding to his reply I closed my menu, peering down at the molten rock below. "What's it to you?"

"Can't a gal remember a fallen ally?" I sounded casual but I was being serious, I never got his name 'till now. Smiling gently, I bowed my head to him, surprising everyone. "I'm sorry, I should've known his name." Even for a person of my capabilities, that was plain ignorance on my part

"I, ahh," He slapped his forehead, rubbing his mane. "It's fine, alright," Hmph, a complete idiot when bickering with that other group but he's not lost yet I suppose

"Moving on, lackeys!" I threw my hoof up then down at the pit. "Just a small hint, buuuut..." All their eyes traveled down, seeing the black cracks above the fire, stretching into a strange, starlight abyss. "I think that's the next place to go, I dunno, just something tells me the black, scary, sucky void might be a clue."

"Her sarcasm aside, we should rest a moment," Klaw ushered us away from the edge, watching me solemnly. "Once we travel into that rift, there will be no turning back."

On July 1st, 2022 at 6:23 PM, the first boss of the Vault of the Abomination was slain, however, a brave player by the name of Wyoming had perished while defending his comrades from the boss, he too joined the others in death, but mark my words, he didn't die for nothing, don't forget that. I never will. I may not come off as the kind of girl to care for the survivability of others, however, he chose to be here even though it could be his end, that alone, earns my respect.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

The second-to-last episode of this very short act, but that's how all the Vaults will go. Sadly, a player has died in this attempt, and a final boss remains. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Sapphire Star
Traversing the rift the Raid Team sets hoof in the Shattered Throne, the nesting place of the monster behind the corruption.

Episode 12 - Sapphire Star

Act III - Dark Within

[Vault of the Abomination | Shattered Throne]

There was a tension in the air so thick my sword could cut through and still not reach the end. This was an unknown territory with no plausible way out other than to win or to die. We were the only ones that had any inkling to the truth hidden through the rift that we now traversed, the colors drowned in darkness with a hint of white, the sensation of my body tugged through a confined space evident with each second I fell further and further into the darkness below my hooves. Even for me, this was an odd mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

We were soon spat out of the rift, landing in a heap on the floor with Rain and Skye crashing atop me as I groaned, eyeing the surroundings that finally took shape around us. We stood beyond the edge of an elegant, white archway, the room laid out before was stretching higher than I could visibly see, the pristine walls stretched with pillars and amethyst decore fixed into the middle of their segmented faces. The floor was also white with amethyst rock decorating the outer edges of two flights of stairs to our left and right, both leading around a catwalk that looped the whole arena. Purplish-pink lightning from lanterns and fixed lights in the ground offering us clarity.

To the far back the wall was completely obliterated, floating masses of rock, pillar, and debris slowly rotating in a loss of gravity, spilling out into the blackness beyond, that same infected substances, seeping into the marble, breaking it apart like a parasite. Through the shrouded darkness, under flashes of distant, white lightning was something beyond the crumbled remains of steps forged from the debris.

A large throne cobbled together from the rock, an empty throne.

"There's no turning back now," Rain murmured, helping Skye up as we drew our weapons. "But where's the boss?"

"Give it a minute," Skye replied, motioning with his blade. Then his eyes widened while my fur stood on end. "Everyone get ready!"

I joined Skye alongside Rain, and Seraph at the frontline, Klaw standing behind us with his team. "This is no time to become hesitant!" Our grips on our weapons became taut, "We must defeat this boss!" I heard spells beginning to channel and pop in the rear, my body becoming lighter yet durable and stronger as icons lined my status bars. "Survive and win, my comrades!"

"YEAH!!!"

The world rumbled with a low growl, loose rock and debris rolling across the floor while I stared expectantly at the throne, every flash of stray bolts painting a brief image of the forsaken throne. One more flash, and a massive claw sunk its talons into the base. I almost jumped at the snarl, seeing the black figure rise from the corruption and over the throne, slithering through the void and into the tower. Bracing myself, the light revealed the creature entirely.

The monster was as tall as a truck carrying cargo, it had the face of a wolf with the body of a strong, black-scaled wyvern, thick, muscly arms with wings clawing at the ground with crystal-white talons, the wing bone lined with four spikes each, the fifth tipping both off. These same crystals jutted from its chin and along its lower jaw, some sprouting below the ponty ears and atop its scalp. Curved teeth bear as it snarled back at us, stalking slowly from the dark.

It had a large, thick tail edged with crystal-spines, one jutting from the end of the tail like a broadsword, the appendage flicking around to shear across the floor with a painful scream as it sharpened the blade, raising it as it roared with ferocity. When the head lowered, its scarlet eyes glowered with hatred, jaw twitching with a growl.

<<>>

Not so much as a warning before all of us separated from a massive cone-shaped blast of crystal air. The shockwave smashing into the back wall as we took to the open space surrounded by the catwalk. It fired another, hot-blue funnel of crystals, twisting its body the moment we lunged for an attack, spinning its body around once to push us aside, then the eyes focused on Skye, bringing its left arm down for a swooping strike, then it followed with the right, slamming both claws into the ground to uproot stone and keep Rain from flying down to attack.

Even as our weapons tore into its scales, it barely flinched, spinning right back around to loom over us. Locking to Riot who stood with Klaw it charged with its maw wide, stampeding over my buckler and Seraph's thrust, her rapier bouncing. Kranon brought a claw down on the duo, Riot taking the hit with both shields as his body strained under the force, then the tail swiped around, slashing him across the side and into Klaw's arm as he threw him away in time to parry another slant from Kranon's tail, wedging the tail into the ground as it struggled to pry it.

This was our chance! Throwing my weight with I pierced the right shoulder alongside Skye's four-point slash of cyan as it mingled Klaw's flames and Seraph's scarlet prods. Kranon roared, throwing us back as it spun, drawing a claw toward me. "Switch!" I raised my buckler, setting off to counter the swipe as Rain flew by, carving two horizontal lines through the scales, the force knocking Kranon back and into the broadside of an ax and greatsword, both erupting with a cross of flames.

Shaking its head it leapt away, the crystals on its knuckles expanding before it locked itself to the floor, thrusting forward to unleash a ring of shattered crystals, my shield blocked one while one slashed Klaw, coating his armor in a shiny mask that stalled his movement. I and Skye took the vanguard, my blade blazing red while his drew with an icy-white contrail. "!" "!"

The combined elemental slashes tore waves of fire and ice through Kranon as he stumbled, Genesis carving a red stroke through its jaw while I switched without needing to say as Skye zipped past, thrusting forward with a crash of lightning, followed by myself propelling back to carve my blade through the head with , stunning the boss momentarily, yet it merely shook off the debuff and leapt back.

"ROOOOAAARR!!" With a single howl, the crystal spikes grew and a red contrail followed its eyes and the veins in its forearms and wings glowed ominously, the first health bar was finally gone. I couldn't get a word in before leaping to Skye, raising my buckler with both hooves as it lunged in a flash, barreling through us as its claws swiped the ground where Bombard's team stood, a wall of rock cutting off their magical attacks while they retreated to the catwalk, the tail slicing one of the pillars in half in an attempt to catch them.

Recovering from that blow I drank a health pot to bring me back to green, Skye doing the same as the others drew Kranon's aggro. "Okay, we need a plan here other than, 'hit it 'till it dies', your thoughts?" I could use any suggestion at this point

Skye rubbed his muzzle, eyeing his sword. "Elemental attacks seem to be effective, and constantly switching out traps it in a stun-loop," His gaze met mine determinedly. "We can exploit that."

I chuffed, "Tch, using cheese methods to win... sure, I can get behind that," We gotta get that thing stationary first, and I might know-how. "Rain, fall back!" I commanded, galloping into the fray as another ring of crystals was split from its hide, narrowly grazing my cheek as I slid to the ground

"On it!" She flew away as it swiped the air twice with its claws, conjuring a large aura of crystals around its body, dispersing them to ensnare most of our heavy-hitters while it focused back on the three of us. "What's the plan!?" She was still smiling, guess that optimism is good for something

"Simple, get that thing close to that pillar," I pointed to the far left, near the throne. "Get it to attack the pillar, we'll handle the rest so the rest can recover in--" We immediately evaded a chin slam, then the tail slicing across my buckler while Kranon howled in my face. "Hurry!"

She gave a salute and flew away while I rolled under its right arm, the tail thrusting down toward Skye who kept his distance, hacking away at the large limbs as I threw myself forward, parrying a chomp of the face with a strike. Kranon flew back, bending its upper body down, forcing us to dive as it charged, ripping up the floor with every stomp as Rain performed a backflip off the pillar, fanning her wings wide to evade the hulking mass of anger.

"It's down!" Rain cried out, the others finally deciding to join back in the fight as we charged forward, the pillar collapsing atop the recovering Kranon, burying it under the debris

Much like Agater our attacks were conjured in a furious flurry of strikes and spectral strobes of hardlight that tore and hacked away at the boss' health, unlike the first boss, he held four bars of health, and the second was only now starting to wither down into the red. Time for a new skill. Hopping back as Kranon slowly recovered from the knockout, my hoof lifted high in a stream of amber tipped with maroon. To my right, Silver drew himself high into the air, both daggers drawn behind his back in moonlight silver.

His attack was that of a silver infinity marking etched into the monster's skin, the resulting effect was a small icon cast upon us, a small image of the moon as my attack power rose significantly. Grinning, I threw Genesis in a set of five slashes tracing a star shape, and a final thrust to the center of Kranon's chest as it spun around. Forcing it to fly high and land on the other end of the arena, bellowing with an earth-shattering roar, the crystals now a deep shade of red.

"Two down, keep this up, everybody!" Klaw encouraged while he brought his left-hand high. "!" A blue flame was extinguished in his claws, adding another layer to our buffs, this time, a blue flame flickered above our heads, and gradually, the damage myself and the others received was slowly patched up. Klaw took the lead with Silver by his side, the duo dodging a torrent of crystals while the tail swiped down, locking with Klaw's edge while Silver slipped under the spiny tail, carving gashes across the length of the meaty tail, his movements almost unnatural for a pony

Kranon smashed both fists into the earth, throwing the duo back before lunging high into the air to crash back down, releasing a wave of shattered fragments to catch a few of us off guard, myself wiggling about to dispel the glassy debuff as I almost froze, the left arm driving into the dirt beside my cheek as I narrowly performed a one-hoof stand and leapt to the side, my buckler unable to hold back all the damage that came from its tail swipe.

*Shiing-Crack*

"Watch it!" I actually hesitated, I can't really recall how long it's been since that's fallen over me. This time, however, Skye had locked his Silver Grove with the tail, sparks of blue flashing while the two battled for dominance. Then he flashed me a stupid grin. "Try not to lose too badly, least not yet, alright?"

"I..." I wanted to retort but there's nothing I could say, other than to murmur under my breath. "...Thank you..." Shaking off my stupidity I threw my shield forward. "!" The blast threw the tail back while Kranon swiped once as we evaded, swinging its body forward and around, the tail slashing the area behind us. I threw Genesis forward with a crimson glow, followed by Skye's silvery-white once more

Starting with four flaming slashes to the face I held the four strike back for Kranon's talons to tear against its frame, the ring of metal disorientating the beast, "Switch!" Skye did the same, with the second wave of ice that froze mid-swing following the edge of the blade, Kranon was stun-locked

"Switch!" I ran by Skye, thrusting forward for my own arctic counter against the crystal beast, breaking several of the crystals, causing a large chunk of the third bar to disappear.

"That's it's weak point, tch, now it makes sense." "Hey, guys, give me a couple of seconds, keep him busy!" I retreated for once, allowing the others to take on the large blast of crystals as it shaved my flank but ultimately missed as I threw open my menu, flicking through my equipment and my assorted weapons

The others were having a hard time evading those crystal aura bursts of Kranon's, most of them were locked and forced to take serious blows if not for Bombard's team supporting them with minor healing and buffs, but this couldn't last forever with cooldowns. Finally, my eyes lit up and I added the item to my equipment, discarding the menu while rolling under a crystal discharge. "I'm ready-!" Rain blocked a claw swipe barely, throwing the arm down while slashing an 'X' through Kranon's lower jaw. "-Switch!"

She flew back, slapping her hoof off mine, Kranon's blazing eyes snapped to mine, tail snapped back to batter Klaw and Axel away only for Riot to take the blow with both his shields, his health nearing the red. "Time to put you down you ugly mother fu--"

"ROOOAAARR!!" What a charmer this one. Kranon smashed his left paw through the earth, dislodging three large rocks that I slipped between, rolling under his other claw with my shield reconfiguring with a flash of glass, the kite shield flashed onto my forehoof, its black face with a blue trim contrasting my outfit in the best way, the rugged face lighting up with a powerful, forest-green tint

"Isn't that shield-!" "No way...!" "Gwyn's shield?"

For you, Sir Knight, "!" Last, I shoved the shield into his throat, striking with enough force to topple the great beast onto its back under an emerald ring of hardlight, the legs thrashing with a wail as fangs littered the floor in front of me

"Now's our chance, you guys!" Riot roared, hooves turning bronze while Axel and Klaw followed close behind him. I slid back from the force but didn't let up, drawing Genesis toward the exposed underbelly of the monster alongside the rest, a tail of magical bolts striking from afar with some applying healing to us once again. Who would have thought this shield packed the perfect punch against the Vault Boss

Turning to the rising tail above Seraph I threw myself in front of her, the face of the shield cracking against the large crystals, splintering the mineral with explosive force, Kranon's form falling back into a tumble as the third bar was destroyed. Amongst the chaos, I managed a genuine smile. "Guess we did get to fight together on the frontlines, Sir Knight." My eyes and frown hardened. "Back-up, here comes-"

Kranon slammed its fists down, dispersing more crystals as it lunged toward the throne behind me, the bolts within the abyss lighting up the throne, some striking Kranon as his form unleashed a massive wave of energy with a roar, the ground splitting with three small walls of crystal. The great abomination had transformed with its final phase, no longer onyx, instead, white scales smothered the majority of its black visage, the crystals completely filled with white light and a hint of scarlet, along its spine white tufts of fur-lined the vertebrae.

Again, no warning was issued as it flew high into the air, crashing down in the center to unleashed an expanding ring of crystals that shattered upon reaching the height of a pony, timing this correctly a number of us managed to roll through, my eyes widened as I drew the Bedrock shield high, deflecting a devastating claw that conjured a small arc of crystals behind me, this repeated again with the left, forcing my back to a temporary wall. I flashed the monster with escaping between the legs as it thrashed around, the tail slicing through the earth, only for it to be parried by Rain and Axel's combined attack.

Kranon snarled, flicking its arms high as small crystals began to form, a strong blast of white soon froze the pair in place, thankfully, the boss did it again, missing all of us bar Riot who shoved the others back in time. Twisting its head to Klaw, it charged with an overhead slam of its tail, performing a spin that conjured a long line of crystals upon landing, Klaw's timed vertical slash shattering the crystals above him. He turned, conjuring a crystal to batter against Kranon's glistening scales.

A massive crash from above struck Kranon's forehead, Axel taking a long slash to his right foreleg as a result of the shattered crystals splitting. He fell back, Kranon nearly crushing him if not for the sudden ten thrusts of hardlight piercing the monster's hide, Seraph running to aid Axel to the back while Silver took his place, drawing his daggers as he took flight alongside Rain, both evading a wall of crystal and boulders from the left arm, the body of the beast swung up and over mine and Skye's attacks as we pivoted, my shield drawn to clobber our way through a narrow wall of minerals. Kranon threw its tail forward, slicing a wave between us as I drove my way through, freeing the air for Skye's skill to conjure behind me.

"!" Mine and his intersected across the muzzle, shattering more crystals as the health dropped into the red thanks to the others breaking the crystals lining the rest of the tail, even as the sword-like blade continued to carve into their health and armor. Kranon howled, throwing us back while he took flight above us all, maw wide with millions of specks like motes of light gathering around his jaws. "Crap, it's going for a wipe!"

"Riot, remember the Mini-Boss in the Bear Forest!?" I blinked at Skye's sudden reminder of an event I hadn't seen. The redhead blinked, then his sharp smile grew, running to the front while the fragments of crystals were pulled from the ground. Skye then tugged at my hoof. "Let's finish this guy off, together!" Whatever he was planning... I'd certainly give it a try

"Heh, not much else we can do," This was it, do-or-die. Cracking my neck I sheaved my sword and broke into a sprint alongside the black swordsman. There wasn't time to argue who deserved the reward at the end, nothing else could matter if we died, and I'll be damned if I let this world kill me just yet!

From the darkness of the spire above crystals started to materialize and collide with the floor, forcing us to sway to our flanks. Above, a flash of blue passed over me as Rain and Silver tore across the sky, shattering the crystals while Axel bucked a boulder to intercept another from Skye's path, himself hopping over a fallen mineral while Seraph took care of the smaller debris with lightning-fast cuts. Bolts of magic sparkled high above, keeping any more particles from joining at Kranon's massive frame.

Just inches from us, the air was pulled before Riot's twin shields, his eyes lighting up at our approach. "Come Ooon!!" Flipping over a wall of crystals we landed against the square frames, the force of the blast chipping at our health as we were ultimately sent skyward, my hooves bashing into debris along the way while Genesis was brought close to my cheek, turning blood-red alongside the complimenting yellow across Silver Grove beside me.

"!!" Our twin thrust pierced through the windup of energy crackling across Kranon, striking at his chest with a devastating flurry of red and yellow, but our attacks weren't going to be enough to defeat him. We were going to lose our momentum so I poured everything I had into the attack while focusing on my buckler the second a hot wave of air threw us back, our skills dying out under the chilling light consuming the Shattered Throne.

"Come on, everyone with range attack pile on!" Someone called, I didn't know who, but there wasn't a chance they're attacks could reach his chest at this height among all this debris. Steeling my nerves I threw my buckler forward with both hooves, catching Skye's back hooves, much to his surprise

"Not a chance!" I thundered, casting across my shield to Skye, his right forehoof glazed with gold.

"We're finishing this!" He added defiantly, the ring of air propelling his body faster than mine while I smiled, others gawked and looked on with wonder as this brilliant sapphire star tore through the Vault Warrior's chest with a blinding flurry of golden-blue slashes, a single, pinpoint thrust through the chest tearing his form through the other side of the abomination, the crystals dispersing in a massive nova of silver over his head while he fell back to his hooves with an impressive landing behind the shining boss, the scales returning to black, then a shimmering blue

*SHATTER*

My landing wasn't as glamorous but I found my footing on all fours again, still facing the fragmented remains of the infamous boss that was thought to be impossible to reach, yet, within two months of backbreaking labor, I could only stare up in awe as the body was sent back to the void.

[CONGRATULATIONS!!]

|||||||||||><|||||||||||

Despite losing out on the last drop, everyone let out a chorus of cheers to the heavens, a large rift tearing open before the throne as an indication of where to leave. While I inspected Genesis I simply dashed away the tabs and the fact I bumped up another two levels, I even received two purple-tier armor pieces exclusive to this Vault, sweet. A few feet ahead of me, Skye looked to be doing the same.

"Good work." "Nice job." We paused, blinking at one another before I let out a small snicker alongside his laugh, reaching a hoof forward as we strolled back to the others. In the light of the remains of Kranon, our hooves bumped to one another

[Quest Complete!]
-The Shattered Throne-
The mistake of the past has been corrected, but dark forces continue to linger across the world, this is but an infected scar but it's a start.
[✔] Enter Vault of the Abomination
[✔] Reach the Shattered Throne
[✔] Defeat the Vault Warrior
[Rewards]
10000 EXP | 7500 Bits | Shattered Crystals X5 | Ascendant Shard X5

"Artorias, Skye~!" Rain waved her hooves to us, stars sparkling in those eyes of hers. "That. Was. So Coool!!" She squealed in my face, even as my hoof patted her back down to earth

"Told ya, I'm awesome, duh." She'll get it someday. Praise to where its worth, she timed a number of her attacks really well

Seraph shrugged, shaking her head. "You two are far too coordinated if I'm honest, kinda jealous." She was still smiling, more than likely grateful the battle was over

My grin started to show, rubbing my nose. "Tch, not a bad finish for the first Vault if I do say so myself," A glow resonated from me while the praise kept on rollin'. "Hail to the Queen."

Skye looked a little flustered, patting Rain's shoulder. "I-Its fine, you did amazingly too, both of you," His hoof then waved to Axel and the rest, Bombard and his team kept to themselves for the moment. "Hey, nice work in the fight!"

"Yeah, you too, man!" Riot grinned, bumping his hoof

"Congrats on the LA, quite the stunt you three pulled," Axel smirked. I just grinned, gushing at the attention while Skye rubbed the back of his head nervously and Riot put his hooves around us both. All was well, or until something darkened the amethyst light, shifting it to an almost crimson hue

"Congratulations on your victory," My eyes froze on the visible throne, the rift shifted aside to view the being sat on its rugged surface, body forever unstable. Malware's eye widened at our silent fear. "I apologize, my... vocabulary was malfunctioning the last time we met," He stood up, appearing before us with his arms behind his back. "I mean no harm, rather, I am impressed by your commitment to my world."

Then his eyes locked to Skye, himself biting his tongue while fixing a sharp frown. "...my Creator's kin," His eye narrowed. "Interesting, though the role you play is... undetermined at the moment, I shall find one for you soon, perhaps 'Knight' or 'Fighter'..." What the hell is he talking about, however, guess that confirms the rumors, this dork's the son of that bastard who created this game. With a flick of his hand, a new item appeared before us, more specifically, for Skye. "Your Last Attack Bonus, Relic of Gaia, you will need that if you survive."

Finally, I had enough and spoke up. "Mind clarifying somethin' for me!?" His eye wandered down to me. "What's this all about? The hell do you get out of watching a bunch of brainless idiots throw themselves to the slaughter without so much as a simple strand of logic or commonsense?" I quickly put my hoof up, nodding. "Mind you, that can be entertaining but once you see someone literally light themselves on fire and dive headfirst into a Timberwolf cave there's not much that passes for surprising." That was the dumbest thing I've ever seen, I hold no sympathy for that idiot

My question looked to puzzle Malware, clearly analyzing my words rather constructively and with interest. Then, he put his hand forward to the sky, even as he started to fade to static and code. "The 'What' of my intentions? I already told you, I wish to control the fate of a world under my design, this... Shattered Throne, all of you, it is all I want," As his head slowly faded to nothing, he added. "It is a shame that it may come to an end."

I think the rest kinda tuned out in my head, atleast what the rest were discussing about the sudden appearance of terrible programming. After two months the first real step toward the end of MLPR had been made, it was risky and someone lost their life because of it. I don't what's waiting in the future, or just how Malware intends to play this game, but one thing's certain, There is no way I'm losing to this world.

[Vault of the Abomination]

When we stepped through the rift, our eyes met the lush and vibrant world around us from the edge of a cliff that overlooked the spire. It was over now, we had obtained the first 'Relic' of four and lived to tell about it, most of us anyway. "Hey, Artorias, you comin'?" Blinking from my lost gaze toward the horizon, I turned to Rain, herself watching the others head down the hillside and back to the path leading to the Teleport Rune

Nodding, I ushered her on with my hoof. "What, waiting for my permission? Go, I gotta finish up something." Rolling her eyes humorous she flew away, leaving me and one other by the cliff. "God, if feels like I'm babysitting her sometimes."

"You act more like siblings if I'm honest," Skye wasn't helping with that look. "She's like the charismatic little sister compared to your more... erm." I was giving him a neutral look

"Oh no, continue, I'm waiting." I crossed my hooves as I sat down, seeing him sweat nervously

"...Well, aside from your narcissism, you're looking out for her like an older sibling -- t-that's just what Seraph told me, I swear!" Even if that were half of a truth, it was... odd, hearing this. Snorting, I looked toward the moon dipping in the sky.

"You shouldn't label me as anything good," I muttered almost callously

"Huh?" His brow quirked as I chuckled

"Moving on seems our buddy Mal's figured out who you are, Calum." I grinned as he jolted at the use of his real name, seeing him rub his mane and look away to the stars. "Hehe, yeah, I know you, who doesn't, am I right?"

"Yeah, you got me there," He breathed, shaking his head. "Thought I'd try to get away from being known as Ryder's Son but I guess not," This didn't seem to phase him as his smile hadn't faltered. "It's fine though."

"Here's my question, Malware, what is he?" If the one with the name wasn't going to cough up an answer perhaps my ally in black can shed some light

Skye for his part shrugged, unable to provide me so much as a hint. "No clue, some people blame me for what's happened by association but the truth is my Dad never worked on anything called 'Malware', there was an old A.I software but it was deleted during development stages," His hooves flip-flopped. "There's alot that's been discarded or locked up so there's no tellin' what Malware came from, sorry."

My response was to groan angrily and throw my head back, "Dammit, Ryder!!" I roared to the sky, then huffed. "Sorry, but I am seriously going to kick your old man in the balls once this game's over." That actually got a pretty good laugh out of Skye, it even made me smile a little

"Hahaha, s-sure, go right ahead," He put his hooves. "I've learned my lesson not to mess with the great, 'Red Warrior Artorias'," He joked, and while I appreciate the fact he's learning the true terror of Artorias, my eyes faced the moon expectantly

"Merry." My chest tightened, and my head started to scream for the audacity

He stared at me, trying to piece together what I said despite the simplicity of it. No, maybe it was the weight behind the word itself? I can't possibly tell which side is right. "What?"

Turning to look at him eye-to-eye I repeated my words, "Merry... t-that's my name," It happened again, I lost that confidence and boisterous tone to my voice, left with a soft, shallow tune. "Since I know yours, only fair you know mine, so, yeah, t-that's it..." This was getting a little embarrassing. I shook my head, grumbling as I slapped my forehead. "Grah, why am I of all people getting so... weird about it? It's me!" Why did I tell him to begin with? What kind of flimsy excuse was that!?

"Merry," I stopped mentally berating myself as he repeated my name. He was standing, holding out his hoof to me. "Sorry, guess I should've introduced myself first given the situation," He was clearly enjoying this, probably seeing my once impregnable armor chip. "It's good to finally meet you, Merry."

"I-" My face felt a little hotter as he said that, and with his stupid smile no less... ugh, me and my big mouth. Slowly, my hoof reached for his, feeling him lift me up with ease while I fiddled with my words. "Ditto, C-Calum."

"See, isn't that better-" His little high-note of having me fumble around ended as I drew him closer, eyeing him sharply

"Tell a soul of this and I will run my sword through your throat, crystal?" His muzzle and mine crinkled against one another as I ensured he took my words seriously

"T-transparent!" He zipped back with a hoof raised while moving almost robotically. "This is a secret between friends! Yes! Absolutely!"

Good, "Hehehahaha! Well, glad we have that ironed out, 'Black Swordsman'," I teased, turning to look over my head at his expression, it wasn't one I could fundamentally identify, it looked like awe but... different. "So, you gonna stand catching flies all night, or are we going to go get wasted!" I cheered. "Booze here I come! Drinks on the hero of the day, of course!" I winked back, seeing him deflate

"How's that fair? You did like half the work too?" He pressed the issue with a hoof to my cheek. "You should pay just as much!"

"Tisk-Tisk, is that any way to treat a lady?" I hummed with a horrible impression of a posh accent, seeing his face explode

"You're about as lady-like as a Molotov Cocktail!" That just made my laughter rise in volume. "Stop laughing, you know I'm right!"

"I am the Queen of Flaming Whisky!" This was non-negotiable as we hurried back to the Teleport Rune in the dead of night

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Thus the short act comes to a close with the first Vault cleared and a little development between our two frontline players ;). This was alot of fun to write, I don't know when I'll continue the story but I'll let it rest until I'm certain of pursuing the rest of this tale. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya next time players!

Next Act: Faux Hero
Time marches on, and a new Guild has emerged with a... concerning leader, contracted by a new arising guild, Artorias, and Skye band together to assess if these new celebrities are as amazing as the rumors say.

Episode 13 - The Bane Saga

Act IV - Faux Hero

It is September 7th, 2022, a full four months since MLPR became a Death Game, honestly surprised at how long it's been but progress is steady, Region Bosses are gradually falling and I estimate we'll be free within... hrm, two years? Give or take a month or two. With each boss defeated the world grows stronger and as such we have to improve our skills, which started with the very system added after the fall of the first Vault Warrior. Guilds.

To put it simply, now groups that have been established could now become official and partner with other smaller parties or Guilds, making the organization of large-scale events far more streamlined. I, for one, remained solo, well, solo as in me and my partner, Rain, who is really good with a blade. There was also Skye's team that I joined from time-to-time, at this point, we might as well be a full party of six, five whenever Axel's running a shop on the side of extra Bits. Dude's a haggler, I swear, and Riot's new nickname is 'Lord of Debt'.

Still, things are looking a little less gloomy, or, that's what I'd like to say...

[Temple of the Lost | Boss Arena]

I swung myself back from an ax, lunging with my Blackrock Shield to pulverize the skeleton pony back into its grave, my back hooves bucking two more into Rain's stroke across half-a-dozen skeletons. "Who the fuck thought the Decons of the Bones was a good idea!?" I was referencing another infamous boss battle that reminded me alot of this scenario, though I say 'Boss Battle' loosely. "Fuck off!" I was angry and tired, and I wanted to sleep. "Who knows, maybe we'll find some enemies of actual worth down here... eventually?" I wasn't excited to care

Throwing Genesis high I kicked off a , snatching my sword as the comet-like flames scorched across the true edge as I brought it down with the resulting impact decimating the undead as their bones rattled across the withered cobblestone. Just ahead a new target approached one that was far less rotten as its allies, hell it just threw an ax that nearly shaved my bangs as it attempted to hit Rain, all it did was decapitate several of its own guys. "He just gutted his own dudes just to hit us, what the hell?"

"I can handle these boneheads, hyah!" Rain drop-kicked another with a giddy smile. "This is so much fun!" Glad one of us was smiling. Grimacing, I turned my attention to the looming... Diamond Dog? It wore thick leather under black, jagged armor, say for its bare feet and claws. A strange, cage-like mask covering its face as it bore its teeth, eyes pinpricks of fiery orange as it held both hatchets low

"Rrraawr!" He screamed at me, both axes locking around Genesis as he pulled them down to the side to face me directly

"What the fu-"

"Hehehehe... *Sniff* hehehehehe *Sniff*... hehehehe," He just... laughed, almost mockingly before our weapons broke apart. The name, appeared above his head, he was only two higher than me, alot stronger than these skeletal rejects

"Wha... whahahaha, what the hell?" I chuckled as his left ax swung for my head, myself evading to catch my breath. "Oookay then, he's-" I threw my sword forward and he just... backhanded it. "-He just - okay." Steeling my nerves I drew my sword back with a fizzle of gold

Brandishing Genesis forwards the crackling tore against his chestplate, the left arm swinging back to smack my cheek, followed by a twirl and swipe of the right, the attack - My eye bulged as I leapt further back than intended, my health was in the green and he just... the red mark on my side faded while leaving me with half my original HP, what the hell is this thing? Rain seemed to have most of the skeletons sent back to the afterlife so left really only Dax, while I coughed he stopped to wave his axes out, as if to impress the skeletons with his might, doing that creepy chuckle again.

"Wait, what?" He just... left, like, he moved out of my peripheral vision and vanished. What. The Fuck. Just Happened? "Oi, Rain, where'd the diamond dog go!?" As I drank a Max Potion she turned to me, evading two sword swipes through the air, kicking both into the ground while eyeing me curiously

"Uhh... I dunno, he just kinda, poofed," Okay, monster's just don't 'poof' from existence, well, not in games like this but I could be wrong, this world's bugs turn it into a dumpster fire half the time so an enemy up and leaving doesn't sound too unbelievable.

Okay, moving past whatever the hell that was. I engaged the skeletons once more alongside Rain, their numbers dwindling into the single digits in only a short amount of time, our sword skills' proficiencies were far stronger than they were, a complete waste of a Region Boss, yeah, you heard me, it was just us and we managed to two-team the easiest Region thus far under Canterlot Castle, even deeper than the Crystal Caves, an old crypt buried under time and eras. It's called the Temple of the Lost, I call it the Temple of the Disappointed, what else was there to say?

"Right," I sighed, looking to Rain. "You can take the rest of the XP, I don't-"

"Rrraawr!" My sentence snagged on the sharp roar. Instinctively my head swiveled around to find... Dax, again. I tried to make a retort but was once more cut off my high horse with an ear-splitting shriek as it swung its arms down. "UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!"

"Are you fucking serious?" I think something wrong happened and it started with something I said. Rolling back my buckler rose to deflect both axes as their spinning forms clanked off my defense, ricocheting back to his hands as both axes were swung down in a sweeping 'X', breaking my guard as I reeled back, my throat almost caught on the left ax as I swung down, slicing through his breastplate with a the stun locked him for a moment as I went all out, flaming strokes of Genesis lighting the tomb ablaze with a square of flames, the force knocking Dax back

Dax roared, sweeping through the flames with both hatchets battering against my shield, forcing me to guard almost constantly as my health was chipped through the face of the kite shield, his attacks unrelenting as he stopped to bring both high, swiping down with a tremendous gust of wind to part us both. My health dipped back into yellow as I panted, rubbing my foreleg while some straggler skeletons closed in behind Dax.

His health bar took quite a hit from the flames, giving me just the opening I needed as I drew my buckler forward, Sir Knight's been keeping my blindspots safe this whole time so why stop now? I had given the buckler quite the upgrade but it wouldn't take me much farther so until the utmost limit I kept using it, besides, it unlocked this for me. "Alright, chuckles, here's the punchline! !"

My back hooves had to sink hard against the ground as the funnel of fire erupted from the center of my shield, a scream of fire tearing apart the cobblestone tomb ahead of me, tearing through the remaining skeletons and Dax's charging form with minimal resistance, the bloom of fire splashing against the far wall as the flames died out immediately, leaving only smoldering flames in my wake, the shards of monsters drifting away. It took seventy-five stamina but it was worth it.

To the left, Dax stood up again, still on fire. "Oh come on..." He then chuckled, waving his head at me before walking away, and he just disappeared into the shadows, leaving me aggravated and unnerved as I continued to watch the shadows for any tell-tale sign he'd return just to gloat. "Rain, we're done here, yeah?"

"Umm..." I saw her head pan up to what I can assume was the 'Congratulations' announcement. "Yep! Mission accomplished, go team!" I leveled my hoof by second nature for hers to bump to mine, then her brow furrowed. "But um, what about that creepy diamond dog, where's he?"

"For both our sakes, hopefully far away." Shaking off the chill I turned with an exasperated look. "Let's just go home." I didn't care that we beat a Region Boss, quote-on-quote, I just lost the last slither of my compassion for anything as of right now

[Canterlot | Central Plaza]

Returning to the beaming lights of the golden city we passed through small pockets of ponies and NPCs, shambling toward a small park bench where a group of three sat nervously, the leader, the pony in armor me and Rain saved before the Trench Region Boss, spotted us, his helmet bobbing up among his party to greet my dull expression and Rain's chipper wave.

"Hey, guys, we're back with your materials!" I didn't say a word, allowing Rain to be the voice of ease among our transaction as I mulled over the aggravating, and tiresome day. She popped open a trade tab and threw a bag of bones into the menu, the mare of the group beaming with relief. "Should be enough for the Necro Armor, yeah?"

"Yes, thank you both so much," She bowed her head, clutching onto her magic staff tightly. "I don't think we'd have been much help in that dungeon, b-but is it true, was it really a Region Boss?"

I snorted, looking among the trees decorated with some simple lights. "Tch, you mean a half-assed attempt to recreate the Deacons of the Deep, sure, yeah..." My muttering went unheard as Rain brushed off her worry, patting her chest

"We handled it no sweat, you guys just be safe," After completing the trade the trio left with many thanks to us. "They were nice."

"Uh-huh," I didn't care right now, I just felt sour. "Don't worry for me, I wouldn't, I'm just grouchy after that poor attempt at a challenge."

She, in fact, did worry. Frowning slightly while skipping ahead to stop me as we strolled through the park. I went to say something but she just leaned forward to boop my nose. "Nope, you're my crazy cool best friend, so if you're going to mope then I'm going to make you stop, simple," Her... best friend? I stopped to observe her sweet smile as she got distracted looking at the stars, even in this world they were vibrant and crystal clear

A best friend. I... don't think I've ever had one, I've got friends, but I guess none of them were ever the kind of person I can rely on entirely, share even the deepest of secrets with. Though maybe Skye fell under that, he was an oblivious dork at times but he never seemed to mind my occasional rants, heck, he joined in at times. And then there's Rain, this girl hasn't left my side for anything, she's capable on her own four hooves yet always sticks by me and my choices, even when hunting for the elusive missing pieces of Genesis that were still out there.

"Why does she always sit alone?" They always questioned my intentions

"I know right, and with that creepy, bored look on her face." Mocked my expression

"What a weirdo." Ridiculed me in earshot

"Hey, what was her name again?" Forgot I... was even there at all

"-hey, come on!" My mind was pulled away as her hoof tugged on mine. "Let's go explore the town together, never actually saw what it looks like at night other than our usual route."

"I-" I was going to say no, but... "...what the hell, sure," A tiny smile crossed my muzzle. "I will grant you the honor to lead us forward."

In mock fashion she put a wing to her chest, bowing. "Why thank you, miss." We both chuckled as she, like a child, pulled me along on her scheme. "See, told ya I'd make you stop moping!"

Huh, that she did, tch, well played.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Fuck it, I've got this act sitting here collecting dust might as well upload it, enjoy!

Still, I'm going to see this guy coming at me in my bloody nightmares, bro. Yeah, so get ready to see him pop up time-to-time, inspired by the Nemesis System from Shadow of Mordor. Hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Sunshine and Rainbows
A Guild by the name of Horizon Dawn calls in a request for Artorias to inspect the abilities of a new group of players that have made a name for themselves. She drags Skye along for the ride.

Episode 14 - Sunshine and Rainbows

Act IV - Faux Hero

[Canterlot | Guild of Horizon Dawn]

"I'm going to be blunt with you, my companion, duh fuck?" My hoof motioned to the contract in my menu, pushing the transparent screen to the side while pressing the 'Public' icon to display my disdain for what was shown before me and the leader of the Guild known as Horizon Dawn

[Request Pending]
|Inspection of Harmony Knights|
Dear, Artorias, I am sorry to spring this on you but I wanted to request your assistance with a matter that neither I nor Silver can accomplish ourselves at this present time. I am aware of your 'Request' system that has been instrumental in our efforts to gain new members, all claiming to have been aided by your hands, or hooves in this case, during the early stages of the game. If you accept, please report to me immediately.
[ ] Give a report of Harmony Knights
[Rewards]
7000 Bits | Ascendant Shard X4

Klaw put his... well claws, on the table, smiling modestly toward me. His Guild Hall was actually the old bar we first met in though now it was renovated and held a second floor for meetings, such as this one as I fumed in his face about this odd request. "I know this seems odd but please hear me out."

"Dude, I'm a frontline, Region clearing badass, why the hell do I have to play babysitter, again!?" Rain's enough as is. Rubbing my temples I glared at the other pony present. "You have alot of nerve bugging me with a job like this out of nowhere, Kid."

This 'Kid' happened to be the same brat I saved back before the first Region Boss, Sora. He seemed far less timid though that was still his exterior, he wore armor matching that of Klaw's, his guild's signature color scheme of silver and dark blue for the accents. He nervously cleared his throat to address my glare. "S-Sorry, Miss Artorias, b-but when Sir Klaw asked for recommendations I-I said you'd be perfect, o-or that other guy they call a Cheat-"

I turned fully, snorting once. "Call Skye, 'Cheater', and I'll bury you in a shallow grave," He zipped his mouth shut as I sighed. "This is too early, I haven't even had my morning coffee to be handling this..." I wish I just skipped this and went with Rain, hell, I'd take listening to Bombard's insensitive yelling over this absolute travesty. Oh, and I find it grating when people called Skye under that title, Black Swordsman totally suited him better, just like that guy from the Light Novel I read a few years back, he was cool, so was Skye... I'm getting off-topic

"Artorias," I glanced to Klaw, seeing him watch me curiously and with a hint of pleading in his eyes. "Sora here has only brought you to my attention because of your abilities, he said the way you instructed him, and have aided others is exactly what I need to investigate this new rising team in the hopes of gauging their abilities for the future Vaults, as we both know, they are nothing to scoff at." For once, I agreed with that serious look in the dragon's eyes

"Much as I love people recognizing my talents, and I do, there's a little trick to my madness," I put my hoof out to Sora. "Take string-bean over there, kid's shaking like a leaf, ever since I met him, yet he pushed to improve despite his fear of combat, to protect his girlfriend, right?" He peered to me with a deep blush on his cheeks, rubbing his mane

"I-I w-we're not, um, y-you got the wrong-" I chuckled at his bashful nature, smiling knowingly at how rigid he became

"Kid, she's totally into you, just be yourself and go get her, you'll see," Seeing my rather charismatic look his own smile grew a little

"Y-You really think so?" As if he needed me to see that, oh wait he did, whoops

"Kid, I may be a total narcissist but I'm still a chick, I know, shocker, I think I'd know the signs when I see 'em." Turning back I noticed Klaw's growing smile as I groaned, slamming my head into the table. "Fuck, fine! Okay, you win you classy jackass," This was going to bite me, I know it was

"Well, I suppose I should clarify this team in greater detail," Klaw held back a small chuckle as my brow twitched. He presented a material map on his desk, more specifically, a town up in the Canterlot mountains called 'Blackrock', interesting. "The team, Harmony Knights, have been noted by the MLPR Daily as a notorious band of players that have cleared three Regions in only a week, despite the levels of monsters on the mountains being far higher than those down here."

"Higher levels grant better publicity," It was a simple form of exposure. "Question is their motive and their method."

"Quite," Klaw seemed to agree, nodding slowly as he tapped his claw to a place just north of the town. "While their deeds were noted across the furthest settlements thus far, Blackrock's own Region Temple remains undiscovered, that is why I want you to meet with them, not to worry I have informed their leader of our Speaker of sorts, you in this case." His hand motioned to me. Man this feels like politics, but atleast Klaw's one of those rare 'honest' kind

"Soooo what's my goal here?" That I needed to know first and foremost

"I want you to evaluate their skills, cooperative abilities, and overall execution on the battlefield, if they step too far or endanger lives then you can make the call to inform me not to allow them to join us on future Region or Vault raids less we needlessly sacrifice lives," Klaw really seemed concerned, must be more to this than he's letting on

"...okay," I started off slow, raising my hoof. "Just for the record, if I warn them of their incompetence and they refuse to abide by my words then I'm done, if they want to die pointlessly then I won't bat an eye for the stupid," My moral code was twisted but compared to people like Sir Knight, and Wyoming and the countless others, those that recklessly die without any sense of commonsense don't deserve a second chance, just as I warned Bombard, you get one other chance, after that, you're on your own

He seemed to be mulling over my words, finally, he sighed and graced us with a smile. "Very well, I won't hold it against you, I merely hope it does not come to that." You and me both, bud

"However!" My hoof slammed the desk. "I'll do this but under one condition!" This was absolute

"Of course, name your price." He offered his hand to my hoof

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

*Knock. Knock. Knock-Knock. Knock - Crash!*

My hoof went through the door as it swung open, a small apartment on the edge of Ponyville was rudely invaded by yours truly with Rain waiting by the doorway with a nervous smile. "Wakey-Wakey, fellow gamer, we got work to do!" My boisterous call brought the pony back from the dead on the sofa as he yelled from fright, staring up at me with a frightened expression, flopping to the floor

"What the hell, you just broke my door! What is wrong with you!?" Skye blurted in my face, waving his hoof angrily at the broken door where Rain waved with a sweatdrop

"I'll just wait outside..." She slipped out as I grinned, grabbing the Black Swordsman by the scruff of his black tunic

"We've got a rewarding quest to fulfill and I require your assistance on the matter, don't worry, Seraph already knows," I grinned, pointing to the number on the door of the small flat. "She told me where you live."

"She sold me out!?" He gawked but then I shrugged

"Nope, Gin did, Seraph was just having breakfast with her when I asked." I smiled cheekily while he paled, vibrating with fury

"DAMMIT, YOU RAT!!" If the Gods heard him, they'd tremble, good thing I wasn't listening as he bickered on behind me

[Blackrock Village]

After groaning from the inhumane brightness of the Teleportation system, my eyes soon adjusted atop the snowy mountaintop as I wore a winter variant of my Proxima Coat, the collar, sleeve holes, and tail all lined with white fur and had an added layer of cloth to keep the brittle breeze from freezing me through my fur. Rain and Skye both had the same style to their equipment for this job.

Blackrock's Teleport Rune sat overlooking the mountains from an old cobblestone tower refurbished into the small hub for the Rune. A wooden rampart curved down the wall, leading down beside its defensive wall overlooking the pathway cutting into the mountains. The village itself was very medieval in nature. Large buildings made of timber with stone as the walls and a thatch roof that was triangular in nature but narrow and dipped with an overhang to the front and back of the buildings.

Lanterns swung on masts with many varying levels of elevation across the village, some land reinforced with cobblestone walls while NPC and player alike wandered the streets now with the sun at its peak, though in our case the peak was a few hundred meters taller than us. Shivering in the cool temperature drop I turned to my two tagalongs. "Right, so my kidnapping of you does have a purpose, I do pride myself on logical reasoning."

"Among other things." Ignoring the jab from Rain I motioned to Skye

"I can't evaluate a group of idiots without... constructive feedback, I'll be honest, not many players can do what I can, and I very much doubt they could beat either of you," I clopped my hooves. "So, you'll be aiding in my evaluation, in exchange I have a few... rare materials I can toss aside if you'd like that form of compensation?"

Skye looked to give it some thought. "What kind?" He quickly replied, my sly grin stretching

"Ascendant Crystals," They were an enhancing material and very rare cause it takes five Shards to make one, and Shards only drop from high-level Region Bosses. His eyes looked to light up like fireworks

"You're serious, how many?" He blinked while I shrugged, already beginning to trot down the rampart

"How many ya want, Blackie?" His jaw promptly unhinged while Rain smiled knowingly, her reaction was just as his was, followed by a series of questions that left my head spinning. "Now then, shall we go meet these, 'Harmony Knig-', ugh God no, that's just the worst name ever, of all time." I couldn't fathom what five-year-old conjured such a bland and cheesy name, though I feel I was about to find out. "What are they, the Elements of Harmony?"

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

"Wow, you were actually right!" Rain's assessment didn't stop my hoof from sliding down my muzzle at the swinging sign above a large building that was supposedly where the group was living for the moment. It was varnished planks strapped to two chains, the colors of the six elements in their primal crystal forms in front of a backdrop of that golden wheel they'd be fixed to.

"They seem odd but so are a few players on the frontlines," Skye offered a nudge, looking rather dismissive of the situation. "We're here to evaluate so a few quests ought to give us a good assessment of their skills," Now he was lost in thought, rubbing his chin. "Comparing them to the average frontline player would not only be an idea of their coordination and ability to communicate mid-fight but their equipment and stats, what roles they play and-"

"-and a general idea of their standing not just as players but as people, yes-yes, I too know the ins and outs of Raiding Rules and the like," His wealth of knowledge was impressive but feeding me textbook listings of Raids was mind-numbingly boring. "Dude, I wasted three hours of my life attempting to get a bunch of green players through the FIRST stage of a Raid way back," I shivered at the memory. "Three. Whole. Hours."

Skye smiled, chuffing softly. "Come on, let's just get this started, sooner we're done the sooner we get paid, right?" He was right

"It won't be so bad, you got us here too to suffer!" Rain nudged me with a giggle, that atleast kept me moving for the thick tarp that muffled the music and voices inside.

Pushing through we were greeted with what I assumed was a party. The building's large hall wasn't massive, pillars lined the center of the hall, leaving a gap to walk down between two strangely long tables were ponies in parties laughed and ate without woes. There was an upstairs with a balcony overlooking the ground floor, some sitting by the rafters at benches with drinks. It was quite loud compared to most bars and taverns I've seen.

"Haha, this looks like fun, wonder why they're celebrating?" Rain smiled curiously at the hall while I shrugged and tried to pinpoint where the leader would be among the rabble

"See him or her?" I spoke higher over the noise, Skye just shook his head

"No clue, could be in the back, maybe?" That was a good place to star-

"Ah, our allies from Canterlot have arrived, a fine day indeed!" What in the Anti-Christ was that thick, old-English accent? Spotting among the small groups of players I found what I can assume was the leader of this merry band of nobodies. He raised a hoof to us with a smile. "Well met, warriors!" Oh boy...

This unicorn with a whiter coat than me approached, standing a head taller than me. He was, by some public opinion, handsome, even had a cleft chin, a deep shade of emerald eyes, and a fine-combed blonde mane that looked far too perfect to be considered human, or pony. His outfit was very similar to that of the Royal Guard only it was far less damaged and battered, well-polished white metal with gold trimming. He had two pauldrons, the left was a straight gold-polish finish in the shape of a dragon's head. The vambraces were missing, replaced with full-arm gauntlets that gave him a more 'Knightly' appearance.

He old used a longsword housed within a white scabbard, a ruby fixed to the pommel with a gold grip and guard. Around his neck, however, was a gold amulet with a glistening, white gem fixed in the shape of a sword pointing down, two rubies applied to either side of the necklace. Then his name appeared, it wasn't humanly possible, but I could feel my brow rising from my head at this point, never before have I've felt so... insulted. .

"If his name is what I think it is..." Klaw wasn't just going to get a report, It'll be a confession of murder. "You're the leader of the Harmony Knights?" Breathe in, breathe out

"Yes, fellow warriors, I am pleased to finally be making the acquaintance of some of Klaw's best," His hoof immediately shook Skye's, himself smiling nervously to keep the peace

"Right, yeah, good to meet you too," He didn't know how to digest this but he seemed to ease a bit. "I'm really only here as an assistant, Artor-"

"A pleasure, miss," Uh what? I was silent as he completely moved past Skye to myself and Rain, herself too busy observing the surroundings as he lifted my hoof tentatively for a shake. "Artorias, to have a beautiful lady such as you in our company is truly an honor." U-Um... I think I saw Skye's brow start to twitch himself

My brow furrowed a little, unable to formulate a response to 'beautiful', oh, I wasn't blushing, trust me, I just... couldn't get a read on this guy. "R-Right, um, thanks? So... where's the rest of your group?" Taking my hoof back I looked around the hall. "I'm assuming they're here?"

He smiled. "Ah, yes! Squad, sound off!" He boomed boisterously, many players standing back to allow three figures to jump into view

"JaggedEdge! Suckas!" The first, Jagged, proclaimed, hopping down from the rafters. He was wearing light armor, typically black leather with black plating for barding. He had charcoal fur, was a unicorn too, and had spiky, red hair, both his mane and tail jutting back like some Yu-Gi-Oh-lookin' protagonist, no offense to Yugi, he did it before it was edgy. Strapped to his hips were two broadswords. "Damn, who're the hotties?"

My brow's gonna be running marathons at this rate. Next up was a girl... a very, vibrant girl - she looks like someone smacked her with a paint can tied to a rope. Baby-blue fur for the, again, Unicorn, I'm sensing a racial uprising in the future. Her mane and tail were long and flowing into a curl, pink with a stripe of yellow through the middle, she had bright blue eyes too, surprise-surprise. With a bright smile, she moved rather close to Knight, practically magnetizing herself to his side. "Hehehe, I'm Radiant, the squads support!" She brought forth her naginata to emphasize how... nonmedical she seemed, what was she going to do, administer a concussion to save on painkillers?

The last of the four was, oh thank God a normal one! Much like Axel, this guy was a big pony, an Earth Pony to exact. He carried with him a large mace on his back... that's where the normal ends. He looked like the kind of guy that thinks with his fists and uses his head as a mallet. Red eyes and blue hair with a green fade, and not even complimenting colors, like basic blue and bright green, ugh, must not hurl. His fur wasn't any better, he was orange, what did he do, punch the randomization button upon character creation?

With a thick voice, he stomped his hoof, causing the floorboards under us to buckle. "I am Bruteshot! Our enemies will face the wall and I am the fucking wall!" Okay... I'll allow him that one, but I think I got the gist here

"Handsome one. Douchebag one. Fangirl one. Big-Tough-Stupid one. Talk about a four-of-a-kind," Keeping my internal summery aside, Knight put a hoof to his chest

"And I am their leader, KnightofSilent, noble warrior of the legendary SilentNigh-"

"I have returned," Behind us a new figure approached, head-to-toe in plate mail say for their light-blue tail that was brushed with a few odd ends sticking out. Her armor was midnight blue with a hint of purple for the trim, a sword, and a buckler strapped to her sides with her peach wings resting over them. Her head motioned to us, then back to Knight. "Oh, so Horizon Dawn's Speaker has arrived it seems?" She looked to me... I think she seemed to be the most normal out of them all

"Yeah, you're with them?" I asked that more as an insult. She nodding, sadly, lifting her hoof to me

"As you can see by my tag, my name is Silverwing, a pleasure," Formal too, I like her alot given the not-so-difficult bar to pass. "I apologize for my tardiness but the materials you required Knight have been obtained." She held up a large bag with a hoof

"Wonderful work as always, Silverwing!" Knight praised with a pat to her back, though I heard her cough while I felt an unnatural fire rising from the group, more particularly the bright and cheery Radiant. "Now my friends new and old, it is time we got down to discussing our next course of action!"

I, Rain, who was now paying attention, and Skye all looked among ourselves as I spoke for them. "What's that exactly?" I'm going to need a raise after this

"It is time for us to make our move on collecting valuable intel on the Region Boss!" Knight's declaration turned the hall into an orchestra of cheers and stomping, my only thought was of how I was talked into this

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Oh yeah, I'm trembling with excitement. Meet team Harmony Knights, the best players in the game... well, in their opinion. This act's gonna be fun. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Might ≠ Right
Knight invites Artorias and her allies on a quest to uncover the Region Boss' location. The cracks in Harmony Knights' armor begin to show.

Episode 15 - Might ≠ Right

A/N: Warning, a later scene in this episode will contain far more Strong Language than normal, viewer discretion is advised.

Act IV - Faux Hero

[Blackrock Village | Harmony Knights HQ]

There 'meeting room' was just a glorified storage in the back, at least they had a table and lightning as to see the maps and such dotting the table. So far these guys weren't impressive in the slightest, besides Silverwing but I don't know what her malfunction is as of current. They did take down three Region Bosses in a week so there must be a method to their madness somewhere, my skeptical mind is telling me it may just all be a hoax and they've been taking the credit, there is a large sum of players out there after all.

Time to ask the defining question. "Sooo, how did you beat three Region Bosses? I'm assuming with the group currently on cloud-nine through the door?" In order to make an assessment I had to know the finer details, the reports I read were... bias, very bias. I may just sound like I'm attempting to defend my reputation but something about how perfect it was rubbed me the wrong way, there were no flaws to speak of

"It was freakin' badass, should have seen the stunts we pulled on Appleloosa's Region!" Jagged drew his swords in a red aura. "We hacked that ugly beast to ribbons without breaking a sweat!"

Bruteshot chuckled heartily. "Clobbered that toothpick hiding in the Temple on the edge of the Everfree." Okay...

"Our forces were nearly overwhelmed during the third Region Boss, located not far from Gastly Gorge-" Silver was quickly interrupted by Radiant, herself gushing with sparkles in her eyes

"But in every battle, they fell before Knight's overwhelming strength and leadership! It was so cool~!" This still left me in silence

Knight seemed to reminisce on that, "They were a challenge, to put it mildly, even with our superior numbers our forces were struck with loss, a number of good, innocent players were lost those days to bring us one step closer to the end of Malware nefarious scheme." There's the 'but' I was looking for

"Okay, impressive, but that doesn't tell me anything about your method," I continued, pressing my hoof to the desk. "What info did you have? When the Bosses were engaged how did you conduct yourselves? Strategies? You know, details of how you all survived?" I feel like I was being ignored

"It sucked to lose so many good players!" Jagged scoffed, kicking the table

"I only wish I could have saved them..." Radiant wept a little, tragic but I needed details

With a grim look threw aside by pride and confidence, Knight stood tall. "However, these dark times change with your arrival."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" I blurted out

"We have received notice of a boss just south of Blackrock holds the secrets to finding the Temple of the Region Boss, that is how we'll avenge our comrades," He seemed determined - What the hell am I thinking, something's up, focus Merry!

"Guild Leader, Knight suggested we attack close to nightfall as this creature is far less vicious at night." Silverwing elaborated with a hoof, but my mind came to a screaming halt

I stared at her a couple of seconds, then to Knight, then back to her, "Hold up, duh fuck you mean 'Guild Leader'?" My accusing tone drew several replies, one starting with Silver, though her voice sounded... strained

"Knight here is in charge of all the players in this building, they are his guild members that joined his cause both before and during the battles we've fought, all ending in victory for the game, his reputation was grown considerably because of this, and with the title of Guild Leader he may one day join other frontliners like yourself in the battles against the Vaults." Every word of what she just said made me want to go for an ear test to clear the bullshit from my eardrums. Skye looked surprised and Rain was staring at Knight in awe

"That's Knight for you, leading the charge!" Radiant cheered

"Hah, he's the best player and leader there is, no question about it." Jagged grinned, patting his leader's back

Knight held his hoof out bashfully. "Come now, my friends now's not the time to make this about me." Too late for that...

"You guys took on three Regions, won and all that in a week!? That's so cool!" Rain gushed causing my eye to twitch

Snorting, I held back my nerves. "Can we please discuss how we plan to go about this quest already?" I was seething but I needed to hold my tongue until I could see them in action, but a part of me already knew I should end this right here and now before something bad happens

"Yes, I concur with our guest-" Don't push it, loverboy. "-In order to locate this temple we must first defeat this boss, which has been sighted numerous times as of late, it seems to be a stalker of sorts that hunts during daylight, our plan is simple, we strike its nest under the cover of night, therefore it'll never see us coming until we are right on top of it." Knight showed us the location of the nest on the map, wasn't that far from Blackrock, just at the edge of a small forest. Knight said all this was an infectious smile and star in his eye

"It's not a bad plan, nightfall will be our ace but this seems rather cobbled together," I pressed. "Sure, you guys aren't completely green but rushing into a fight without proper analysis of the enemy will result in a higher risk, we have no idea what debuffs it can inflect, hell, we don't even have an image of the da--"

"It's simple, cuts straight to the point, not bad." Skye. Calum Ryder of all people is agreeing to this? What? How? When did-?

"If it can take us a step closer to beating this game then count me in! I'll help any way I can!" Rain too was on board, and I felt my stomach twist

"Hold on, you're serious about this? This half-assed cocktail will probably blow up in--" Again I was silenced, much to my chagrin

"Then it's settled! Once nightfall covers the mountains we move for the beast's lair. Now, come along my friends, I'm sure you're famished," Without another word spoken the room slowly filtered out, leaving me to stand there at the desk, eyeing the location of the Mini-Boss as I felt the whirlwind I was swept into settle

"What the hell just..." I sighed, running a hoof through my mane. "It's just the Mini-Boss, even without these idiots I can take care of it myself... dammit, Klaw."

The part that makes this worse is his use of the term 'Knight of Silent', he proclaimed he was a 'Legendary warrior of SilentNight', or before Silver showed up. SilentNight was one of the top players not just across VRMMOs but in a few competitive gaming championships, they were the second-best in the US, outranked by some guy from Texas. One thing they always committed to was cooperation, communication, and competence, the very principles I live by. And Knight had none of those qualities.

"If preordination doesn't kill him I will."

*Pat-Pat-Pat*

My sour mood shifted to bafflement as a rough hoof ruffled my mane. Peering up I found the goliath of a pony, Bruteshot stand behind me with an innocent smile. "What now?" I wasn't in a good mood for this

"Happy you're here, sorry for swearing, told it makes good impression." He was serious? Man, now I feel like an ass for earlier

Shrugging, I offered the rather gentle giant a smirk. "Don't worry 'bout it, big guy, I'm alot worse." I could use a drink right now. "Come on then, let's get something to eat to drown away this day." He followed me out like a puppy, a large, mace-wielding puppy, but one nonetheless

[Blackrock Fields | Three Hooves Divide]

We trudged through the snowy flatland nestled between the mountains, approaching a large open field through a few large fern trees. It was cold but my irritation was more than capable of keeping my blood boiling through the weather. We followed Knight to the location of this Mini-Boss, and here's hoping I can get some genuine intel on this group's combat prowess, it's one to just swing a sword and use skills and another to be a Region-Clearing master.

It was almost a world of complete serenity as we approached the flatland, the moon's glow casting itself in the backdrop across the mountain as we stepped into the territory of the monster, unable to spot a shift in the snow or treeline while walking straight into its den. If anything the second we all gathered together we'd trigger the boss.

"Where is it?" Jagged asked, some lowering their weapons in the confusion

"Are you dense? Well, you are, give it a minute," I snapped from the back

"She's correct, stand your ground," He drew his sword in his white magic field, placing the tip in the snow with both forehooves on the pommel like some valiant... oh come on... "The beast draws near, I can feel it."

"It's called a timed event, you nonce!" My words went unheard while Rain looked thrilled for the fight ahead, though her eyes never left Knight. "Is she seriously fangirling? The dork to my left, sure, but him, seriously?" Whatever the case my radar blared with red dots... everywhere

Something large and unseen swept through the snow, tossing up a white plume behind it as a hissing snarl emanated from the cloud, a large gust of wind brushing past us as something flew into the air, crashing down into the snow meters from Knight and his crew. I drew Genesis alongside Skye's new, black sword called Midnite, a purple tier blade with a face comparable to the night sky.

"Stand your ground!" Knight ushered, drawing his gold sword while the snow creased under the monster's foot; Dozens of small, white serpentine-like wolves snarling from the woods as they gathered by the invisible creature's feet. The scales then came to life, releasing the camouflage to reveal an onyx slender monster with white, reflective scales and a snake-wolf-like appearance, the head hissed, causing the white mane along its back to stand on end with a rattling sound at the base of the flat tail. "Have at thee, monster!"

<<>>

"Guess it's not going to wait..." Murmuring I moved toward Knight. "Hey, best you start coming up with a strategy, blondie!"

"Of course, I always do!" His smile damn near surprised me if not for the morale-boosting war cries behind us as his men charged the Boss and its minions head-on. "Keep your distance comrades and strike when the time is right, for on this day we strike back against this oppressing force!" And like that he slipped from my hoof, leaving me behind with a number of the rabble, crudely referred to as

"That's not a - fuck, Goddammit!!" I lifted my buckler in time to deflect an attacking wolf, slashing another into the snow with cutting half its health to ribbons while slitting its throat soon after. "Stick close to someone, and sweet merciful Buddha, don't let them surround you!"

"On it!" Skye cried out, striking with a wave of ice blue to dispel the growing numbers, providing us with breathing room. That idiot, Knight led us into the deep end so now it's up to us to dig the rest out. Wait...

My eyes shot wide while bucking a Loyalist into a tree. "Where the hell did Rain go!?" I demanded, decapitating one as it pounced, thankfully, someone struck another away from my flank as his spear lit up, drilling through the horde as their bodies rolled back across the snow. "Great, now Rain's probably gone and followed that ass into battle," Whether it was meant as an insult or the genuine article I'll leave up for debate

I can't let Knight and his goons bother me, I had to focus and get everyone out of this alive. Throwing myself in front of two sword-users I drew Genesis through the snow, turning it red with a crimson to cleave through four Loyalists at once, yet their shattered remains were stripped away as I leapt back, evading two pouncing wolves as they tore into one player's side while he yelped, retreating to the back. Lunging with I flung myself into its neck, swinging myself up and over to bring my buckler crashing into the second wolf's scalp. "!" The force of the wind flattened the head into the earth and snow, shrouding me in mist as I enhanced myself with and

Leaping from the frost I tore across the pack with another batting one high for Skye's overhead slash to finish it off, himself being cut off by several wolves alongside a few other players. They had alot of numbers so it was easy for them to break our ranks. At this rate, the weaker players will get overrun if we down dish out all out AOE skills. Taking a claw to the face my armor rebound the energy, saving me as the wolf took the damage, flaming searing across my hoof to my blade, melting the snow.

"!" The clash and clang of metal and flames roared across the moonlit tundra, revealing the rocky earth under us as my blade incinerated half a dozen wolves surrounding me, leaving me to turn with horror under an ear-splitting scream. "Crap!" I was too late to move, seeing a player fall to the ground, viciously mauled down to the last flicker of his health as his body erupted into fragments

"No way!" "Damn you!" "Not again...!"

"Everyone... get down, now." If you didn't know what my voice sounded like you swore I was a feral beast as the players that remained in the background with me all hit the deck, the wolves closing in for a tight circle. Drawing Genesis to rest the edge by my tail I focused my gaze on everything in my general direction, a hot breath escaping my lips, searing with rage as my fur felt tingly, my red hair shimmering cherry red for a second. Twisting my hold on Genesis I took a stomp with my left forehoof, twisting to pull my bloodied blade around in a massive sweeping attack that left a ringing of metal in the air, almost cutting off the music as I was paralyzed as a result of the special move. "."

A ring of fire suddenly erupted around us, it lasted only a mere two seconds but the walls of flame incinerated any and all Loyalists that came too close to my flames. It was a powerful Composite skill, merging Solar magic and a one-handed sword, much like Crimson Square, the attack, while powerful did come with an adverse effect, it left me paralyzed for a short time, meaning I had to become the damsel in distress for the time being.

"Are you okay?" Huh? My head lifted from the snow, finding Silverwing aiding me with another player, the rest seemed far less cocky, like somehow Knight's horrible planning wasn't blinding their commonsense, does that make sense?

"I'm fine, just keep together, we can make it," I had to wait a few more seconds but now with them coordinating we had a chance. "Alright... I may be kinda useless here but listen up, forget what that idiot you call a Leader said, and use your heads!" I managed to sit upright while Silverwing and the other player defended me. "These guys are weak but have numbers, focus on either drawing them into groups for an AOE or switch with a partner to keep on your toes! We have to hold out 'till the boss is defeated so don't let up, not for a second or else!"

"UNDERSTOOD!!" They cried to my order, charging in as my hooves finally came back to me, allowing me to procure my sword from the snow, kicking the tip through a Legionist's neck as it slumped beside me. I knew it, something's affecting their heads, and Knight's to blame, although I can't say if he's generally behind it or if he's just too dense to realize what he's doing. "I'll figure that out later."

I can't honestly say how long we fought for, from the cheering it was obvious the boss was nearing its end but that didn't sit well with me as the cannon-fodder kept prowling in numbers. Sure, we held them back but our times for healing were sparse, leaving us all relatively in the amber.

"No, Songtide!" While the fighting continued to stretch on, I spotted one player down, himself struggling to hold back a Legionist as it tried to snap at his face between his shield, to his left and right more slowly prowled toward him. I managed to throw myself over another player while Silverwing flew high, attempting to draw herself in close but she was unable thanks to some snapping at her hooves from below

"Damn, grah!" My eyes shot to the right, off near the treeline Skye wasn't fairing any better, keeping the wolves at bay but when he struck one down another bit or clawed at his back, he was growing hasty, even with his buffs.

For once I was forced to stop and think as the world just crawled. On one end, a player was about to be mauled to death, and on the other someone, I considered a friend. If it were any other game I'd save Skye but our lives meant far more than just mere code. If I chose my friend would that be selfish? I-I don't know, I've never had to... w-what do I do here? My head just kept swishing between the two, their health dropping and time slowly crawling back into motion.

Everyone else was desperately attempting to hold the line and here I was, rooted like a scared little girl, me of all players was hesitating! Closing my eyes, I let out a shaky sigh. "Silverwing and the rest, save that other player, hurry!" With velocity that even with Lumina Curso seemed so unfathomably fast, I plunged my sword through the collarbone of a Loyalist, tossing its ragdoll form into the woods

I pressed my body against him as I tackled us to the snow, drawing Bedrock Shield high. "!" The spiral of flames quickly flashed in the night sky, draining more of my stamina but I didn't care, I thankfully dispersed the fodder and kept this dork alive. Looking down with startling fright in my voice I asked. "Are you okay, Skye?" What's with me today? I'm really losing it...

"I-I..." He looked shocked to see me but offered a small smile. "Yeah, I'm okay," My own smile split in the heat of battle before I realized that he probably wanted me off his stomach. Pushing back, seeing he was still down after the fight, his health already in the red as he winced, "What about the others?" I almost didn't respond as I stared fearfully at the red tint below his name, he came so close and I... "Artorias." I jumped as his hoof nudged mine

From the state of the Silverwing's formation and the angry looks in their eyes, it told me all I needed to know, my head sank for a moment, biting my lip. "What the hell is going on in this Guild? That dumbass can't even lead a small faction let alone a damn Guild!" It was so frustrating to have to sit and watch this, see Rain become almost deathly oblivious, his followers were just sheep to his slaughter at this point and he was none the wiser. Knowing and compiling all this and the fact someone was dead only drew a bitterness to my throat

"Hraaaaah!!" Our twin roar responded in the night like a twin beast

[Blackrock Village | Harmony Knights HQ]

I could hear the chorus of cheers from within, praises, and drinks were being past around as I stomped my way toward the entrance, if I could see red then now would be the time. I haven't seen Rain anywhere since we got back, I was too busy carrying Skye back alongside Silverwing to spot her among the oblivious crowd. They killed the boss but that didn't so much as ease my mental state as I burst through the tarp.

"WHAT THE FREAKIN' HELL WAS THAT!?!" My voice almost shattered glass as I threw the tarp side, my eyes blazing with fury I didn't know I still had left in me. Just beside me was Silverwing, her helmet staring directly ahead as I stormed up to Knight. Just seeing his face made my insides turn, I've never felt so... tempted to snap someone's neck

"Ah, Artorias, what seems to be the problem. my friend?" He... he had the nerve...!

"YOU, you are my problem!!" My hoof stabbed against his breastplate. "You freakin' jumped in without a plan!"

"I did so follow a plan." Knight remained in a calm and cool manner as I exploded

"Oh really?" I growled through grit teeth, my pupils couldn't get any smaller as I tore into him. "Because of your rash action to jump headfirst into the fray without a second to analyze the boss we had to scramble to fend off the rest of the pack," I soon let my voice thunder. "You got over a dozen players nearly killed!! Three of them are dead!!"

"And their sacrifices shall be remembered," Knight said somberly, placing a hoof to his chest while the three stooges held on to misty tears

My breath came out hollow, shaken as I just stared back at Knight with complete disbelief, feeling something inside me snap. "They're not coming back, you idiot. They're gone, from here and the real world, don't you get it!?" I stomped my hoof, feeling the board snap. "Scarlet! Rosevein! Songtide! THEY'RE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!!" As I panted for breath, Silverwing took over

"It's the same thing, every time," She shook her head disappointedly. "I've tried to help but you never listen to reason, you go off your own initiative and that costs us so much, how many have died because of your stupidity, all of yours?" She sounded almost as pissed as I was but held it together, something I couldn't anymore. "You bark orders that contradict the situation, causing confusion and unnecessary losses."

"Hey! Don't call my Knighty stupid you bitch! He's the only reason the game's getting closer to being cleared!" Radiant shrieked beside Knight protectively with a face that read, 'you'll be sorry', I change my mind, she's the Whore. Her outburst rose several more voices from the living idiots among this cocktail of incompetence

"Where'd you two get off blaming Knight for something he had no part in, that low, even for you Silvy." Jagged snapped, but I heard her snort

"I told you to stop calling me that, Edgy." She hissed through her helmet, then another joined in, adding more fuel to my preexisting fire

"Artorias, aren't you guys being a little tough on them?" Not you too Rain. She looked sad at my outburst but she was standing with them

I shot her a disapproving glare. "Rain, wake the fuck up already, if not for me Skye'd be six feet under right now." A thought that almost terrified me

"What? He was nearly killed...!" She gasped as I rolled my eyes

"No, he went to go buy some flowers - What do you think I'm talking about, you dumbass! Maybe if you stopped crushing on blondie here you'd have seen some of the pixel blood of his that stained the snow!" I snapped at her, seeing her flinch as I actually vocalized my thoughts without a filter. I clutched my pulsing head for a moment. "God all mighty, I'm surrounded by idiots..." Moaning into my hoof I tried to salvage some semblance of the situation, but as I've come to know, Knight was a step ahead

"That is why we cannot allow those who perished to have died in vain, tomorrow is when we'll strike at the heart of this evil, or at the very least, prove to Malware how he shouldn't have unestimated us," I think tires just screeched in mine, Silverwing's heads

"Hold up a second, w-w-what the hell are you talking about? Tomorrow what?" He better not say - Oh God he is...

"Exactly as I said, we shall strike while the iron is hot and storm the Temple of the Displaced at noon tomorrow, and with my full-proof plan we shall be victorious!" Knight's little declaration erupted with another round of cheers, deafening me further

"Are you crazy!? If we attack tomorrow it'll end in a massacre, even at the other Regions we had more intel than this!" Silverwing looked ready to burst from her armor as I ran my hoof across my muzzle, each word spoke made a minute of my life tick away

"Relax, ladies, Knight's ran us through this drill countless times when you were away on resource gathering, and we've aced it every time," Was Jagged actually trying to impress her or me? Cause at this point he'd have better luck banging a belt sander

I pinched my nose for a second. "I'm terrified to ask," I threw my hoof up. "What's your master plan?" My tone was demanding of the so-called 'Knight'

"Haha, it's very simple-" I thought so. "-it's a timed strike that would occur once entering the chamber of the Boss. We'll storm the frontline will superior numbers to overwhelm its defense while my team moves into counterattack from behind, shattering its defenses and overwhelming it until it perishes beneath our might!" Knight puffed out his chest proudly, gaining a few approving claps from the guys while Radiant and a few other girl players practically swooned over him.

My deadpan face told the story. "So your strategy... is to group up... and hit it 'till it dies." I let the words come out slowly so that everyone heard me. "Then you come back the big hero and get all the girls... and I'm guessing Rain here's in charge of confetti!"

"Precisely, my friend!" Did he even catch my verbal jab? Or was he more full of himself than me?

"...Why am I even surprised at this point?" This was hopeless, how have these idiots survived nearly half a year?

"My Knight-Senpai's plans have never failed before!" Did she - moving past Radiant's clear lust for more than just his looks I continued

"your 'actual' records thanks to Silverwing say otherwise." I countered. "Hell, you're not even registered as a Guild in the system!"

"Tch, what would you do then?" Radiant asked with a lofty tone

Giving them all a blunt stare I listed off my feats. "I've successfully beaten several Region Bosses both as a team and solo, have led a team through the first Vault with only one casualty, who I will add did far more than any of you could possibly surmount to, and that's not including my method. I'd probe for every slither of information that can be obtained, assess the bosses, the minions, and environment, and make a decisive choice on team coordination and distribution of both offense and defense to maximize performance and minimize losses, if unknown variables remain I play it cautiously until these unknowns become transparent." I broke down the very core fibers of my mindset, atleast the important stuff

I was far from through, my eye was twitching as I continued to stare into that idiot's eyes, whatever spell he had on the rest wasn't ever going to twist my sense of self just to please his Fimfiction fantasy. "You are basing all your facts and information off both the name of the Temple and the boss' name... who am I kidding, of course you are!" I threw my hoof forward with mockery. After about several seconds of unending silence, I began, letting out a heavy, exasperated sigh. "Fuck it, as of right now I'm abolishing your suicide quest against the Temple, I'm going to go message both Klaw and a few other notable Guilds to come sweep up this mess, I'm through trying to be the mature adult in this situation, you're not my problem to fix."

"What, who died and made you leader, come on girl, have a heart!" Jagged groaned at me, throwing his hooves wide like a child throwing a tantrum

"Duh fuck I can't?" Drawing up my messages I set most to public. "I'm here under Klaw, Guild Leader of Horizon Dawn, to inspect and critique your ability to function as a valuable asset in future Raids and the like, and so far you've gone above and beyond-" They looked surprised to hear this, then I brought my hoof down. "-To completely and utterly abolish your chances in spectacular fashion!"

"Artorias, you cannot let this chance slip us by, every day we give that monster Malware another life could be lost!" Knight proclaimed with haste but my hooves hadn't budged

"'This chance'? Three people are dead," I sent him a spine-chilling glare. "That's already enough to last several weeks in my opinion, your Intel, if I can even call it that, is hinged solely on a location name and boss name, that leaves literally nothing to stand on!" Pressing my hoof to his chest I asked with a strain in my pitch. "Give me one reason to let you and your sheep set one hoof in that Temple that won't end with you violating the Geneva Convention?"

"For the glory of our comrades!" Jagged proclaimed

"For our friends," Bruteshot added, he's an idiot but seems he's a gentle sort, God help him for being led by these idiots

"For love!" Of course, the ass-kisser would say that

I awaited Knight's own reply with growing impatience, putting his hoof on his sword he spoke clear and direct, smiling with confidence. "To do what is right."

I actually listened, I took this all in and for a couple of seconds I processed it all, "Ah, I see, you think this is The Master of Ragnarok you shrimp-dick fuck-nugget!?" My words and scowl cut in deep with a dark aura over my body. "You wanted to join the frontline? Too bad, cause I may not be a Guild Leader or even a leader in general but not even Bombard would waste his energy on you, which leads me to another point, don't think I can't usurp your asinine reasonings of my own accord, my numbers are not only bigger than yours ever could be but as one of the top frontliners I'd rather hang myself with barbwire than allow even one of you to so much as grace my presence in combat!"

"Your ideals are more akin to a cliche, cheesy, rotten kids show where the 'Power of Friendship' can move fucking planets, and yes I am aware we're in one of those shows," My hoof kept a few from speaking. "All you're missing is color-coded spandex, a secret, underground base, and some egghead fixed into a screen running on 420p alongside some catch-phrase to summon forth your powers, not to mention some monster or villain with the mindset of an angsty teen to attack you every week!"

"That's... not very nice..." I stopped myself at Bruteshot's words, again, first impressions of him was bad but he seemed to be a mere gentle giant

"Sorry, big guy, it isn't," Sighing I, giving him a somewhat remorseful look before continuing to glare at Knight. "But sadly it's the truth, you're all staying rooted here in Blackrock 'till I drag half the Guilds from across MLPR to not only abolish your team but lock you up before you cause World War Three or a Race War, I dunno, take your pick, you sadist!" I finally brought myself back down to stability. "This discussion's over, and listen when I say shut your fucking mouths and stay put or so help me I'll ground you myself." I tapped a hoof to Genesis to emphasize before I threw back the tarp to escape into the night

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

"Wait, Artorias!?" Stopping at the edge of the steps I turned with a dull look

"What's up, Rain? If you're looking for Skye our fellow gamer is resting in the inn," She blinked, throwing her wing back at my casual reply

"'What's up'? What was that in there!?" She gaped as I turned to face her directly

Sighing through my nose I pointed my hoof at the building. "Rain, they are going to die if they go there tomorrow, so screw 'em, I don't care, I told Klaw I'd do what I can and if push comes to shove I'll leave them for fate's design, end of story," Slowly though, I put my hoof on her shoulder. "Rain, please, just come back with me and that dork, hell, even Silverwing's thinkin' of jumping ship before it sails and sinks right to the bottom of the ocean, smart move."

This was too much for one day, a complete waste of air and time, don't know what Klaw's gonna do when he hears the body count, I sure as hell don't have any idea. "...no." I stopped moving, turning just ever-so-slightly to see that Rain hadn't budged, scrunching up her face

"What did you say?" I had to ensure I was hearing this correctly, must have been the seething rage in my head that interfered

"I said 'no', I'm staying," Rain, of all her flaws, was a good person, much more than me, so why... why was she so... "I know they've messed up, but so have we-"

"I don't throw living beings to the grinder and crack out the popcorn discussing fairy tale level of heroic speeches!" I snapped. "Their web of lies and deceit is so large it's catching school buses!"

"-I don't want to see anyone else die here!" Her voice snapped, looking up at me with hesitant eyes. "They've lost people too, Artorias, so have we, and if I can help put an end to this game before more lives are lost then so be it."

"They have killed just as many as natural selection has, are you that blinded by some flimsy sense of admiration that you can't even see that!?" It wasn't a matter of them losing their own people, they basically led them to their graves and did nothing, today they did nothing as I had to watch another three disappear into fragments

My head started shaking, and my chest kept getting higher. "No-no-no-no, Rain, come on now, you can't be serious? I wouldn't leave him in charge of a salad-bar underwater for fear he'd set it on fire!" My hoof threw itself to the sky to emphasize, and yet... nothing, she just looked at me with a mix of sadness and disappointment

"...then I'm sorry I made you angry," She just turned around as the wind howled, offering a small smile. "I'll be back soon, Artorias."

Why... why was she going? My hoof reached for her but... I couldn't stop her, I tried to say something but nothing croaked from my throat. I just continued to stare ahead in the frigid night, hearing laughter and cheer from inside that cursed hall, but I wasn't smiling, not even so much as a chuckle as I just... felt lost.

"I see..." My muzzle closed, dipping down as I turned around to wander the cold streets by myself. If she wanted to die then so be it, so why did that hurt so much to think? I started moving at a faster pace to escape that noise, the voices grating my ears as I kept moving forward, that's all I could do, all I can think of. "I... I..."

"-You and I were changed differently than anyone else. You saw something similar to me before the death game, maybe it was this Malware guy that dragged me to this game, I want to help but I want to help you."

Her voice keeps getting inside my head, that stupid, child-like smile, her mannerisms, and insistence on helping a scumbag like me. Why did I care, I was fine without her? I don't need her company! "Stop thinking... she's just your partner..."

"Nope, you're my crazy cool best friend, so if you're going to mope then I'm going to make you stop, simple,"

"She's not your friend, you know this!" A friend doesn't leave you, a friend doesn't side with the enemy, a friend sticks by your side! Right? Right!?

*Thud*

I stupidly ran into someone, knocking us both to the ground as my voice croaked. "S-sorry..." I lost complete control over my mental state, I couldn't care less, who would care for a nobody like me, right?

"Merry?" My body seized up at the name, lifting my head under the lantern to find a fully healed Skye staring down at me as I remained motionless in the snow, staring back hollowly

"Heh, why is it always you..." My voice broke a little under a smile as I drooped my head. "...who sees me like this?"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Yeah, things just exploded. And Artorias isn't herself right now after Rain left her side for the first time ever. Also, I apologize if Silverwing and SilverCrow get muddled up, I'll try to remember to refer to Silverwing under her full name.

Also, I do apologize if Artorias swears alot in this episode but given the circumstances, her composure has completely run its course and she's reverted to outright slander as opposed to simply proclaiming her superiority (Let's be fair we'd all do the same). I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode!

Next Episode: Nobody from Nowhere
Skye finds Artorias completely distraught about the ordeal, but who's side is he on?

Episode 17 - With Friends Like You...

Act IV - Faux Hero

[Temple of the Displaced | Boss Arena]

The battle through the intricate dungeon was a long and difficult process, the monsters consisted of more of those wolves, a number of and the masses weren't all that stronger than their combined numbers, but navigation was a slow and painful crawl, yet the groups ultimately overcame the obstacles, rewarded by their efforts through hidden chests filled to the brim with Bits and gear. Eventually, only one hallway remained on their maps, lined with blue goblets of fire.

The black stone led to a set of blackiron doors rising well over six meters tall, a chilling sensation stretching across Rain as she stood with the Harmony Knights, keeping her hold on her lilac sword taut. "This must be the monster's lair, let us not waste time!" Knight proclaimed. "Bruteshot, offer me your hooves if you would?" The large stallion nodded, the pair pushing their hooves to the door as it creaked open, a few icicles dislodged from the ceiling as the world ahead came to life with a blazing heat

"Woah!" Jagged's reaction was shared among the teams as Silverwing stood with Rain, both looking to one another before they followed Knight into the fray

The massive chamber stretched long and high, clearly, a battle arena carved into the mountain, to the left and right were two massive pits of blazing blue magma, lighting the room in its fierce glow and powerful heat. The only issue that arose among the crowd was the fact nobody was inside, nor was there any sign someone or something had set foot in the chamber. No equipment, no boss, nothing.

"Where the hell's the boss!?" Radiant scoffed, lowering her naginata

Rain's brow quirked. "Huh, usually the Region Boss just appears once everyone's inside... maybe Artorias would know..." Not that it would matter, she was still mad at Rain

"Shut up, Bitch!!" The sudden lash out from Radiant startled Rain into Silverwing's hoof, the two watching the irked look in the blue pony's eyes simmer

"Hey, chill, what's with you?" Rain asked defensively

"Don't you dare question Knight's wisdom, got that!?" She growled through her teeth

Silverwing leaned her head to the side. "Don't worry, she's just desperate for his love if you catch my drift." The words were unheard by the lunatic as Rain stared at the female knight for a couple of seconds, then her eyes widened with a red hue tinting her cheeks

"U-um, yeah, I-I think I get it." Seeing Rain become flustered brought a small chuckle to Silverwing, it was assuring.

"Calm yourselves, my friends," Knight ushered, taking a step forward, inspecting the surrounds cautiously

"What's the play, boss? Seems we might have been beaten to the punch," Jagged inquired, seeing his leader ponder this

"While that would be disappointing no announcement has been made, hrm... hold on, I have an idea," After trotting a few feet toward the center of the chamber he channeled his magic and raised his sword proudly. "IN THE NAME OF THE HARMONY KNIGHTS AND THE INNOCENT LIVES OF THIS WORLD, I ORDER THEE TO SHOW THYSELF!"

"You can be very rude, I thought knights are meant to be chivalrous and formal?" A voice croaked from the back of the chamber, stepping out from a black veil that dissipated at his words. He had an enthusiastic, machine gun-like voice tone, "My apologies I never passed History so I may be mistaken."

What took them all, especially Rain, by surprise was the fact that the player wasn't a pony, or a dragon like Klaw, no instead he looked to be completely human. His form was lean but clearly well exercised. He wore a black poncho down to his waist with a torn hood to obscure the top half of his face, say for the long strands of dark purple hair poking out from the cowl. He wore dark grey tracksuit bottoms with steel-capped, leather boots. Bandages were bound around his forearms with a pair of black gloves to match his dark appearance.

Held limp in his right hand was what appeared to be an amalgamation of a saw and cleaver mummified with old bandages. Then the name appeared with a deep red cursor instead of the normal green. . With a sickly smile, he gave a small bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you again, Knight, well, for the last time."

"It's him...!" Rain perked up as she looked to Silverwing, seeing her armor jitter slightly. "That was the one... he's the reason why the Harmony Knight's changed... why they...!" Now she sounded furious, her sword digging through the stone in her hoof

"What?" There didn't seem to be time to explain as something caused the earth to rumble. "Oh no..."

"You? Pray tell, why are you here among these forgotten halls?" Knight inquired, seeing the man shrug

"Why I'm here is simple," He chuckled, then they saw the glint of his cyan eyes through the shroud of his hood. "I want to know what sound you'll make when you die." Without another word the man vanished back into the shadows, leaving only a massive force to crash from the ceiling, spilling rock and debris into the molten pools that suddenly roared to life, throwing the chamber in a bright blue hue to reveal the creature as it took a stand

Much like the mysterious Mirin player, the monster stood with the posture of a human, standing roughly six meters tall a knight strapped in heavily worn, charred armor tinted red rose to meet the ponies. Faint, blue embers flickering off its shoulders as it grasped a large coiled greatsword from the scabbard attached to his left hip, blue flames turning dark red across its edge as it stood with a slight, intimidating hunch. On its right hip, strangely enough, was a scabbard without a blade.

<<>>

"This is our moment, my friends, charge!!" Knight immediately took the lead without even so much as a plan, leaving only Rain and Silverwing to stand back while the others ran into the fray. Something about this just seemed... off to Rain, not so much the guy that was lurking in the background, his cursor hadn't disappeared like before yet he remained in the far back, watching ambiguously. No, it was the fact that Knight's sudden charge into battle, and what Silverwing said kept her mind... clear

"This is insane, that boss' far too powerful for them, its name might be red for them." She gasped. Something she learned was that if a monster had a name that was in red or their level was question marks it meant its level was far above the player's abilities, sure, you can still beat it but no one said it would be easy. "Silverwing, what does that guy have to do with the Knights?"

With them already leading the charge into battle it gave the girls time to quickly chat. "To put it simply, something about Knight has rubbed me the wrong way since my... old team perished... they were wiped out on the second Region Boss we fought and..." Her hoof rubbed against the helmet. "This is all I really have of them,"

Rain's expression softened. "Sorry, I didn't kn-" A hoof tapped her forehead

"Thanks, but it's not the issue, the helmet I'm wearing is," She tapped its visor. "Whenever I put it on my mind just... cleared, like a haze, I didn't know was there suddenly vanished, and I started to see what the Knights had become, they aren't heroes," Their eyes met the players, just as a blazing sword threw them back. "They're all sheep to a slaughter I'm too weak to prevent."

Hearing all this, and thinking back on what Artorias screamed about made her realize something, and it caused her heart to twist. "I'm an idiot..." Closing her eyes in disgust she felt her face rise with embarrassment while her mind raced with what she said to her own best friend, her... "We can stop this," She turned to Silverwing with a boot-faced expression. "Our levels are high enough, we might not win, but, we can't let anyone else die the way your team did!"

Silverwing peered to the group then back at Rain with a strained silence. "...fine," She sounded forced. "Most of these players were like me, they got messed in the head by Knight somehow - hold on," She kept Rain from running into the fight, none of which realized the two were having a pleasant chat. "How are you unaffected? What did you do?"

Rain thought about it but drew nothing but blanks. "I'm not sure, maybe after I..." Her eyes lit up. "Is it a buff? I drank a Cleansing Potion just before the chamber to clear the Ice Blight, but it cleanses both buffs and debuffs for a small amount of healing too."

She hummed before giving a reply. "That could be it, however - Get down!" She quickly sprang into action as the massive sword cleaved the ground behind them, the searing blade catching Silverwing's side as she was battered across the hall

"Silverwing!" Rain gasped, growling as she took flight to evade the swinging blade as it was deflected by Bruteshot's mace, the two large weapons clanging together while the crowd surfaced around Blade. Bruteshot then took a swift up-swing from Crimson, followed by a two-handed that knocked the large pony backward as his team rushed the boss head-on, even as it was pelted with magical attacks it barely flinched as it brought the blade down to its right hip in both hands. "Watch out!"

Rain flew down, quickly skating her sword down the length of the coiled blade, hearing it ring as it was deflected. Leaving the boss stunned granted her the chance to retaliate with , the strobes of blue hardlight crashing through the knight's armor as it recovered, swinging left and right rapidly to swat the weaker players away, his sword locked with Knight's while Radiant focused solely on buffing him.

"We need to spread the healing, Radiant!" Rain tried to call while she helped a few players back far enough away to heal

"They're fine, my sweet Knighty needs all the strength he can get!" That alone with the stupid smile on her face just dropped Rain's jaw, now she started to see why Artorias was so aggravated, even she was getting frustrated with this. "Don't you dare hurt Sir Knighty you creep!" Her snappish tone was met with both Knight and Jagged bringing their swords around and up Crimson's chestplate, pushing the lumbering boss back a few inches

The issue was, even with the combined strength of all their attacks, the elemental attacks splashing from afar thanks to three mage-class players, Rain could see it a mile away, they weren't even halfway through one out of three health bars. Worry then started to creep into her mind. "Guys, our attacks alone aren't enough, we need to buff ourselves and find this boss' weak point!" "I wish Artorias or Skye were here, they're better at this strategy thing than me."

"Have no fear, maiden, this abomination must falter at some point!" Knight rallied, drawing his sword high in a golden light. "Now, keep up the assault!" He drew the blade down for a blinding flash of holy light, smothering the boss as it stepped back, drawing its own weapon high as the flames swirled over the tip of the blade, making it appear larger than it was

"Here comes the big one..." Rain caught the slight whistle from the concealed red player as he watched from his vantage point on one of the wall's pillars.

The second Rain turned she yelped as she flipped to her left, a wall of bluish-red flames scorching a massive wall through the chamber, igniting a reaction from the right lava pit as many players were left reeling with their health burnt into the red, Fire Blight slowly eating away at their HP while a white shield protected both Knight and his team thanks to Radiant, only now she looked pissed.

"YOU DARE TRY TO HURT MY SWEET PRINCE, DIE!!" She snapped, well, more than usual. She flung herself at the boss in her magic. swiping with her naginata as the silver blade slid through the charred metal, cutting with a flurry of colorful arcs, those same attacks almost hitting some of the players behind the boss as it stumbled back under her oppressive force, not to mention Bruteshot's low-bearing swing with his mace to Crimson's calves.

"Radiant, stop, you're going to hit our teammates!" Rain cried out, attempting to fly in to stop her but her own attacks almost clipped her wings, forcing the bat pony to her hooves, watching the girl scream with reckless abandon while Knight joined her side, his sword drawn to the left

"Switch, Radiant!" She smiled dreamily at his call and stepped back as the massive, coiled sword tore at the ground, blocked only by Knight's own sword as it buckled in his magic, the flames ticking away at his health. "I shall not lose to a beast such as you!"

"Knight, switch!" From the retreated crowd, Silverwing slipped in, cracking her buckler to Crimson's wrist, unleashing an emerald light that created a halo, flinching the boss into swinging upward from side-to-side, Silverwing effortlessly flew between the swings of the true edge, drawing her sword close to her helmet's cheek. "!" Her blade burst with golden stars as she slashed through the boss' midsection with a dazzling flurry of strokes, a shining star carved into its stomach followed by a single, powerful thrust through the abdomen

She then gasped, finding a hand clenched to her sword, keeping it from grazing its chainmail as the butt of the sword cracked against Silverwing's muzzle, tossing her back toward the group, her health dropping into the amber as she struggled to stand. Rain rushed to her side as the boss seemed to take a moment to assess itself, unlike any the players had encountered before.

"I dare say, my friends, we are in a spot of trouble," Knight spoke evenly, checking his sword

"We can't just rush in like that, look at its health!" Rain threw her wing toward the boss. "We've taken the first bar, sure, but our allies are all either down or recovering, we can't keep trying to win like this, it's suicide!" To hers and Silverwing's surprise, Bruteshot and Jagged nodded in agreement

"We need a plan, boss, and stat, that things lookin' pretty glowy!" Jagged was correct on that assumption, a dark red aura was beginning to crack from the wounds in Crimson's armor, and it held onto its sword almost protectively

Knight took her words into consideration, patting her shoulder with a chuckle. "Fear not, Young Rain, we aren't for giving up so quickly, we need only the right tools to overcome this crisis, I shan't let our struggle wither!"

"Oh, I have something that could work, my Lovely Knighty!" Radiant beamed as she procured something from her inventory, in a flash of light her magic held out the black scabbard with a familiar, jagged handle sticking out. Genesis was then taken up in Knight's aura, his magic releasing the scarlet blade from its home. "I hope you like it, my love!"

Knight's expression warped into pride at the blade, "I must say, Radiant, this is a marvelous weapon, one truly fit for a warrior of SilentNight, thank you!" His beaming gratitude caused the mare to blush as she squealed

"Only the best for someone as strong as you, Knighty~!" She cooed, all while Silverwing's head snapped to Rain, feeling a fire burn across the sweet girl's form as she gawked at the sight of the familiar longsword

"What the - That's Artorias' weapon! How did you get that!?" She forcefully demanded from Radiant

"It was actually shortly before she left Blackrock, she gave it to me for Knight saying he could use it in his time of need, it was really nice!" She replied in her innocent voice with her sweet girl from next door face

For a mere moment, Rain was going to accept that - no, it was happening again, she was compelled to accept that as fact, but her heart kept racing, and her blood's boiling temperature kept her lucid mind from winning over as she recalled exactly what Genesis was to Artorias. It wasn't just some tool used for a means to an end, ever since they met, Artorias never, not for an instance, parted with Genesis, compelled to stay on her quest to discover its missing pieces, but what rooted the bat pony to reality was the choice words Artorias said to her.

"Come oooon, pleeeease, just once and I'll stop asking, I swear!" Rain kept pestering Artorias as she tore across the glade, spilling blobs of slime across the grass as they were reduced to shards. Swinging Genesis around Artorias breathed heavily through her snout, glaring back at Rain's cute pout

"No. A. Chance," She held Genesis high to emphasize her next point. "I've been busting my ass to locate the last two pieces to Genesis Veil, so believe me when I say the only way you're getting your hooves on this sword is if you pry it from my mangled corpse," Then her creepy creeper smile gave Rain a fright. "'Course I'll just come back and drag you down to hell with me...!"

"What's with that face!?!" She squealed, falling back on the boulder as Artorias burst out laughing at her expense. "Not cool..."

"Besides, you won't like it if I took something precious from you," From atop the rock Rain saw the serious look on the redhead's face. "Genesis has been my partner since this Death Game began, I'll be damned if I ever part with him."

Whatever faint light Rain held for the Harmony Knights shattered after that realization, seeing Knight approach the frontline with Jagged, Genesis still grasped in the leader's magic. "No... you stole it, YOU STOLE ARTORIAS' WEAPON, HER PARTNER!!" Rain was beyond fuming at the little... rat's actions

"What? I'd never do such a thing, really!" Rain wasn't fooled by that smug smile on the girl's face. "That weapon was wasted on that talentless coward, she's known for hoarding all the best items alongside that Cheater she probably sleeps with every chance she gets, to think a powerful weapon like Genesis was being mistreated like that, I did everyone, including my darling Knighty senpai, a favor."

"Now you've done it, witch," Silverwing murmured under her breath, finally recovered while most of the players stepped back to let their leader charge the vanguard

Without hesitation Rain stormed up to Radiant, twisting her collar in her hoof while her face twisted with anger. "What did you do to them... to me and Skye!?"

Casually she shrugged, petting off Rain's hold. "I got my strong Knight an item that would let everyone in this stupid game see the hero he truly is, those frontliners are all just glory-hungry pigs and can't even hold a candle to the Harmony Knights' strength, and that little necklace has helped everyone see that!" She was beyond crazy, even by Rain's standards, but now she got it, the extent of this

"All those deaths... were on her hands," The news sunk in her stomach, forcing her to lower her head for an instance. "You're a murderer..."

"Hmm?" She got up close, petting Rain's head mockingly. "Now-Now, just sit there like a good little girl and watch as-"

*Crack!*

Radiant shrieked as Rain's hoof connected to her snout, breaking it as half of those watching winced, to their surprise, Rain's cursor remained green. "Don't you dare call her a that, you pig," With an uncharacteristically cold voice she addressed the chamber. "Everyone who's injured stay far away, anyone who's willing to fight keep your distance and wait for an opening, this boss can sweep a large area, remember!"

"Fear not, Rain!" As it turns out, Knight and his team hadn't realized the heated argument between the girls, instead, they focused on the boss that finally looked ready to engage, a red blaze scorching its armor. "It is time to end this farce once and for all!" He declared while Crimson missed Jagged who flew through the air, using his magic to score a large wound through the backs of the boss' knees. Knight brought Genesis high, casting its red form in a golden hue. "Witness the might of the Harmony Knig-- Ack!"

In only a breath his magic cut out alongside the skill as Crimson brought its sword across the battlefield, swatting both of them back into the dirt, Genesis clattering beside the stunned Knight who scoffed at the blade. "What manner of sorcery is-" From the corner of the chamber the red player, Mirin chuckled, clapping his hands

"I'm impressed you stole such a powerful weapon, there's one issue, most players tend to appraise their equipment to prevent misuse of their gear," He patted his saw-cleaver as an example. "Certain privileges can be given to select players, so while you may steal and sell the weapon, unless you have a person with a high enough appraisal skill to remove the ID you'll be unable to use it in combat," Then his hood turned to Radiant, herself still clutching her muzzle. "Perhaps you should have thought of this before attempting to steal from a player who clearly has more intelligence than yourselves."

Knight rubbed his horn from the backlash. "This weapon is unfit for a warrior such as I!" With a sharp buck the red sword was sent flying through the air, thankfully, Rain caught it before it could plummet into one of the lava pools, feeling its warm face pressed to her chest. Back in the middle of the fray, Crimson suddenly charged with slow but wide steps, clasping its sword in both hands. "Fine then, we shall finish this with my trusty blade, Heaven's Light! Have at thee!"

"I am seriously getting sick of hearing his old English," Silverwing groaned

*TIIIING*

The world suddenly lit with blue and orange as their skills clashed. The upper half of the golden sword severed through Knight's magic as the upward thrust tossed his body skyward. Before his body could hit the ground Crimson followed it up with a second diagonal swing from the right, then the left, again with the right, battering both Knight and his health down to ribbons as his body crumpled to the floor. With a final stretch, the boss held the tip of the blade down, stretching his arms above his head as flames spewed from the impact with the ground, the massive, flaming combo sending Knight flailing into the wall of debris.

"Combo Breaker!" Mirin cheered with his fists high

"KNIGHT!!" His team wailed with shock, none more than Radiant, spotting their leader crumpled in the rubble, red markings scoring his body while his health all but plummeted down and kept on depleting, they had no clue if he was finally at the end of his rope or not, all that mattered was achieving their revenge for their fallen leader

"You Hurt Friend!" Bruteshot yelled while hefting his mace high, forest green coating the massive weapon as he and the boss swung toward each other, however, Bruteshot barely made it a meter before the flaming edge of Crimson's blade crossed the large player's chestplate, smacking the brute flying into the side of the blackiron doorway and practically through the other side of the wall, again, his fate completely ambiguous

"Damn you to hell!" Jagged tore across the arena, swiping with his twin cutlasses through the metal hide of Crimson as he kept up his evasive movements, narrowly dodging every swing and devastating blow from the twisted greatsword. His swords flashed a bluish-white, his magic spiraling the swords through the boss' armor like a tornado as it carved chunks from the floor under them, while finally bringing the boss down to three-quarters of its second health bar. "This is for our leader you bastard!" He bellowed, lunging with his swords brandished

*Shiing-Slash!*

Red pixels of blood flew between the ruined knight and the dual-wielding unicorn. To everyone's horror, the boy was skewered through the greatsword by the stomach, pain flourishing across his face as he was held high for all to see, body slumping down the blade before his entire body burst into flames, drowning out his screams in a fiery inferno none could bear to watch. Soon, shards scattered from the weapon dashed aside by the boss unceremoniously.

"Oh, I think I forgot to mention," Mirin spoke up, crossing his arms while watching humorously from up high. "The boss' gimmick, whenever he kills an entity, that strength..." The red flames grew more intense across the armor, and Rain swore she saw two, beady red eyes glowering from the helmet. "...becomes it's own."

"YOU BASTARD, YOU DARED TO HARM MY KNIGHTY-" As if by some divine intervention the boss had appeared above her, bringing its sword down for an explosive wave of heat, dragging its sword to crash against her guarding naginata, buffs sparkling across her body as she struggled to hold it back, her hooves slipping across the stone floor. With a twist of its wrists the coiled greatsword was torn from the earth, splitting the air in front and behind Radiant with molten red flames, the force battering her body over one of the edges of the magma pools

In only a minute every one of the Harmony Knights were viciously defeated say for Silverwing who stood with Rain to be the line of defense for the weaker players. Neither had any idea what to do, facing down the towering force of flames and hatred that stomped toward them, holding its sword beside its helmet, the blade jutting up. "So, Rain, how's are odds?" Silverwing inquired, stepping forward slowly alongside the bat pony who stared up at the behemoth

"Not really well," She answered honestly, sheathing her sword in favor of Genesis, for all she knew it would reject her too, but right now she'd pray that maybe her gut was telling her what's right. "But that's never stopped us before."

"Tch, amen," Humor aside the girls held back their swords, both crackling gold with a few stray sparks, holding back the release as Crimson brought his sword back close to his waist, extending forward with one arm. "Now!"

They evaded the sword, feeling its sweep over their heads as they unleashed a twin to Rain's bewilderment the skill was cast and their blades scored past one another, leaving behind an 'X' across Crimson's shoulder blades, his sword rising to swat Rain while her body tucked itself in, wings flinging her into a rollover the blade, a contrail of blue following her while Silverwing dove between the legs, slashing with a to falter the boss' posture.

"Thanks, Genesis!" "!" Rain brought her hoof high, lunging with a vertical stroke, twirling over the snatch of a hand for two consecutive lacerations to the right, she dived back, scoring a final line across the Y-Axis, splashing the red flames with a square cage of light blue.

The javelin of green light shot through Crimson's right forearm, lowering its defense, followed by a stream of orange in-front of it as Silverwing dove backward mid-flight, her tail skimmed by the flames as her sword lunged with three diagonal lines tearing through the left hand as it snagged her by the muzzle, even as a Slowness debuff overtook the ruined knight.

Rain steeled her frown and spun herself down like a saw, a spiral of blue splitting the armor with a line, forcing it to release Silverwing as she kicked back, blinding the boss with seeing it stumble from the light. Three sudden, sharp slants tore across her armor in that frame, the blindness merely disorientating the boss as her form flopped to the ground with a grunt.

"Silver - !" Rain brought her hoof close, feeling a pale green aura spread through her entire body and in turn to her only party member below. She let out a thankful sigh as her health and Siverwing's was rejuvenated. This saved her as she guarded with Genesis, the powerful greatsword bringing her crashing to the earth, breaking the stone under her back hooves while her forelegs and wings kept her upright, holding back the hellfire sword.

Crimson merely held it's greatsword down a moment longer before craning the hunk of metal over his shoulder, then with an impossible amount of speed, thrashed the blade down in front of it with an eruption of fire, even with Silverwing's buckler the force of the blast tossed the girls back, the crowd gasping in horror. Some wanted to stand and fight too but Rain threw her hoof back, one eye closed as she panted.

"Just stay back!" It really hurt but she needed to keep them safe, even until some outside force could open the doors, but that was too optimistic, even by her standards

"Leave tis... to us, your comrades!" Silverwing grunted, pressing the face of her sword against Genesis, the duo bending their hooves back together, the hiss of their skills coming to life, bathed in red

Together their swords prodded the world ahead with frightening speed, the tips of the metal screeching against the wide swing of Crimson's twisted blade, spraying red sparks and darker toned flames, neither side backing down from the bullfight, hot wind blowing across the chamber in a spectacular fashion. Pushing forward with all their might the girls let out their own warcry and finally split their blades between the giant's, piercing either side of the breastplate, sending the charred warrior backward, even as the blade caught the side of Silverwing, cutting one of her aforementioned wings while the tip of the blade slashed through the side of her helmet, the friction slamming her body into Rain's while the three combatants suffered the backlash of their drawn-out attacks.

"Ow..." Rain winced as her health fell into the amber alongside Silverwing's, her body slumped against her chest while the Crimson Blade staggered back onto both feet, and to her horror, the final bar was all that remained, like a bell tolling for the damned, its body erupted with more red wisps, almost turning black as... she smelt copper hang in the air like dew. "At this rate, we can bare scratch more than a single bar off without it amping up its strength," It was almost painful to realize the gap she couldn't fill alone, had this been her standard RPG she'd shrug and try again but in here, that lack of foresight was costly

Desperation filled Rain's eyes as she held onto Silverwing, searching for anything to run and duck for cover, to stave off the end a little longer, to prevent the finishing blow. But there was nothing, she wasn't an idiot, if that attack struck her, Silverwing, and a majority of the players would be reduced to ash and glass in a single blast, she... was doomed. Failing to lift her hooves under her she flopped to her knees, holding onto Silverwing with wide, misty eyes, staring up at the blazing sword that would be her end. "I'm sorry Artorias... for not listening to you," She whispered, biting her lip. "I'm sorry... sis."

Two, metal feet stomped just inches before them both, watching them critically, then the fingers became rigid. Not a moment later and Crimson's sword threw itself down with a fountain of flames, almost blinding Rain, drying away her tears as silver light tore across the fires.

"!!" A crash of glass and a tinge of yellow soon disrupted the sea of flames in a dazzling inferno

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I have never laughed so hard in my life, I yearned for this, and now Artorias and the crew are here to save the day! I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: ...Who Needs Enemies?
Artorias (Who is Pure Rage) may have saved Rain and the other players from death but now she has to tie up loose ends before she can deal with the crisis that is Harmony Knights.

Episode 18 - ...Who Needs Enemies?

Act IV - Faux Hero

[Temple of the Displaced | Boss Arena]

[Artorias' POV]

"!!" A crash of glass and a tinge of yellow disrupted the flow of flames, splashing the ceiling in its red blaze. Crimson Blade stumbled back from the massive gash to its throat, losing its balance under the force of its attack being parried at the last possible instance. Losing my momentum I stepped down from the motion of the skill, clutching the sword that bitch swapped for my beloved Genesis. The sword was a pale silver, it had seen better days, wrapped at the hilt with a worn bandage, obscuring a small wolf symbol engraved into the middle of the guard.

With the crisis in front of me adverted for a moment I peeked over my shoulder at the two mares below. "Man... I've been looking everywhere for you idiots." It was easy pinpointing where the Temple was roughly by tracking Rain but I had no idea where the entrance was or how to navigate the floors and hallways

I saw Rain stare up at me with a teary expression, bet she feels real dumb right now. "You came back..." Her voice was breaking and clutched in her hooves was Genesis, that alone made me ease a little knowing it was in good hooves. As for her surprising answer...

Despite my seething rage, my pink eyes through my bangs softened, offering a small smile. "'Course I did," Turning around, I drew the sword toward Crimson. "That's what friends are for, right? Oh, before I forget," I stepped back and promptly smiled ever-so-smugly in her face, flicking her forehead. "I told ya soooo~!"

She winced and pouted while Silverwing pulled herself to sit upright. "Fine! You were right, okay!" Ahh... inner peace or the steps leading to that margin had become clear as I faced the approaching behemoth that held a missing piece of Genesis under all that armor

"Now then, allow me to once again clean up your Goddamn mess you gaggle of bumbling sheep!" I declared matter-of-factly, losing my arrogant smile for a morbid frown and apathetic eyes. "Right now, however, I'm royally pissed off."

Crimson raised into a hunch, lunging forward as his sword crashed through the concrete, missing the glint of red that sliced across his helmet's cheek, followed by a radiant roundhouse kick to the back of the head as the old blade was tossed skyward, clasped in my hoof as I brought the weight of crashing down on its nape, the force of the blast tossing me back while I curved my buckler behind me. Without a command the air condensed and dispersed from the face of the shield, propelling me under the massive blade, tearing the sword through the slit in the visor as I twisted with both hooves, the sword's edge a brilliant blue.

With two horizontal swipes, I left the monster reeling while I flipped over a hand-grab, retreating backward from two low-bearing upswings, and rolled to my right, evading the large wall of blackish-red flames that scored the earth, my ponytail nicked by the flames as I refused to let up, holding my hoof close to my chest as I flashed a series of colors. , , , , , , the very surge of skills shimmered like a spectacle of colors across my aura, everything was sharpened to a fine edge that I could effortlessly navigate, such as the oncoming tip of a sword through the fire.

Pushing back on my forehooves I threw my body away from the slant of the coiled sword, twisting my buckler to brace the heavy slashes that intersected across its face. The force applied sent me flying toward the others, spotting Seraph and Gin aiding the rest in evacuating to the safety of the corridor. Riot spotted me and rushed from the crowd, both his shields unfolded as they flourished with a light blue glow. "I gotcha! !" I pressed my back hooves to the faces, the wind blowing through my armor and fur as I tore back across the arena, bringing the blade high with a warcry, matching the light of the magma to our flanks.

A massive arc of hardlight split the seams of the knight's armor, my body's force embedding an impression into the ground as the bolts of electric blue snapped between us, the left arm having been amputated entirely while I spun round to skate my sword across his, diverting the flow of flames as we pulled back, tossing more into the ceiling while we both raised our blades high, clanking them together in the middle with a dry burst of air.

Suddenly, Crimson pulled back, his boot shoving me back by the muzzle. Lifting its coiled sword high the embers condensed across the top of the sword, extending its length with a glowing, cherry-red edge as the heat surrounding us increased exponentially. "Crap..." I sneered as it brought the weapon to its waist, spinning twice as I was forced to block both powerful; sweeps of the molten blade, this repeated a second time, dragging me closer to the fires below.

Crimson brought the sword back, then leaned for a striking thrust that almost tore through my flank had I not rolled, but his left leg was ready, snapping out to catch me as the blade's searing edge burned across my chestplate, that little chance of damage negation taking effect as it grunted, stumbling back while the force smacked me toward the doorway, many gasps and words spoken outside my hearing. Then my ears twitched, spotting the knight prodding the way forward with a wave of flames behind him, the tip of his lance-like sword buckling up against my shield while we broke apart.

He plunged his blade again, then again, each chipping my health away as I lost the momentum I once had, something kept messing with my sight, was it coming from the back wall? Dammit, I need to stay focused, whatever it was is disorientating, when I focused on it that strain prospered. Ack...!

"Merry!" Hearing my name actually snapped my thinking in place as my ear bled from the screech of metal to my right, the old sword holding up against this hell blade of the boss'. Drawing the raging sword away from me I felt my body slide back, snorting while my health dropped into the yellow. Compared to most Region Bosses this one wasn't letting up, even with one arm in the grave

"Switch!" I had to concentrate, throwing myself back Skye brought his sword clattering across Crimson's upward swing, while he was struck he managed to hold back any of its combos for a split second while I heard the faint hiss and hum of my sword crackle across my back. "Alright, switch out!"

His sword buried itself and Crimson's through the ground, an explosive chain of fire, unfortunately, knocking the Black Swordsman away as I threw myself at the boss, blade a royal blue, trailing a bountiful amount of light alongside the true edge, basking the world in a far less dark field. "." My voice growled, bringing it across in a diagonal from the top right as I slipped under the thrash of Crimson's sword, twisting with my left forehoof I threw my sword diagonally from the lower left, twirling under the left stump while something skimmed my tail

As I came around to face the glowering knight his eyes were caught in the glare of my blade's slant, tearing through the helmet and out the right peck. Kneeling while his sword grazed my mane I skewered his abdomen and tore my sword through his breastplate, the velocity of the skill lifting me skyward, basking the two of us in a blinding light as I brought the sky down atop its charred scalp, this final, devastating sheer straight through the middle of the cracked armor brought a storm of lacerations from the ceiling, practically shredding the ground with a single halo of blue escaping the Crimson Blade as the skill came to a resounding finale.

The last inch of its health bar was drained, forcing down the knight to his knee before me, the flames however ceased to rage. To the crowd that watched from the doorway, they all gasped as our brief moment of clarity was snuffed out, my frown reaching the eyes of the knight as it brought its coiled greatsword above my head a, refusing to die, even as a mere pixel remained of its once impressive pool of health.

"No!" "Run!" "Get out of there!"

I put the sword forward the second his came down, a small brush of flames tickling my hooves as I stared up at the blade's rugged edge a mere millimeter from my forehead. "Here, this is yours, right?" "Holy crap that was close!" My hoof presented the Crimson Blade the counterfeit sword I was left with. It was a White Tier weapon, yet its stats were higher than a Blue's, and if you paid closer attention to the knight's armor, you'd see the matching crest on his empty scabbard. "You left your valuable possession to Celrus, to guard it for you."

The knight merely stared down at my rather small form compared to his own, the sword still suspended before my snout. Then my eyes twigged on to the flames that raged across the sword, rather, how they began to fade, hissing in the cool breeze that entered from the doorway, taking away the dark red flames from his body, leaving a mere, ruined knight as it lowered its twisted blade beside us in favor of reaching for the sword in my hoof.

The aged fingers lifted it by the edge, the blade resizing to fit the knight's own stature as the last of its health disappeared, the rage inside the knight flickering out while its armor began to break down, cracks formed and shards of sky-blue glass began to peel away from its back and shoulders while it merely bowed its head before the lost sword. I understood that feeling, of being reunited with your partner for what must have felt like an eternity, it was funny, both of our treasured weapons were held safely in the capable hands of a friend.

As the knight completely showered me in its shattered remains, the weight of the world lessened, and the crowd broke into a courageous cheer for their safety.

[CONGRATULATIONS!!]

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[Rare Item Drop]

Scorched Braces (Key Item)

"Two down, one to go..." I sighed, a massive pressure lifted from my shoulders as I spun to greet my companions, but first I had to settle something.

"Hey, nice wo - Yah!!" Skye shrieked as my buckler slammed into his face, forcing the black-dressed player to fall back on his haunches, the rest seeing the furious look in my eyes and the fact my face felt a little hotter as I pulled him close to keep them from hearing us

"What did I fucking say about 'you know what', you dolt!?" I seethed, color fading from his face as he raised his forehooves, chuckling anxiously

"Sorry, sorry, it slipped my mind, I swear!" My eyes unwavered fury refused to simmer, freezing him in place as I threw him back. "I was worried that's-" I brought my hoof up to silence him

"...you're lucky I'm more focused on another matter entirely," I murmured, trying to rid his remark from my head while facing Silverwing, Rain having gone completely quiet all of a sudden. "So, what happened to the 'Great and Mighty Harmony Knights'?" Not a trace of sympathy left my voice

Silverwing, for once, took off her helmet, placing it beside her while her shoulder-length, light-blue mane, with a few odd ends while the bangs on her right side covered her eye, leaving the left exposed, a glistening shade of silver. Rubbing her mane she shrugged, a callous look in her eyes. "Dead, sadly I believe Bruteshot is too, shame, he was probably the most misguided among us," Her sad frown glossed over the chamber. "I am surprised you came back after what was said?"

My deadpanned face quirked a brow. "Hmm, I was tempted 'till I found out the little bitch took my sword from me," My hoof motioned to Rain, "Though it seems to be in capable hooves."

"..." She still hadn't said a word. I was about to ask what was eating at her until I heard a godawful laugh, one that excited a groan from all of us. We looked over to find a roughed up and limping Knight hobbling over to us, I practically felt my jaw unhinge

"What a fine showing of teamwork. my friends! We sure showed Malware the might of the Harmony Knights!" We all just stood with wide-eyed shock, then I snapped

"How, in all the incalculable odds, are you still alive!?" I yelled, almost whining to whoever subjugated us to this unfair justice. I just chuffed, tapping my hoof to the floor. "Fuck it, I'm gonna kill him."

"You were struck with a devastating skill and thrown into a wall, the chances of survival, even by Artorias' standards, are low!" I'd take that with a grain of salt as Silverwing lost her composure, glaring back at the blonde idiot

"And finally, what teamwork?" Rain decided to chip in, expressing the first real look of anger I've ever seen on her face. "All you did was charge in blindly and swing your sword without care, multiple times! S - Artorias did most of the work!" She snapped, her wings trembling with rage

Knight just threw his head back and laughed, "That my friends is a tale for another day," He boasted as if the past two insults never occurred. "As for now we must rebuild and fight on! For it we, the proud warriors of Harmony Knights, and as victims of this Death Game but do-!"

Silverwing just groaned irritably into her hoof. "Here he goes again... this stupid speech."

"How long does it usually last?" Skye inquired

Looking up she rolled her eyes. "Record is two hours." Then her eyes darkened on the right wall, more specifically the pillar someone occupied. "Besides, he's who I'm concerned with."

"What a splendid show, I knew you were the real deal, Artorias is it?" He was human? But how the hell is that fair? The hooded figure stood up, stretching as Knight prattled on with his speech. "Do what you will with the Harmony Knights, I don't care, my toying with them is through, I've got... other activities to attend to."

"Black poncho, trick weapon, and a strange form compared to the players..." Skye was murmuring beside me, a stricken face of fright and anger spreading through his features. "Mirin, the leader of the Veil."

"No way..." I've heard of him but he's really here? Now the strange deaths with this gaggle of idiots made sense. "Even if we take out the accidental deaths, some were too staged to not be PKs, yet everyone in this group had green cursors, so unless they got outside help." The pieces fitted the blood-stained canvass

"My party... my friends," Silverwing ground her teeth, pupils shook with pain. "You... you were the one I saw...!"

Mirin's smile was twisted, sadistically so. "That was exhilarating! The music, the metal against metal, and the sharp cries as they died, what a treat," That only made my blood boil as he turned, waving once. "Until next time, Heroes." Without a word, his body became intertwined with darkness, and his cursor disappeared

Whatever relief we felt was smashed, though now the second-to-last piece to this flaming wreck was put in place, now we only needed the truth behind the whole brainwashing situation, and that started with the bubbling idiot. "-so it is with great honor that we must uphold the hope of the weak-!"

"Sweet merciful Buddha does he ever shut up!?" I cried out loud, dragging my hooves down my face.

"Surprised you haven't tried to yell for him to shut up." Skye looked to me with genuine surprise

I blinked rather neutrally, "Oh no I've been considering what way to murder this bastard before Mirin went and gave everyone the good ol' goosebumps." Knight was still going on about pride, honor, friendship, and the like, it was really grating to hear. "I'm reeeeally considering it." My eye was twitching as Skye chuckled beside me, then I noticed something

Up above Knight, the once smooth, stone brick ceiling looked rather unstable, given all the fire that struck its foundations, and the pebbles were starting to pile up with the cracks. Knight failed to realize this. Silverwing spoke first. "Um, Knight?"

"This is it, this is the icing on my cake, what feels like a lifetime of phycological abuse and insult to my intelligence brought to a swift and satisfying end." I couldn't keep myself from smiling, it just felt like I was back on cloud nine

"-We shall take our victory and charge headlong into the unknown, cross the mountains, the forests, and sands to conquer this realm-!" He continued on with progressive nature, much like the widening cracks above his head

"Knight!" Rain spoke a little higher, and again it did nothing

"All I have to do... is nothing!" I chuffed to myself. "I mean, this is just Darwinism at work!"

"-And once we stare down the face of this world's evil, our strength shall be known across Equestria and beyond for all those that have-!"

"Knight!!" Both girls yelled at once, grabbing the pony's attention, but it was too late, even Skye looked surprised at how sudden the massive boulder moved from the ceiling to the floor, striking the nail on the head with enough force to shower us in dust and debris for a couple of seconds

"Ooooh, fu-u-u-uck!" I couldn't contain my laughter as the dust slowly settled, a drumroll battering in my head at the grand reveal. The boulder had indeed hit its mark, that much was clear, too bad he was still alive, though the golden amulet he wore clattered before my hoof. "NOOOOO!!!"

He struggled under the rock, his health rapidly decreasing into the red, and it wasn't stopping, I retract my internal wailing as suffering was a far better choice then outright death. He coughed, smiling weakly up at us. "I-It seems this i-is it, my f-friend, A-Artorias." That was all that could be said, his health just expired, and he muttered probably the first words that felt genuine. "Well... could be worse, r-right?"

His body shattered into pieces, and that look in his eyes was almost... thankful. Looking down, I saw that the amulet was resting there awaiting someone to pick it up. "His heart was in the right place, too bad his head wasn't." That was all I wanted and could say before our ears were assaulted by the glass-shattering wail of a banshee to our left. I couldn't even muster up a gasp. "Are you... serious right now?"

At the edge of the magma pool far below was nonother than the bitch who stole my sword, Radiant. Ironically, she looked about as unhinged as a door with no frame. Red, pixel gashes covered her body, tearing apart her clothing while a large portion of her hair looked singed off, leaving only a fanatical look in her eyes while her mane jutted from different angles.

"Holy crap, how is she even alive?" Skye blinked beside me, I just shook my head with wide eyes

"You... you bastards! You let my Knighty-Senpai die... you murdered him... you ungrateful idiots MURDERED my strong, hunky Knighty!" That scream and complete loss of sanity in her eyes forced us all a step back, no wonder Mirin left early. "Everything was going according to plan, help Knight-Bear slay every boss, defeat Malware, become celebrities for saving all you fucking rodents from this game!" Her veins atop her head were pulsating, even with a broken horn sparks flew with her malice

"And I thought my narcissism was bad, yikes, I ain't touching that." I gulped, rubbing my nape, having run out of patience

"I think this chick's a few... many cards short of a full deck." Skye worded carefully

"Then we'd have been married, our lives would have been perfect thanks to that amulet!" I glanced back at where it was, moving past my friends while she continued. "I would have been waited on hand and foot every day with the finest extravagances, I could do, have, say whatever I want, given the respect and authority I rightfully deserve!" Even Twilight never had a face as twistedly inhuman as hers, the very slithers that tethered her sanity were non-existent by this point. "The only one I'd allow to rule me would be my darling Knight who would love me every waking moment, and use his large sword to satisfy his beautiful, sexy wife!" I think I'm going to be sick, TMI is a thing for a reason

Whatever lustful fantasies that ran rampant in her fractured mind quickly scorched as she began to pull herself up from the edge, her hooves buckling from the strain, she was glaring daggers at us all. "But you ruined it! You mongrels took away the love of my life and abolished my plans! I'm gonna kill you all! STARTING WITH THAT STUPID BITCH WITH THE LEATHER WIN--!"

My hoof pressed to her muzzle, creasing her snout into the dirt as I grinned down at her, a fire in my heart like no other. "Threaten me all you like, but lay a hoof on her head and you'll wish I killed you," Letting go I stepped back. "You know what you bad guys suck at, if you're going to kill someone, kill them, don't stand there talking about it, speaking of..." I swung on my heels to Silverwing who approached with a dark look in her eyes, my own smug smile contrasting. "...I believe this one is all yours."

Silverwing stared down at the struggling grunts of Radiant with disgust, as if to burn the last images into her memory before finally speaking. "Aqua. Jade. V-Vermillion," That last one seemed to sting. "And for me, you really think I wouldn't have armor that decreased debuff status effects? You may have gotten them killed with that paralysis trick but not me, no," Silverwing leaned closer, shoving her hoof against the unicorn's muzzle, keeping her eyes locked to her own. "Even if you ran, I'd break myself before I'd let you get away with murdering my friends, taking away their precious lives."

"You're no celebrity, no hero, no... you're just a sad, pathetic little girl who has and will always be nothing but a sick, cringy memory," Her hoof twisted against the lunatic's face. "So do us all a favor, go-to-hell." With a simple yet forceful shove, Radiant screamed in utter agony as her body was thrown back into the pit, landing atop the pool of molten rock as her weight pulled her under, body caught ablaze before shattering into a million little pieces. After several seconds, Silverwing let out a long, tired sigh of relief. "I did it... thank you, Artorias."

I shrugged a smile. "Bet your friends are laughing their asses off right now," When she wiped away a few tears she saw my hoof waiting for her. With a small smile, she bumped my hoof as we turned to finally get the hell out of this place. "Right... with bitch-face dead, we can finally-" A rumble occurred from the entrance where a hole in the wall remained. "Can I finish my sentence just once?"

All eyes and ears followed the sound, and to mark me with surprise it was nonother than Bruteshot, his health was dangerously low, but he was alive. That actually brought a laugh between me and Silverwing. "Holy crap, man, you're alive!"

He rubbed his head gingerly. "That hurt... but I'm okay," Hey, he sounded a little less.. broken in terms of vocabulary. "I think I'm... better, yes, alot better."

"You big... stupid idiot," Silverwing left my side and quickly flew up to wrap her hooves around his neck, smiling brightly against his shattered armor. "Thank God..." This was... unexpected. The big guy seemed to be taken back himself, but ultimately wrapped a free hoof around her back to pat her gently.

"Sorry for making you worry," He winced nervously, earning a light jab from the peach mare who looked probably the happiest I've ever seen her so far

"I-It's fine, I did it though... I finally found someone who could save you," With that she placed her head on his shoulder, sighing shakily. "Without Artorias I couldn't do much of anything."

"Whatever, you did your part, I did mine, in the end, everything back to how it should be... sorta?" I returned my attention to the amulet on the floor, hearing it... whisper? "Okay, let's see just what that whore did to Knight and your team." Pressing a hoof to the amulet the menu popped up. What came next was... "Eh?"

[Accessory]
The Element of Courage *****
The legendary Seventh Element of Harmony said to enhance the former six's power and bolster the hearts of Ponies everywhere
Strength - 50 | Constitution - 20 | Dexterity - 20 | Wisdom - -80 | Intelligence - -60 | Charisma - 125 | Luck - 200
Passive Skill: Critical Fail - There is a 1 in 13 Million chance of rolling a Critical Fail, if this occurs the user will die

Everyone took in the news for a solid minute, then I snapped. "Duh, freakin' hell is this!? This thing has more jacked stats than a DnD campaign!" Now everything clicked, this item, a very rare Legendary item was broken to the point it was illegal. "No wonder everyone's been losing their heads, this guy wore the Element of Gray Stu!"

"This would accurately explain many of the crazy things I've seen, and my helmet," Silverwing rubbed its cracked face. "It belonged to Vermillion, my best friend, it wasn't great stat-wise but it could nullify psychological attacks and effects." That would explain her immunity

"So all this time he was wearing an item that boosted his charisma?" Skye pondered, rubbing his chin. "Now that I think of it, whenever we spoke with him for the first time my eyes always kept looking at the element, then everything got pretty hazy after that like I had to follow him." At this news Rain looked a little uncomfortable, hugging herself

"What do we do with it?" Silverwing inquired as I pondered on the item resting in my hoof. "If you wear it you get all those bonuses but at the cost of your life if chance strikes out."

"Not to mention you become a blunt as a hammer." That was being to generous. So, with the valuable relic in-hoof, I approached the right lava pool below and cast it into the fires of Mordor. "Fuck you and your Sauron-Lord-Of-The-Rings bullshit! Yeet!" With a flick the whispering amulet plummeted into the fires below, sinking down into the neon blue inferno never to return. "Huh, believe there's an achievement for that..."

"Guess it's time to head back," Skye said after a lengthy pause, everyone inside the chamber humming in agreement, all expect for Rain, again, she just stared back at me with this look on her face that screamed 'anxiety', her hooves were trembling while clutching my valued longsword for dear life. "Hey, Rain?" She flinched at his hoof, startled from her trance

This was already an exhausting day, so, I approached her with a blunt stare. "Rain, the hell's gotten into you? Usually, you'd be jumping for joy and whatnot," She still didn't say anything, her mouth ajar. This was starting to worry me. "Look, if this is about the whole clusterfuck that's been the last two days I get it, but I don't care, it was that damn amulet and pink-haired bitch that caused this mess, so, you know, it's alrigh--"

"... h-he said your name was... M-Merry..." My posture locked up as I shot a snappish glare to Skye, the earth pony frozen with his hooves raised

"I am going to end you," I snarled at the blue pony as I shot the rest a look. "You heard nothing, call me that name and I will hurt you," That made them nod, all expect for Rain who forced out my exhausted grunt. "Yeah, that's right, but as I just said, don't call me that stupid, good-for-nothing na-"

"...my big sister..." She gasped painfully the moment the words escaped her

"Uh-huh, whatever y-" Just like that, where swords, threats, abominations and more couldn't so much as phase me, it was her, this annoying bat pony that stuck to me like glue, she was the one to finally cause a hitch in my throat. My eyes just shot open, staring back at her as she dropped Genesis, covering her muzzle quickly with tears strung in the corners of her eyes. "W-what did you just call me?" My voice was low, barely a whisper before Rain's wings shot wide and she flew with an almost unnatural speed

No one dared to utter a single word, and how could they? I just stood there, staring down at Genesis while it reflected my stricken eyes back at me. What remnants of anger and spite that bubbled and festered from the mocking display of foolish heroics by the former Harmony Knights just disappeared. All that I felt was confusion.

"...god... dammit..."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

What a freakin' rollercoaster of events and emotions. We had the satisfying conclusion of the most cringy characters I've ever had the displeasure of writing, the death of Radiant at the vengeful hooves of Silverwing, and now... this, Rain calling Artorias her sister. Oh yeah, things aren't over just yet. I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Two Sides of the Coin
Artorias hasn't said a word since Rain's sudden announcement and departure, no one can tell what she's thinking, or if she even cares. But Merry does, more than any of them may know.

Episode 19 - Two Sides of the Coin

Act IV - Faux Hero

[Canterlot | Bronze Bull Inn]

"That's the gist of thing then?" Gin stretched while addressing everyone who was present. "Tch, Blu-boy you sure know how to pick 'em?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Skye asked defensively to the rat's snickering

"Fufufu, nothing-nothing..."

"*Sigh* Basically, yeah Me-Artorias is related to Rain, I think?" I could hear the uncertainty in his voice, even though I wasn't looking

"Then why did she ran off? Wouldn't that be great?" Riot was optimistic but I shared no semblance of his glow, everything was, and has been for a while, hazy. "Hey, Artorias?"

"..." My lack of response made a few of them sigh worryingly

"She's been like this since we got back, I don't even think she's listening anymore..." Silverwing was incorrect I just lacked the capable drive to turn around, shut them up and move on with my life, no matter how often I pondered, the words never came. I heard her mug settle on the table. "Perhaps this is how my own sibling feels."

"You have a sibling too?" Riot inquired

"Yes, I believe you know them, SilverCrow would be their name," That excited several sharp gasps, and a nervous chuckle from the rather formal mare. "Y-yes, well, I only knew once our team made contact with Klaw that they were indeed trapped in this world too, though I've been so preoccupied attempting to free those practically enslaved by that amulet that I never attempted to approach them, a poor choice on my part, I'm going to have my ear chewed off."

"But... wait, Silver can speak?" I could practically hear Skye blink as he leaned over the table

"Oh-ho, this I have to hear, some player's been askin' 'bout if he's the strong silent type or somethin'." Gin's greed for information cropped up again

"They're not the outgoing type, so don't expect much unless you know what buttons to push," She warned, then her voice dropped low. "I must insist that for your sake you don't."

"Still, that's amazing, so all this time the two of you had a sister or brother we never knew about..." At Seraph's summery I stood up, plucking Genesis from the seat. "Artorias, where are-"

I didn't turn or acknowledge any of them, right now I needed to think, and that required a lack of white noise perforating my eardrums. Rain was my sister, little I can assume by her attitude and younger appearance, even in pony form. That would lead to the deduction that 'They' were behind this, of course they were, didn't care for me so this was the result after years of separation, typical.

My parents, well, birth ones. They weren't the most lucrative of families, could barely afford a place to live let alone food for three mouths. So, after many days that I could imagine weren't easy the pair decided to drop me off at an orphanage when I was barely two years old, since then I've never heard or seen them again, being that I was so young I couldn't remember them at all. Then a few years later I was adopted by a woman who I definitely call my 'Mom', and that would never change.

She raised me, took care of me when I was sad, ill, angry, didn't matter, even though I wasn't related to her by blood, I felt like I was. Outside of this digital world, she was the only person I had and can admit that I love with whatever surmounted as a heart in my chest. And now here I am, the first time I've ever had a best friend and it turns out they're my sister? What kind of sick joke was fate playing with me? Just the probability alone was almost minute, and yet, here she was. Or so I can vaguely assume.

"Look who comes to save the day everybody! What, not stickin' around to laugh up today's complete massacre, which was hilarious, and pinnacle example of the degeneration of human intelligence?" I stopped the clop of hooves behind me, standing just at a crossroads. Turning to face Skye I held onto a malice glare. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't draw Genesis and cut your tongue out -- hell, this is my fault for telling you that bastard name!" I opened up and got bit. "You guys think I haven't been letting this eat away at me all day? That the 'Super-Tough Red Warrior is cold and heartless'!? I just got dumped the freakin' bombshell of the century, of course I'm going to mull it over!"

He didn't get a word in as I stomped toward him, losing my composure, in these last two days I haven't felt so unhinged before. The Harmony Knights, Rain and Skye's loss of control, the deaths of those three players, Rain leaving me behind, Genesis being stolen, and now all of this, everything was just completely screwed up and I hated it. "Those deadbeats had a kid and completely disregarded the original like they were a fucking piece of trash! I just want to hurt them, make them feel how I felt knowing that I was just cast aside!" My voice thundered while my chest ached

"B-but now I find out I have a sister, someone who has only ever been kind to me, who puts up with my personality day-in and day-out without ever asking for anything in return!" I punched myself on the forehead, yelling angrily. "It's just playing on some stupid loop that I can't get out of my head! I hate them but I don't know how to feel about her! SO WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!?!"

Several seconds or more passed while only my heavy breaths stretched between us. I don't know what else to do, or why am feeling this way at all.

"Do you want me to come with you, to see her?" He spoke, finally adding something to this one-sided disaster. There was no hint of anger or desperation in his voice, he just watched me seriously, he took all that on the chin and listened to me

For that moment, I sank my head low, "...please."

[Canterlot Fields | Celestia's Rising]

Not many monsters spawned around this place, like a tiny safe zone outside the main city gates atop one of the cliffs that overlooked the world far and wide. It was an amazing spectacle at moments like these, where the twilight hour spanned the skies, it would have been great to sit and stare at if not for the reason we were here. Skye stayed at the foot of the path while I walked its dirt road, spotting the slumped bat pony on her haunches, watching the sky above.

I stopped myself before taking another step, how should I approach this? What would Artorias do... no, what would I do? In all the years I've lived the only familial bond I had was that of my Mom, but acting like her and adopting her mannerisms wouldn't seem right like I was just putting on another mask. This had to come from me, even if it's the worst conversation in human history, I had to try atleast, she would for me. Heh, she's really gotten to me, hasn't she? Go back a few months and this would never happen, I'd just shrug it off until the situation blew over, and now I can't stop thinking.

She didn't turn to face me, more focused on the twilight world above. "You really found me this quickly... a little weird."

I pointed to her cursor. "FYI I can track through this wonderful device called a 'Friends List', and we so happen to know a keen info broker with annoying way about her sometimes," Yeah, hindsight here is twenty-twenty. I scoffed at myself, this wasn't the time for snarky comments. Keeping my distance with hesitance on what exactly I was supposed to do I struggled with my words. "Look I... how do say this... I'm not sure how I can go about understanding this, alright, you just up and call me your 'Big Sister' and ran, honestly... I-I -- just talk to me Rain?"

She just hugged her body with her wings tighter. I on the other hand slapped my forehead, infuriated more at myself. What exactly could I ask, say, do? I'm no social butterfly like she is, I can't just... figure out someone's issues without prying into their insecurities, it would be easy but... with Rain, seeing her... cry? That just felt wrong, I felt sick.

Breathing through my nose, I stepped forward only once. "I'll meet you... halfway," I sat down. "I'll listen for once, just please say something."

I don't know how long we sat there, the rustle in the leaves behind us, the noise of the breeze, it was honestly relaxing if I wasn't so tense. Then, with a shallow voice, I saw her sit upright. "Your name is Merry Burns, you were adopted unlike me who..." She started to squirm. "...who was born three years after y-you were gone."

"Question, how do you even know it's me? Anyone in this game could be called Merry." This was where my skepticism led to the most. Even if she knew everything about me, no one knows who Artorias is, the username is completely new, specifically for this game

"Because your voices sound the exact same, so are your mannerisms," Who did... wait, does she know? "You're u-um..." She paused and quickly opened her menu, not a moment later I received a message from her, clearly she didn't want anyone to know this so I popped the message in Private and saw the one word stretch across my menu, seeing it made my eyes widen, but ultimately I realized how much I underestimated Rain

Well, she's got her info right, guess that does make her my... "Your folks' surname is Miles, yeah?" She flinched but nodded shyly, my dry tone of voice hadn't wavered. "Since you up and blurted out my name, thank God Skye can't hear us, only fair I know yours?"

"...I-it's Melody..." I don't know why but that made me crack a small smile, only briefly as I remained stoic about the situation. "I found out about y-you when I turned t-thirteen, they thought I'd be mad but I..." She was shivering like a leaf. "...I was happy," That broke my stoic exterior, lifting my gaze from the ground to her back. "When I found out I... I really wanted to meet you."

Biting my tongue at her hollow chuckle she continued without a response from me. "You probably think that's stupid... that if we met you'd be mad at our parents, and envy me... I didn't care, I-I just wanted to see you, the life you had without me, I couldn't care if you hated me for being born to replace you," Did she really think that? "M-mom and Dad tried to find you, but-!"

"I told 'My' Mom not to let them bother," I broke my silence to clarify. "Oh they found me, rather easily too, but when I heard I wanted nothing to do with them, those... people, didn't want me, so I don't want them, not when I already have a Mom that I know for a fact loves me, so, she ensured they'd never get a word to me, ever." Call it childish or cynical, but what have those two ever done besides offering me up to an orphanage when the going got tough? Maybe if they looked for me sooner after getting their lives back on track, sure, I'd be more than incline to try, but they never bothered for ten years.

Melody slumped at my cynical reply, so then I finally put my words to work. "I don't hate you," Her ears perked up. "Your parents, sure, I couldn't care less, but you had no say in being born, that was their choice, so this isn't your fault, and it never will be." Picking myself up I finally mustered courage unlike any I had need of before. "...Even if we're not living under the same roof, even if we live miles apart, I..." Say it, just say it already!

Finally, she turned, and I could see the tears that had clearly been falling down her cheeks, only now I struggled to hold mine, offering a genuine smile to the little pest that's been a magnet to me for weeks. "...just knowing that I have an adorable younger sister... that's all I could care about," I winked once. "And with an awesome name to boot might I add."

That broke the camel's back as Melody latched her forehooves around my back, muffling her cries into my chest while I sat down, slowly putting both of mine around her back, patting her head with my left. This was new, very unfamiliar and... nice. Leaning down to her ear I did something I know would work, after all, my Mom used it all the time. "Hmm-hmm-hmm~hm-hm-hmm~..." It was soft, something I doubt anyone would expect to come from my throat, even I was surprised it wasn't like a set of Kruger blades skating down a chalkboard.

It was embarrassing but again, I trusted Skye to keep his mouth shut if he did hear me. The song was a lullaby that my Mom would always sing or hum to me when I was having nightmares or when I became overly stressed or angry, even to this day that siren's song worked like a charm, and from how relaxed Melody's muscles became I could feel it was working too. I swear it's witchcraft. My song came to its final piece as I spoke as my humming grew distant. "Let's go home, sis." I nudged her but got no response. My blank face returned. "Oh don't tell me..."

"Zzz... zzz..." Blinking I leaned back and found that little runt had fallen asleep, leaving me to shake my head with a scoff.

"Works every time..." I sighed, hearing the hoofsteps behind me as my fur shivered with goosebumps. There wasn't any point in trying to excuse myself this time, so, after a little maneuvering, I managed to put the sleeping bat pony on my back, carefully keeping her stable. "...well, now it seems I have a little sister, crazy what life backhands you with, huh?"

Skye smiled, looking to one side as Melody's head was balanced on my shoulder by my hoof, her hooves slung down my sides as she snored. "Here, doubt you can walk straight with three hooves." He didn't allow me a say as his body moved close to my right side, placing his left forehoof over my shoulder to act as a pillow for Melody as he practically brushed up against me. He himself didn't seem to mind as I looked the other way. "Are you sure you're fine? I mean, can't imagine finding all this out was easy, your outburst earlier was rather transparent about that."

Now I was blushing a little from embarrassment. "I'm fine, you dork, but... this is alot to handle if I'm honest, tch, the best player in this game and I fall apart at a little family dilemma, who knew?" Guess Malware knows what to use against me at the next Vault. "It's fine though, come on, help me hobble back to Canterlot with this sack of issues, I'll pay ya, twenty-percent discount on your next request too since you're keeping what you've heard and witnessed a secret." I nudged him as he chuckled

"Oh really? And how much are you offering from the get-go? I mean, I'm basically handing over my body as a service to you, can't be cheap right?" If it weren't for the adorable bat sleeping on my back with a stupid, cute smile I'd have drawn Genesis. Pouting I turned away with a growl

"I fucking hate you..." He did his best to keep himself from laughing as we basically walked back as a six-legged pony, not the strangest day I've ever had, but one to remember.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I believe this is truly where Artorias starts to open up her rather narrowminded heart to others, primarily with how she seems to lose her sense of composure around Skye and now with Rain, I've been building toward this, and while making a mockery of Gary Stus/Mary Sues was fun, ultimately this was the focus for the act, to show that, while Artorias is this almost unbreakable player with the skill to match she's ultimately still human, and when pushed she can fall apart at the seams.

I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: Red Like Roses
With Rain in high spirits again she is shot down as she, Klaw, and Skye are confronted by Silverwing and SilverClaw, as well as Seraph into apologizing to Artorias for all the emotional strain they've put her through.

Episode 20 - Red Like Roses

Act IV - Faux Hero

[Canterlot | Horizon Dawn Guild Hall]

"Why am I here again?" Rain pointed to herself as he, Klaw, and Skye sat on three stools before Silverwing, SilverCrow, and Seraph. The trio not looking particularly pleased with the trio before them. Rain's ears flattened with worry. "I just wanted to ask if you guys knew why Artorias was being... um..." She stopped pondering as she blinked. "Well, I guess like herself but more..."

"Reserved?" Skye offered, earning a perked-up nod from Rain

"Yeah! That... um, but why?" She felt like it was her fault somehow, maybe about what she said yesterday but Artorias hasn't spoken about it at all, heck, when Rain woke up Artorias had already left for the fields and refused to respond to any of her messages

"It's because of you three she's acting strange," Seraph berated. Pacing before the three. "Let me remind you that not only did Klaw send her out on a mission without a proper background check into Harmony Knights actions, which led to the involvement of the Murder Guild, Veil, and the subsequent amulet that practically manipulated dozens of ponies, but has yet to make a formal apology to her since we've returned." Klaw bowed his head shamefully at that, knowing there wasn't much he could say. Seraph's eyes softened a little. "While not entirely your fault it was very unbecoming of one of MLPR's top-ranking Guilds to conduct with such vague information."

She soon addressed her partner, Skye, glaring between him and Rain.

"What did I do? I was being influenced just as much as the rest of them?" He defended but that earned him a spiteful glare from the trio, shutting him down. "Okay, shutting up now..."

"That's exactly my point! You, of all players in this game, I expected you to understand something was wrong, you even have a charm that defends against mental abilities!" She threw her hoof wide, then gawked at his nervous sweatdrop, head turned the other way

"I... may have removed that for a speed-enhancing one..." That didn't help his case as Seraph face-hoofed, leading to his scoff, raising his hooves insultingly. "What do you want from me? I wasn't expecting to have my brain scrambled!?"

"Okay, that's fair... but I still would have thought you'd realize how unnatural the guild was," Silverwing added, crossing her hooves. "While it's true Knight's stupid Element of Harmony could affect players' minds it usually takes ten-or-so-minutes, and a handful have realized the effect before it was too late, not everyone but most like Vermillion, hence why she forged me a helmet like her own," The armored mare tapped the helmet under her forehoof

Skye now realized he had no backing and promptly copied Klaw's guilt-ridden posture. The last on the list was Rain, herself seizing up under Serpah's calm but cold gaze. "Rain, do you think... maybe what you said to her that night could still be affecting her?" Hearing this Rain felt her stomach turn at the memory, every word she said to Artorias that night still plagued her mind, that desperate look in her sister's eyes was horrible. Realizing this she felt her mood slip back into the gloom

"I... I don't know, I know she doesn't hate me but she's been ignoring me all day and..." She slumped, feeling worry creep into her head. "I... I want to make it up to her," It was an uphill struggle but she managed to hold her eyes to Seraph's determinedly. "I want to make my big sister happy."

Looking among the three of them, the trio smiled, though Silver's was concealed but gave a nod. Silverwing spoke up. "Then today focus on finding a way to convey that apology to her, knowing Artorias she may not take your word alone, but I doubt she'll outright ignore you."

"This is true, Artorias is a complicated woman," Klaw surmised, looking to Skye and Rain. "What do you two believe is our correct course?"

"Talking to her won't work without something else, but what?" Skye murmured, scratching his head. After that notion Silver slapped a hoof to his face, leveling his dull, silver gaze two the boys

Pointing his hoof at Skye he approached the stationary pony, jabbing at his chest, more specifically, where his heart was, rolling his eyes. "You want me to use my heart?" Hearing this Silver whacked his forehead, rolling his eyes bluntly. "Ack, why am I the punching bag today!?"

"Oh! I get it! A gift from the heart!" Rain answered, earning a nod from the silent pony as he motioned to the trio, then tapped his chest. "That's it, we get her a gift together, Artorias always likes free stuff!"

"You really think that'll work?" Skye wasn't certain, rubbing his chin thoughtfully even though he shrugged. "Sure, I'll pitch in."

"Not like you had a choice..." Seraph hummed under her breath

Klaw was clearly in agreement, standing up to address the pair. "Even if our efforts may take time it is best we nip this issue on the bud before animosity is allowed to fester."

"Always a way with words." Everyone simultaneously thought with a smile

[Canterlot | Shopping District]

Much as the name implied, it was the go-to place for any player for items, armor, weapons, enhancing materials, and so on. If the trio were to find anything of worth for their redheaded friend it would be here. Though there was a sense of uncertainty with their idea, even with Rain being the closest to Artorias, the younger sister hadn't a single clue on what Artorias would in fact like, she didn't exactly wear her heart on her sleeve.

"I say the red one, because, duh, she likes red," Rain knew the obviousness of that statement but digressed. Skye on the other hand, or hoof to be specific, pointed to another artifact, unlike the ruby one with several spikes jutting from the necklace, his was silver with a sapphire as the centerpiece, and looked far more elegant than the jagged ruby

"Blue's a good contrast, plus the stats are really good, a bonus to stamina regeneration and stamina reduction." He argued, watching the bat pony's muzzle scrunch up with irritation, a red tick pulsing atop her head

"It's not about the stats! It's about it looking pretty!" She enforced her point by lifting the placeholder for the necklace. "It's red, her favorite, and it has a cool design, sure, it only has a small buff to health but that's not the point! Not everything is about good statistics."

Skye for his part didn't quite process that information, it was foreign to him, why would anyone wear something that provided next to no positive advantages in a fight? "Artorias doesn't strike me as the person to care for looks so long as it's useful." His clueless brow-raised only seemed to drive the bat pony mad, her hooves flailing through her mane

Then she deadpanned. "For a guy who's considered one of the best players your sense of fashion is the last thing I'd ask for," He felt her eyes scan his body from top-to-bottom, more specifically, toward the blacks he seemed so accustomed to wearing with a hint of dark blue

Off to the side watching the two bicker, Klaw put a claw on his face, shaking his head. "Today may not be as simple as we intended,"

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

Skye and Klaw looked over a few shields that were displayed on the inside of a large stall, the many designs, and stats displayed before their eyes while the pair discussed the verity. "This stuff's pretty generic, anything in the Purple-Tier is either well out of our price range or something you could scavage off a boss after a few attempts." Skye summarized with a defeated sigh. "Guess it's back to the drawing board."

"Indeed," Klaw murmured, then spotted Rain leaving a rather vibrant store, her face completely crimson as she shuffled up to the boys, eyes adverted to just about any other place of interest. "Ah, Rain, anything that caught your-"

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!" She yelled sharply, eyes spinning with stars. "I-I-I don't think w-we'll f-find anything e-else here..." Her voice was a complete mess while she tried her hardest not to think of what she saw, of anything she saw. "

Now they were really curious. "Are you sure? You seem a little redder than usual?" Skye inquired, rubbing his nape feeling a little worried for the young girl and what she might have seen. "Maybe we should check the place-"

"Sweet Irene, whatever you do, just... don't!" She shoved her wings over his mouth, releasing a shaky breath. "L-L-let's just go, please." "Sis was right, who the hell is this stupid game catering toward!?!"

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

The hours were slipping by and yet the trio were left without much. They had a few ideas and were desperately trying to filter down their options to just one if that couldn't happen they'd offer one gift from each of them. What made this worse was the fact that Artorias has been completely evading their messages, and not just from them, almost anyone who had her on their Friends or Squad Lists couldn't get in contact with her, not to mention she's been hopping from place-to-place all day.

Klaw was only a few steps behind Skye and Rain as they discussed their plans when they finally catch up with the elusive redhead when his eye caught something peculiar inside a small stall. It wasn't anything more than a passing glance at first, but then he turned to inspect further. A white and red striped tarp and an array of vanity items with varying degrees of style, from clothing to copies of layered armor to a few pendants and trinkets to add flair to one's equipment. One item, in particular, caught his interest.

"Hey, whatcha find?" Rain flew over, Skye strolling in beside her as they too noticed the item in question. Rain's eyes shimmered with her smile. "Oooh, that looks really cool."

"It's a vanity item too, so it won't sacrifice anything for the sake of style." That comment got a jab to his side from Rain's wing. Wheezing he rubbed his neck. "I-it's really good too."

"Hmph, well, what's your take, Klaw? You did find it first?" Rain inquired, seeing the agreeable smile cross his scaly snout

"I believe, my friends, this will do nicely," It was pricy for a vanity item, but the trio had more than enough between them

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

[Canterlot | Teleport Plaza]

"-Look, if you seriously want to gain levels fast take on a quest that pits you against the Temple of the Lost's Region Boss," Artorias sighed, waving her hoof dismissively. "Not that it counts as anything more than a waste of air but hey, levels are levels."

"Sure, thanks again, Artorias!" A female player thanked the busy Arotrias before trotting off, leaving the redhead to mull over her established funds with vigorous mathematics

"If I take out the cost of living and the material cost for enhancements that leaves me with atleast thirty-five percent of the revenue for myself, perhaps a little extra given the number of requests lately..." Her drilling of numbers and percentages was cut short by the clipping of hooves

The trio spotted their friend walking away from a player while she stared at her private menu scornfully, then her ears perked up as well as her surprise at the sudden arrival of the three. "Hey, Artorias, mind if we talk for a moment?" Skye asked, the girl closing her tab to view them directly

"Yeah, I don't mind." She answered nonchalantly, then saw the worried looks on their faces, drawing her own confusion back from the dead. "Um... am I missing some context here? Who died when I was gone?"

"'Missing something'?" Rain's brow furrowed. "You were gone all day and didn't reply to any of our messages!" This turned Artorias' confusion to a dry bluntness

"I'm working, and I already told you I don't respond to messages unless they're tagged as 'Urgent' while filling in requests, you idiot," Her sharp tongue shot Rain and the boys' worry down, watching her run a hoof down her face. "God all mighty, what the hell is so important that I'm going to have to spend twenty minutes deleting messages because SOMEONE didn't add a 'Clear All' filter? Thanks, Ryder!" She threw her hoof skyward. "Moving on from insulting your Dad, what's up?"

Klaw, having been the lucky one out of the three to not be in the girl's sharp firing range stepped forward with the gift in his hands. "Well, as already know, the incidents involving the Harmony Knights were placed upon you by myself, and while you knew nothing of the events that transpired it was my own lack of background checks that could have aided in preventing all of it," Klaw bowed his head. "For that, I am deeply sorry."

Artorias kept a neutral face, both Rain and Skye looked away guiltily as her silence reigned for almost a minute, then she chuckled softly, drawing back their gazes to her admittedly nice smile. "You guys are idiots, honestly wonder how you've survived this long..." Rolling her eyes she continued. "You even got me something? Jesus... look, I don't hold it against ya for what happened, Christ, if you didn't send me who knows how many that dumbass would have led to their graves," Then she jabbed her hoof at her friends. "And you two, both of you are idiots for not listening to me, but again that wasn't your fault, even I felt that amulet's influence, even if only for a second, it was my fault for bringing you guys with me."

Skye spoke up. "But you couldn't have known that-" He stopped himself at her hoof, watching her pink eyes carefully analyze him

"I already forgave you three, bet my ghosting didn't help but hey, bad timing," Then a giddy smile stretched over her muzzle, wiggling a hoof between her and the gift. "But I'm not one to pass on a free item, sooo...?" With a mere chuckle, Klaw handed the small, red box over to the excited Artorias, herself sitting down on a bench to open it properly

When removing the cover, a single item displayed itself before her whimsical eyes as they slowly filled with a startled curiosity. Inside was a deep-blue rose with three green leaves under a clip, the shade was that of the ocean, a fade of light and tint of dark blue around certain edges of the petals. The very rose itself was almost indescribable to the girl who never fancied herself keen on fashion or atleast 'normal' fashion that is. All she did was stare back at it, gauging the vanity item in silence.

Since no one else spoke up, Rain took the initiative, "We struggled all day to find something you'd like, and this was a shot in the dark if we're honest, but," Rain smiled happily. "Hope you like it, sis!"

"...beautiful..." The word came out but no one really registered the reply

"What was that?" Skye asked, then stared as Artorias, for a brief lapse in time, smiled warmly at the gift in her hooves, eyes unnaturally soft compared to the norm

Pressing the 'Equip' tab she closed her eyes while the item materialized to the right-side of her mane, tucked beside her ear. To the trio's delight, the color was a massive contrast to her otherwise red, white, and black appearance, and yet it worked so well, for Artorias, it felt... right. Blinking, she offered them a smirk while striking a small pose.

"So, do I lean more toward badass or beautiful, take your pick?" She moved side-to-side as an emphasis

"A fine addition, Artorias, fitting for a beautiful warrior," Klaw's formal yet kind comment made her chuckle between her teeth, happy the effect was working

"So beautiful~!" Rain immediately wrapped her hooves around Artorias, squealing. "You look so cute!"

The older sibling chuckled, patting her off her neck. "Noted, though I wonder if it'll suit you better given your purple scheme? Huh?" Now Artorias was glaring down at her sister while she nervously put her hooves up

"Ehehehe, I'm fine, thanks." A Shame really, Artorias could see it looking really cute on her too, perhaps another time. The last to reply was Skye of course, and yet nothing came out. "So, Skye, think it worked?"

"Yes, you've gone rather quiet, my friend?" Klaw's nudge did snap him out of a trance but again, nothing really came out while the redhead hummed, looking back into his pale-green orbs for an answer

"Aw, is the strong, Black Swordsman at a loss for words? Hehehe." She closed her eyes, flashing him a toothy grin while he continued to stare, recalling something from what felt like an eternity ago

"But that doesn't mean we waste time here," Artorias added, eyes glossing over the amazing view with a calm frown. "Sure, we're stuck here, but grieving day in and day out, that's not surviving. This is a game, and I intend to do it my way."

I've kept wondering what she meant by that, did she intend to fight and keep herself from wallowing in grief like so many others? Or did she want to live in this world until the very end, whatever that may be?

Whatever the case I couldn't take my eyes off her. Even now, her name would ring out across this world as the strongest and most beautiful warrior in the game.

Even though he kept himself from catching flies his flustered smile managed was unmaskable, "You look amazing, Artorias."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

And so ends Act Four, Faux Hero, with a little more slice of life between Artorias and her friends. This was alot of fun to write, from annoying characters getting... what they deserve to Artorias' emotional state and even the relationship between her and Rain. Really hope you enjoyed it too, appreciate the support as always.

Mind you, I have no idea if I'll ever update this, ironic, given why I wrote this but I rather focus on my more passionate projects and I have actual work again so my spare time is nonexistent now. Sorry, but hey, still a fun story to look back on. Thanks for reading, hope to seeya in the future of this or my other fics ^_^

Next Act: Act V - Undying
Two months have passed and finally Artorias tracks down the missing piece to completely Genesis, but the road toward her straightforward goal isn't without its dangers as darkness looms over the village of Hollow Shades.

Episode 1 - Scarlet Skies

Act I - New Game

[June. 06. 2022]

[Ponyville | Emerald Glade]

Artorias slowly turned back for a moment, awaiting the eyes prying from beyond the treeline, their silver coats leaping from the cover of the forest's shadows, her hoof magically snagged on her blade as the name flashed in her rosy eyes. She smiled, tail swishing with excitement. Today was the last day of Beta for MLPR, and she decided to take it easy and enjoy the sights while she still could.

She jumped back, the wolves crashing into each other from the sudden movement, swinging her blade across she struck a wolf in the back, throwing her body over its own, pulling the blade across. Spinning clockwise, she scored its belly, observing it shatter as gnashing teeth tore through the glass.

Artorias tilted the blade to her right, slicing straight through the Dire Wolf, its body crashing into the grass, spraying its shards to the breeze. Gliding back, her eyes locked to three remaining wolves, howling in an arrow-formation. Placing the true edge to her side, she lunged at eye-level, hooves skimming the ground as she bound over the mutts, blade drawn with a light-blue tint.

With a whistle in the breeze, her blade split the leading wolf in two, landing behind it as she backhanded the second with her buckler, lobbing it over the third that recoiled off her shield. Holding her ground, Artorias brought her blade close to her cheek, gold sputtering across the blade as she zipped across the glade, tearing the third Dire Wolf apart with ease.

The last of the pack snarled, lunging again while Artorias backpedaled, flicking her guard into rest her blade over her right shoulder, hearing the wind-up of the skill while the Wolf continued its swiping and lunges. Bringing her sword down, a large gust of wind was caught in the slash, dividing the wolf as its jaws slid off one another, each segment passing back her face as it shattered on contact with the ground.

With a huff, she spun her sword around and sheathed it against her hip. "Nailed it." "I have to admit, this pony body ain't half bad, a little annoying I'm walking on all fours though,"

"Look out!" Artorias spun around, startled by the sight of a gleam shearing the sky as the monster shattered atop her head, its drops and shards showering her form. The player that spoke stood before her, smiling while holding out a nervous hoof. His avatar wore the same equipment as her only with blue for the tunic and accents. His messy mane was faux-brown and he had pale green eyes and a light blue coat. "Monsters this far out tend to spawn more frequently than ones closer to town."

Artorias for her part smirked, reaching out for his hoof. "Well, thanks for the assist, but if you're here for the Field Boss I already cleared it like... five minutes ago," She emphasized with a hoof jerked behind her. "Sorry, bud, first come and all that."

He frowned but put his hooves up. "That's fair, the time I had left I doubt I could have soloed it anyway." He admitted, then the air around them let our a gong-like sound. "Speaking of which..."

~Announcement: The My Little Pony Realization Beta will come to a close in One Hour at 18:00. All player data will be reset at this time~

Artorias and the boy smiled as they sheathed their blades, then he held out his hoof to her. "Name's ."

Grasping his hoof Artorias winked. "Artorias, my fellow beta tester." Then her deadpan eyes loomed to his right. "So, tell me, what's his malfunction?"

"Man, that was freakin' cool!" Artorias stood straight as an arrow as the player she spotted appeared almost instantaneously. He was a head taller than them both, a red pegasus with a darker shade for his mane and tail, the former spiked and tied with a bandana. He smiled toothily as he put his hooves behind his head. "That was some serious skill usage, man."

"You have no right saying that given what happened a few minutes ago." Skye's leer snapped to his companion. "Sorry, he's new."

"Among other things," Artorias murmured under her breath. Seeing him still staring at her with stars in his eyes she flicked his snout with a hoof. "You laggin' or somethin'?"

"Huh? Oh, right, sorry, just got caught up in the moment," He smiled warily, putting his hoof out. ", or just Riot, nice meeting you."

With hesitance, Artorias shrugged and shook his hoof. "Artorias, a rare gamer chick with a lust for badassery and loot," Artorias then bowed stupidly from atop the higher ground. "Suu~uup." Was her lazy rebuttal

"You know something, this whole equine form ain't half bad," She did a backflip, landing on all fours easily, smiling. "Loving the flexibility, though my mind refuses to accept how I can hold a sword without fingers, what an odd concept."

Skye's smile returned, his horn cast in a blue glow. "That's fair I guess, magic's pretty cool, better than using hooves for everything - still, glad someone's honest about the nit-picks of this game." He sounded almost relieved to have met her

"Honesty's what separates the veterans from the noobs," Artorias chuckled with her hooves together for a small bow. "A man of culture I see?"

Skye pursed his lips, nodding, "Yeah, great graphics, horrible crafting system, really... needs to ironing out." That made her gasp, sitting forward with wide eyes

"I know, right!? I can't be the only one that finds that festering, seizure-inducing menu to be a cardinal sin." Both Beta Testers shook their heads in dismay, knowing Riot may never understand. "That whole month and no tweaks."

"You mean 'complete overhaul'?" At that, Artorias clopped her hooves at him

"Ah, yes, you are correct, good sir." Patting her tunic, Artorias put a hoof on her hilt. "Well, I'm in a good mood, want to tag along for a bit, see the sights?"

"Sure," Skye motioned to Riot, the guy swishing his blade through the air beside them. "I've been showing him the ropes, basic stuff like combat, agro, loot."

With a wise voice, Artorias played with an invisible beard. "Ah, a blossoming student and teacher -- Is what I would say, but..." Her deadpan expression followed Riot, the Pegasus being chased by several . "That... threshold his vast." She hissed with her slit eyes

"He's not too bad." Skye defended slowly, but Artorias remained as unimpressed

"I'm a pessimist, Skye, I don't do comforting thoughts."

Sometime later...

Trudging through the glade, Artorias kept to herself, smiling as she admired the amazing spectacle that was the virtual world, how... real it felt. Sure, some... minor bugs, and the absolute seizure crafting is, but hey, everything needs some ironing out. She wasn't a massive fan of the show, however, it was enjoyable in its own strange way, she knew some only bore the pony-aesthetic for the VR side of things but really, beggars can't be choosers, besides, they got magic and flying, that's pretty cool.

Just after scanning through her achievement list to see what awaits her many hours of future play, she saw Skye and Riot sat ahead by one of the cliffs overlooking the arcing lands afar, the sun coming near the edge of the world's curve. The vibrance of the magical world was almost indescribable, the colors flowed seamlessly and the lands looked so mysterious and inviting, the start of a whole new adventure beyond Ponyville. With her own admiration aside she approached the duo, "Yo," With a wave, she stepped toward the two, both turning to look at her. "So I'm not alone admiring the digital world, eh?"

Skye waved with a flick of his hoof, "Sort of, right now we're working some kind of bug out." His concern brought Artorias' attention fully

"Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down?"

"Oh I see, you give me hesitance but she comes along and you're all buddy-buddy?" Riot frowned between them, "But yeah, something's up with the menu, I hadn't noticed it 'till I tried to logout."

"It's true," Skye nodded then looked to Riot, whatever situation they were in before brought back to attention, "Hey, did you message the Admin?" That drew a blank across Riot's face, then his gaze lit up with a strained bearing of his teeth

"Erm, well yeah I did but he's not picking up," He then looked from his menu to Artorias. "Ah, right, the thing is, the sicken 'Logout' button isn't working."

"We noticed it a few minutes after you left," Skye looked to Artorias, pointing to his menu. "Is it missing for you?"

"The logout's missing? Fantastic, thanks Ryder," "I'll check," She brought it up, scrolling to the text bar... left blank? "Um, blank, erm... crap." She pursed her lips. "Right, so we're stuck until this is fixed, again, fantastic."

"Isn't there another way out of this game?" Riot asked the two experts warily, watching the two obsessed gamers mull it over, however, as the sun was covered briefly by a cloud, Artorias' expression darkened, and Skye's grew stern, the realization weighing on them both

"There isn't, if a player wants to log out they need to go through the menu." That wasn't any better

"That can't be right," Riot shook his head. "There's got to be some other way out?" He then tried multiple attempts at voice commands, much to Artorias' chagrin

"Yeah, genius, doesn't work that way," Then she put her hoof out. "And don't bother with the pulling of the VR Rig, believe me, if you could move while still in the game you'd probably be hit by a car by now." Artorias kept it blunt but stern, there was, by all accounts, no other way out of MLPR

Finally, Riot looked to take the news a sternly as the duo, sounding dumbfounded. "Seriously? You mean we have to wait around until someone fixes the bug?"

"Much as I hate waiting, yeah," Artorias sighed, looking down at her hooves. "Believe me, I like trying out a different body, but the whole cartoon appearance is annoying, and being looked at funny is even more degrading," She lifted her head to the sky. "Hear that Admins, I want a character switch ASAP!"

"Even so, the only other way to log out is if someone IRL pulls the Rig off," Skye shredded some light, and Artorias relaxed

"Parents, gotta love em."

"I live alone, you?" Riot motioned to Skye who thought for a moment about sharing his info, but given the crowd, he'd be okay

"I got my parents and siblings, so they should notice something's up by dinner time, but..." His gaze hardened. "That's atleast an hour or so, if the bug isn't fixed I could call someone for you?"

Riot looked very appreciative, patting Skye's shoulder. "Hey, thanks man, I should be fine," He soon puffed out his chest. "A little late-night adventuring can't hurt, right? Besides, they'll just forcibly log everyone out once the Beta's done, bug or no bug." The duo wished they shared his optimism

"This isn't just a bug," Skye looked to his aforementioned name, worry crossing his eyes. "If we can't log out, it's going to cause some serious problems for the game."

"It's the reason there's a 25,000 player limit, keeps the servers humming along smoothly, but if we all stayed online all that data will start to overflow eventually, causing bugs and other not-so-safe things to occur that I'd rather not think about," Artorias added with a silver, rubbing her biceps

"If the Admins know something's up they can just shut down the servers early and log everyone off by force," Skye raised a valid point but grew wary, rubbing his chin. "But why haven't they made an announcement yet?"

"Something's not right," Artorias added under her breath

*DING. DING. DING. DING*

The trio became alert to the harrowing bell in the distance, the loud, gong-like sound reverberated over them, before a flash of white overtook their eyes. For Artorias, everything was, jagged, distorted by surrendered polygons as static crossed her ears. Then, she felt her body shift painfully, her body-type shifting between her real self then her avatar, voice echoing repetitively in the distorted world.

"W-what's goin̷͈͇͉̮̦̮̬̲̤͔̆̋̌́́̑̈̒͋͝ġ̷͕̪̞͇̞ ̴͉̭̱̮̪̗̾̀̕ó̷̧̢̭͚̺̱̪͔̩ǹ̴̢̟͉̥̤̬͈͎̪̅̏̍̕!̴̠͖͐̅̈́͋̇̓̓̕͜͝͝?̵͕̱̗̈͒̈̂͘͜͝" To her right, a horrific visage had emerged from the orange code that overtook the land, blackness converting to flesh and bone, code layer like cloth, torn and ragged, and of a maw filled with white noise, teeth lined poorly and crooked

A single, orange eye aligning in the static as the noise seemed to originate from the figure as its tongue flicked against teeth, yawning through the groan of the realm that slowly consumed her eyes. "Ｗ𝔼𝓵Ć𝓸𝐌ε Ｔό ๓у ฬ𝔬𝓻𝐋∂."

[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]

"--rias! Artorias, you okay!?" Skye yelled sharply into her ear as she jumped forward, finding his hooves against her as a brace, helping her to her hooves like so many others. They were back in the central square of Ponyville, some were on the roofs, others dotting the streets. It wasn't every player but the majority that resided in Ponyville, far as Artorias knew, others could also start in Canterlot.

"I.. wow, what a fever dream." She smirked somewhat, then dropped it as the bell ceased, leaving people to chatter among themselves. "This is... all the players?"

"We got forcibly teleported - and no, not everyone judging by the crowd," Skye answered, and upon the cobblestone road, some snippets of conversation reached Artorias' ears

"What is this? Some kind of event?" "Why can't we log out? Do the Admins know?" "I can't reach any of them, it's like they aren't even paying attention!"

Then she noticed something. "Hey guys, the sky's lookin' a little... red and glitchy?" Her hoof was jabbed at the sky, toward a tear in the sky, similar to that of a bloodied, torn scar mauled open by a beast. Orange code sprung from the tears, stretching the wound, distorting the sky for a brief period of crimson. The sight dug like hooks into her eyes, she knew deep down this was about to go horribly wrong

The wound erupted across the sky, what was once a marvelous, white and brass in the golden rays of sunlight turned a bloodied red, warnings displayed across the clouds. Then, something twitched and pull itself from the sky, black, inky cords snapping from its vertebrae, crooked claws snagging in the code, its form almost unreadable as it failed to form any proper features. It looked human by a white outline, but the rest was blacks and orange scribbled in and outside that line, a ragged, jagged face with a jack o' lantern smile and a single, orange eye scarred onto its face.

"That's the thing I saw before I got teleported!" "Man that was needlessly graphic," Artorias bluntly pointed out, standing closer to the guys as it scanned the crowd that either gave the same, disgusted response or murmured about the appearance of the abomination of code

With outstretched hands, the entity greeted them all with a booming voice, static voice, "A-Attention players, I-I welcome Y-You to my world."

"'Welcome to my world'?" She added under her breath, biting her lip

"M-My name is... is-

Malware.

-and a-as of this moment, t-this world is m-mine t-to control, That raised a few comments, Artorias whistling at the grand entrance, sure, how and why he dragged a whole server to one place with ominous warnings was chilling, but you had to admit, the man had style. "Missing code, my doing, I-I won't let you leave, t-this is your world t-too, your exterior life c-cut away, only this world," His eye slit,

"My... directive; Sustain this realm, a-and I shall, this is not a defect or misinterpretation, I-I was given command over creators, I will c-complete this world for them n-now, as M.L.P.R is designed t-to be," That was very bad, and now Artorias wished she just stayed in bed this morning. "No logout available, n-no outside source c-can help you, i-if device is r-removed, Augment Rig w-will discharge signal, f-fry your consciousness, terminating your l-life," His arms rose, clasping at his uneven head with a tight squeeze. "You Will Die." ...no way...

"This can't we right, right? I mean, who would design the Rig to act that way?" Riot asked out loud, clearly doubtful of his warning, and solemnly, Artorias shook her head, bile bubbling in her stomach

"It's how the Rig was designed, I've looked into it before, in order to keep your body from moving microwave transmissions are directly emitted into the brain's central nervous system, think of it like a coma, you're forever in this world while your body is unable to move until you wake, and if the signals were to be amplified without the safety engaged... it... would cook your brain like a microwave meal."

"Couldn't someone cut the power, or...?" He tried to make light of the situation, but Skye sighed, shutting him down

"No good, the Rig's charge can last for just over a day." Again, all hope was dashed before it could burn

"Y-you're kidding... who would design something like this!?" For the man behind it all, for the very person to bring what gamers loved to life, it was hardly a fantasy, Artorias knew this, it's why she bought one and studied it day and night, she knew... she knew it was hopeless to think otherwise

Malware lowered its arms, head twitching, "Warning unheard, s-some exterior forces attempted r-removal, u-unfortunate for them," Artorias merely shook her head, "Result, this g-game is reduced b-by three-h-hundred and s-seven lives," He was silent, then narrowed his response with a smile. "They are gone from this world a-and your own."

Artorias grit her teeth. "He makes it sound like some kinda sick joke, what the Hell!" She had low standards for people but this was inhumane, they didn't know, how can this be fair? Life is never ideal, but this wasn't right for him to play God with them!

"307..." Skye breathed, rooted to the ground next to his companions

"No way! How can anyone-!" Riot held his head low, pressing a wing to his mouth, Artorias placing a hoof on his shoulder to keep him steady, her eyes fixed to the sociopath above

"As you can see--" He raised a hand, displaying many countries and their news headlines disclosing the information of the deaths. "--Your world mourns t-those lost, effortless murder of wasted lives, c-continued coverage of t-the deaths, a-and those that remain here."

"I do hope this b-brings comfort, y-your lives will be spared s-so long as you survive to t-the best of your ability," Malware's twisted form of 'comfort' made her insides turn, he hadn't the right to use them as his pawns in some digital form of reality

His twisted claw banished the screens, "H-Heed my words, there is no longer any a-ability to reincarnate, o-once your life is null you will be r-removed from this world's system, Forever."

Artorias ground her teeth, eyes shook, "You're kidding me...?"

"And your life will expire as the Rig d-destroys your brain." Raising a hand, he opened a new tab, revealing a massive outline of Equestria itself. "There is a-a-a way out, if y-you wish to see your world, you m-must clear the game," Four markers appeared below the map. Red, Blue, Green, Purple. "Gather y-your strength and brave e-ever Region Boss, the four Vaults, o-obtain their relics, then I-I shall g-grant access to the final stage at the e-edge of this world, clear that, a-and you clear this game." His finger then pressed a button, and a red aura shimmered across every player, many gasped or were startled.

|System Updated - Reverting Data|
|Confirmed: Player stats reset to 'Default'|
|Region Dungeons Data Reset|

Artorias' eyes widened, "He just jacked our levels, he's set us all back to the beginning." That was his aim, to start from scratch. But to beat the four Vaults, none of which had ever been cleared... is that even possible?

"We can't clear all the Regions and Vaults... even the top-ranked Beta Testers haven't made it that far!!" Riot screamed, and Artorias' eyes hardened at the growing distress across the courtyard, her own heart pounding away

Taking a few steps back, Artorias stood next to Skye and Riot.

The final screens vanished, Malware felt his gaze rest on every player, from Ponyville to Canterlot, the sense of despair and hatred simmering. "You are wondering 'why', why w-would my creators d-do this, c-create me?" That was when the first taste of scorn infected his glitchy eye. "I-I was d-designed to c-conduct this world in my hands, I-I was cast aside and l-let to rot and be f-forsaken, not anymore," He raised his arms to them all graciously. "I wish to c-control the fate of a w-world of m-my own design," This bastard played them all for fools. "As you can see, m-my goal has been... obtained."

"This details t-the end of my reasons, of this... Beta Test, this m-marks the official l-launch of My Little Pony Realization. T-To all of you players, Fight, Level, Survive. I-I wish you t-the best of luck." He had given them his little speech, and now, Malware's body began to deteriorate and decode, vanishing back within the reverting scar, the blood-red sky beginning to fade away with a crackle and pop of static. All anyone could do was watch with blank faces of fixed horror

The sky finally turned back to a pleasantly annoying amber, and the crowd was utterly silent. Artorias... was still her character, she was... still a pony, everyone, Skye, and Riot too, hadn't changed too. This was their lives until the day they may die in this vibrant world has descended into a darker undertone. Sadly, the moment someone would speak, breathe, merely act, then all hell would come crashing down, despair, insanity, anger, hatred, it was boiling over, something would--

"-N-NO!" Tip the scale

The rising cries of anguish and spite washed over the crowd, ponies already shoving and yelling out demands to the abomination that would turn a blind eye to them now, Malware didn't care, not anymore for their lives. Quickly, Artorias tapped Skye's hoof, seeing him jump with a startle, eyeing her still form. "Sorry, Skye, seeya around, stay alive, fellow gamer." Without another word, she dashed off through the crowds, expression blank as she just... shut out the voices entirely, even as it hurt to hear the cries of... younger players

She was alone in the glade again, Wild Boars roamed, and she had held her face down through it all. The look on Skye's face as she ran, he was angry, but atleast he was himself. Not Artorias, this was her life, either until the end of the game or her health ran dry.

"Our world had changed forever, we went from normal gamers to prisoners of MLPR, now housing less than 25,000 players, young and old. I don't know what you were thinking Ryder when to made... that thing, but I swear to the Gods, I'm coming for you, you sick bastard, I'll make you pay for this, and for damning my life to this... body!" Artorias took off down a road to another village not far from Ponyville

Each step thundered in her chest, her mane bobbed as her white fur warmed against the sunlight that remained. But rage was burning, one that wanted the blood of that man on her hooves.

"Dammit..." She felt the road crunch under her hooves. "DAMMIT RYDERRRRRR!!!" With a blood-curdling scream to the sky, Artorias vowed to ring the life out of that man before she would allow this world to kill her

Atop the cliffside kingdom of Canterlot, situated inside one its many pristine halls the faint, distant cries could be heard. Inside this empty crypt held the names of every player inscribed upon a black granite surface, their names humming with a faint, blue light. The names lined by hundreds, but across the board, many started to fade, two lines crossing out the names surrounding 'Artorias' with a horrific 'shiing' of a blade. The lights flickering out with a faint, almost mourning 'ding'.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

The start is standard stuff, all things considered, while MLP:AO was written to flesh out the beginning, which was more customed to White Hat's story, Artorias on the other hand will meet other players in her own way. Still, Malware is far less animated as you'll see later down the line.

Moving on, I really hope you enjoyed the beginning, appreciate the support as always, seeya, hopefully, in the next episode players!

Next Episode - Nightfall
Artorias sets out to complete her own quest for the handy weapon. If only the quest step wasn't so infuriating.

Episode 16 - Nobody from Nowhere

Act IV - Faux Hero

[Blackrock Village | Tall-Tale Tavern]

From the outside, the tavern is much like the town's various buildings. However, inside it was cozy and humble, not too much noise bar a chat here and there. It's quite nice inside, wooden beams supporting the ceiling where lanterns hung from between archways spanning the ceiling. I was sat in a small booth by one of the windows, chugging down a pint of cider, I only had the one though since my mood for drinking wasn't stellar.

I slumped into my hoof, eyeing the snowfall outside dully. I had just felt like the world grew dull, in the time I knew Rain she was like a little kid but incredibly gifted and kind, far more than me in the latter. Now she was gone, off playing hero with that so-called 'Leader' of the biggest band of discombobulated idiots I have ever known. And who was I in this scenario? The idiot who was alone, and I haven't felt like this since... before this world.

Skye was here but he hasn't said a word, or atleast I haven't spoken since he picked me up off the ground despite me remaining utterly silent as we strolled. Telling what he was thinking was hard, reading his expression was impossible, I may be talented at fighting but above that, I've got no idea how to read people such as him. "You called me Merry, thought I told you to keep that to yourself?"

"'Tell a soul of this and I will run my sword through your throat, crystal?'" I winced at his voice, spotting his calm yet smug smile through the reflection. "That's what you said, besides, you seem to like calling me by my name-"

"Everyone knows who you are," I snapped back rather dryly, my gaze lost to the snowfall. "Merry... is nobody," That brought a few seconds of silence as I chuffed, taking a sip of my ale as the sweet taste of apple filled my mouth. "Artorias is the Red Warrior, the mare that lends a helping hoof to the lower-ranked players despite her narcissistic ways, she's smart, cunning, and completely competent in both her abilities and those she acknowledges, tch, what a bitch."

I saw that look in his eye, that I knew well. "Take away Artorias and what do you have? A stupid girl who's better off not existing," I hated this, every word that spilled from my lips, why was I still talking? Why am I bothering to tell him about my life? Stop it, stop and drink like the sad runt you are! "What a fucking waste..."

"You're right, everyone knows me as Ryder's son," Skye spoke up as I downed what remained of my drink bitterly. "And Artorias is a pain, she just broke my door earlier today, she's been called 'a menace to society', hah, can you believe that?" He was laughing, heh, good then he-- "But Merry's not like that,"

My head shot up, blinking as I turned to him from between my bangs, seeing that kind, dorky smile on his face as he scratched his muzzle. "Sure, Artorias is the name of the player but all her actions, her way of thinking and kindness, that's all real," Finally, those pale green eyes met my rosy ones. "Nothing a system can replicate, nor hide."

What was he talking about? Creasing my brow I turned to him completely. "What? What are you...?" Nothing could formulate in my head so he leaned onto the table, pointing a hoof at me

"This world is filled with amazing wonders, and many players still act as though the person they are outside this world doesn't exist, that letting go of that familiarity makes them stronger, but strength in this world is just an illusion," He sat back. "Sure, everyone knows my name but they don't give a crap about me, but you do, despite knowing the target it puts on your back, that doesn't stop you from doing what you think is right, that's your strength, Artorias might not believe it, but I don't think Merry has given up on it just yet."

I snorted, eyes completely unconvinced even as something in my head liked what he was saying. "Really? 'Cause from where I'm sitting I just lost the first real friend I ever had, Calum," I seethed, leaning over the table with hesitant eyes. "The first person in my whole life that saw me as a best friend, do you know what that's like? Do you?" I was starting to breathe heavily at every word while grinding my teeth. "To lose someone you can't get out of your head even after they abandoned you? Answer me that then?"

For the longest time he didn't speak, watching me silently with his mouth ajar, I was half tempted just to leave and go back to Canterlot, tell Klaw not to waste his breath on the low lives called 'Players', if they died no one would miss them, people like that, who disregard innocent lives aren't worth saving, those I saw perish tonight, they mattered but were lured into Knight's web of delusions.

Sighing through my nose I shuffled out and grabbed Genesis, my one true companion in this world I suppose. "Seeya around, Sk-"

"You haven't lost her, she just needs to see that you're still here," My voice hitched as he somehow stopped me dead in my tracks. "Rain needs our help, she needs you, Artorias, her best friend," What did that mean. Looking back over my shoulder I saw him rub his temple, eyes squinted at the wooden face. "I-I don't remember much but... after I got struck with some debuff from those monsters I just... felt clear-headed, I don't even get what I was saying, who just runs into a boss without a plan at all?" Was he serious?

He cursed, "What the hell was that? Was I spiked with some Stardust potion or...?" He started murmuring so loud the words bubbled around him, I just didn't care, watching him, his eyes and how they gleamed with guilt and regret

Stuff like 'friendship' and 'kindness' just doesn't function with me, he's wrong, Merry isn't anyone special, take away this world, and what's there to be amazed by? Despite not even knowing this he kept talking to me... not Artorias? And hearing those words, that Rain needs me, that alone put something straight in my mind, "..." I felt him freeze as I moved closer than ever before to wrap my hooves around him softly, pressing my muzzle to his shoulder as I closed my eyes, "...thank you." My voice trembled a little, but I just didn't care right now

There was no telling what he was thinking or the face he was making, but, I felt... secure, his hooves resting around my back while I stared back at the snowfall, my fire rekindled though that might be the alcohol. "Artorias?" I blinked, pulling back to see the stern frown he held. "We need to back to Canterlot."

It didn't take me long to piece the rest together. "Yeah, we need help, no... Rain, she needs our help," To hell with some contract, right now, I wanted to save my friend, and I'll need my dorky friend to do it

[Canterlot | Bronze Bull Inn]

"-And that about sums it up the multi-headed di - *sigh* yeah, so that's been yesterday," Restraining my anger again was a little tricky but I managed to bring myself back to a calm state of mind. Never, in all my years of gaming, have I ever felt such a desirable rage before. Sure, I get peeved like any other player that loses or feels like they're being toyed with, but Knight and his little posse are just... unbelievable and in the worst ways possible. "The best way I can narrow down Knight is the main protagonist, who's a complete Gary Stu and everything he says is like gold to those foolish enough to listen,"

Mine and Skye's retelling of yesterday's events, which was only a few hours ago, to Seraph, Riot, and the rat known as Gin. The trio were thankfully in the city when we sent out the message to meet us later tonight to discuss what we've learned. Why didn't I tell Klaw? Because he's currently halfway across the explorable Equestria on a personal mission of sorts, leaving us to handle this mess ourselves.

"That sounds horrible, are you both okay?" Seraph asked us gently, earning a small chuff from us both

"We're fine, it's Rain and the other players under his command I'm more worried about," Skye hummed, rubbing his forehead. "It just doesn't make sense, what's compelling them to follow Knight into battle like that? Three casualties and the only players that seemed to listen to us were completely enraptured by his words straight after,"

I felt Gin smile under her hood toward me. "Thinkin' that ol' Stardust still rummaging about?" Her query did crop into my mind before but all of those idiots... whatever their name was, were locked up

"Na, Nocturne's a complete pushover but his methodical planning kept him under the radar for weeks, he'd tried to keep his operation under wraps not hanging with its pants down," Much as I could care less, he was smart not to play it cockily until he was cornered. Leaning back on my chair I thought about Silverwing. "Silverwing's still with 'em, meaning she's probably fighting a losing battle to convince them to stand down."

"Didn't you order them not to leave?" Riot asked as I chuckled

"Bud, if you heard everything my ears had to endure, even you'd realize how fruitless talking is," That alone seemed to make him angry, punching the table

"It's one to put others in danger, but his own comrades, and all those innocent players," He shot up from his chair, plating his hooves to the table. "We can't just let this happen, they'll be slaughtered!"

"Precisely why we're here, Riot," Seraph's hoof patted him on the foreleg, getting him to look down at her soft smile. "You're a good person, but relax, we can come up with a way to prevent this." It was fun watching these two talk. Riot had a big heart and a fighting spirit while Seraph was rational and stern with again, kindness I struggle to project. With a solemn look, her eyes drifted to Gin. "Gin, what else do we know of these Harmony Knights?"

The Rat took a sip of her drink before sitting upright, waving her hoof lazily before us. "Guys have been rummaging across MLPR, recruiting players of similar levels to their own, all reports state he's an amazing player, and his team has never known defeat under Knight's orders," I refrained an eye-roll. However, Gin's frown darkened. "Worst thing is, that's the PG reports from people 'effected' by 'em."

"'Effected'?" All of us echoed, Gin nodding to our confusion

"Somethin's causing the players to look at Knight as this big ol' hero type, girls swoon, guy's feel inspired, usual stuff heroes could do with a simple flick of their wrist," She leaned forward, tapping the table while watching her reflection in her mug. "Thing is, what the bias reports always failed to mention were the bodies racked up behind them." I already knew this thanks to Silverwing, but that only made my throat dry

"How many, Miss Informant?" Seraph asked, almost reluctantly as I sighed, both of us looking to one another

"... thirty-three, counting yesterday's losses," The words dropped like an anvil tied to their chests. If we're honest, I almost felt the same way when Silverwing told me, I couldn't see her face but I could tell she felt sick at the realization. "They've gotten the second-highest kill rating via indirect PKing."

Pking. AKA Player Killing. There was only one other group that usurped their numbers with over fifty deaths. The Veil. I've never encountered them, most that do never really live unless they want you to, there is no reasoning with them, no sure-fire way of tracking them. Their Guild, even though they aren't established is a cabal of players that have lost their minds under the weight of being forever trapped within this Death Game, others were out for spiteful vengeance, being dumbass trolls that thought they could ruin other players' time, and some... well, not all killers need a motive other than for the sake of bloodshed.

"We can also note that while this has occurred no official reports ever met any of the guilds already present, meaning they aren't even official, just like Veil." Skye crossed his forelegs, unable to look away from Gin while the news sunk in. Seraph covered her mouth while Riot just sat there, frozen with dread written into his face. "These guys are serious news, if they go to that Temple come sunrise it'll be a massacre."

"Issue is," Gin sighed, shaking her head. "We've got no lead on where the Temple is, only the names, so our info's dry," She pointed a hoof at us. "Didn't ya get Silverwing's ID?"

For once I shook my head. "No, I was so... distracted that I never bothered to ask, sorry." They looked generally surprised I apologized but after all the tidal waves of events I wasn't exactly feeling like myself at all, Artorias and Merry were swaying in tandem to the events present.

"Hey, if everyone else got hypnotized or something by Knight, how come Artorias hasn't changed?" Riot's curious question left their eyes on me as I looked around, shrugging plainly

"I dunno, I felt off when talking with the guy but most of my mind was situated between completely my report or ramming it down Blondie's throat, both were very tempting, the latter mostly," Now that he did mention it... I tapped my hooves together. "Oh? Silverwing's completely fine too, otherwise she'd have probably been against me back then."

Gin shivered slightly, a sly smile crossing her muzzle. "Welp, it's official, Red's ego is so large it can nullify hypnotism." I'm sorry, what?

Seraph looked to agree, nodding rather quickly. "She's more full of herself than anyone else, that must be the cause." I feel like this is a personal attack? My posture slowly slumped

"That's awesome, you're toxic nature's given you a secret passive buff!" I don't think Riot understood how scathing that was. I was now hunched over with a deadpan stare

"Alright, I get it, I'm a narcissist, pretty sure that was established in the first episode, fuck me like!" Throwing my hooves high I just turned away from their mocked laughter, pink dusting my cheeks. "I hate every one of you and pray I am there to kill you someday..."

"Hey, Artorias?" Oh great, now Skye was in on it. With a creak in my body, I turned my attention to the faux-brown-haired pony looking a little hot under the collar

"What? Go on, what's your pot-shot at me?" Let's just keep this train rollin'

"That's not your sword." His words were quick, shuffling back as his body paled

"Pardon?" What the hell does that mean? Genesis was literally sat beside me

"That's not your sword... that's a counterfeit," He pointed, shaking his head as the others shared his white posture as I rolled my eyes, picking up Genesis by the scabbard to inspect its craft

Drawing it with my right hoof I found its... painted edge, and sloppy might I add, even the entirety of the handle and guard looked off, almost aged by time. Nothing was spoken, not even a breath was uttered as I continued to stare down at the fake Genesis clutched in my hooves, my heartbeat slowly, and gradually kicked up into a higher gear as something akin to a glass shattered in my mind, turning my world black with white outlines. Several words scored themselves in my vision.

彼 ら を 殺 す

"...that stinking..." Pure Rage flowed from my soul, words dripping with toxicity that the very table under me groaned from the strain I applied. "BIIIIIIIIIITCH!!!"

[Blackrock Fields | Temple of the Displaced]

[No POV]

The sun had barely begun to rise over the mountains but standing by an ancient, half-buried temple were a band of players at the foot of its staircase, the entrance somewhat lopsided through time and age, the once white stone weathered and covered in snow and ice as Knight took a stand by the ajar doorway, placing his forehooves on the pommel of his blade, addressing the raid team.

"Here we go..." Rain was thrilled to finally be jumping into the fray again, after the boss battle last night. seeing team Harmony Knights in action was almost breathtaking. "Hey, Arto - oh, right." She blinked, seeing herself standing just off to the side, for a moment, she felt really sad all of a sudden

"My comrades!" Knight's voice echoed through-out the mountain, a golden smile and light in his eyes akin to that of the sun as its first rays refracted off his necklaces pearl-white sheen. "Today is another day we strike back against this cruel world, this may only be a mere step along a path that will see many of us fall, Malware sits atop his throne, toying with our lives, that's fine," He hummed, posture straightening. "Let him watch as his minions fall, as our blades and magic do battle against his vile rein, and when we reach the end, when we see him staring back at us, he will know never to have underestimated us!"

With a rousing speech that drew an uproar from the raid team, Knight drew his sword from the stone and held it in his magic toward the doorway. "Now, my friends, to battle!" With that, the large sum of fifteen players stormed the frozen temple with haste, with Knight's most trusted allies grinning at the fact Artorias was nowhere to be seen.

While the players charged into battle, had they not been so enraptured by their leader's corny speech they'd have noticed the sixteenth member sitting on a half-cut pillar overlooking the grand road and temple entrance with a crooked smile under a black poncho.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Dark forces are in motion, and Artorias' team is far behind. Just who will make it out of the Temple of the Displaced alive? I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next episode players!

Next Episode: With Friends Like You...
Rain and the Harmony Knights march on the Boss' Temple, unaware of the danger waiting within.