Chapter 64 (aka, I was playing mass effect)

The train finally rolled into the station, Dave eagerly hopped on without a sound as he bounced into one of the bunks with a smile on his face “This is perfect!” he cheered

“Forgive me for asking but… How?” Odio asked as he swirled “Urgh I need to get good at these games again” he grumbled to himself

“Well the supposed ‘evil’ is actually a gamer that lives in my head” Dave smiled “I don’t need to worry or train because you aren’t going to do anything”

Odio had to agree with Dave’s logic “I admit this is the perfect situation, but we can’t just stop training instantly” Odio sighed “They will know something is up if you bounce in happier than a filly on crack”

“Ah but I wont go in happy” Dave smirked evilly “I will be mega pissed at the girls for shunning me and annoyed at Luna for not being understanding about the burden on my shoulders”

“But all you have to worry about is an evil coming to take control of your body” Odio chuckled “But it seems the ‘evil’ has gotten stuck on the video games in your mind. That reminds me, do you want to join me?”

“Sure why not?” Dave smiled as he curled up and easily fell asleep. The feeling of rest was replaced with the feeling of weightlessness and Dave opened his eyes. He stared up at a large TV screen and a familiar fog tapped his shoulder

Dave turned to see the humanoid version of Odio relaxing in a hammock, a large claw and long tendril both held a customized X-box controller. Dave conjured a large, white chair that reminded him of an evil villain from spy movies. Sitting comfortably Dave put his feet up and a matching footrest rose from the floor

“So how are you?” The human asked as he summoned a large can of cola into his hand. The fog next to him shrugged, the flat, burning red eyes continued to stare at the screen. His claw and tendril moving quickly along the controller

“I’m good” Odio sighed “How about you?” his mouth burned into existence of a second before its snarl disappeared

Dave shrugged as well “well I think everything is going to be ok from now on” he smiled as the words left his mouth. He thought ahead, planning for his life

He would go back to Canterlot, put on a depressed act for a day or two. When everything calmed down then Dave could spend more time with Celestia. He was slightly nervous about the pregnancy idea but at the same time was more excited than he had ever been

“Dude shut up” Odio groaned as he looked over at Dave’s puzzled face “We are in your head… your inner monologue is kinda loud here”

“I can’t hear it” Dave listened. Eventually he figured it was because his thoughts were inside his head, even though he was in his head… but because he was in his own head it must cancel out in some way… or maybe

Odio groaned loudly “Seriously shut UP!” Odio’s eyes swirled “Now what do you want to do?” a few images and videos quickly began swirling around the endless black surroundings. Dave recognised some of the things as video games and the others as locations he had been to before

“Umm you can continue playing because I might do some decorating” Dave focused but managed to bring a white table that rested at next to his left armrest, he concentrated again and placed a photograph of Celestia in a golden frame. The picture of Celestia was the time Dave awoke from the party at his house and found the princess in his bed, his favourite moment was when Celestia rested on his chest and smiled down at with nothing but love in her eyes

“Ew can you not have it looking at me?” Odio’s eyes were pleading but were also shaped with a hit of disgust. Dave moved the table to the other side so the picture was facing away from the being of hatred

Dave also placed down a solid gold controller, complete with gemstone buttons for whenever he fancied playing with Odio. He took a sip from his canned drink and the fake taste flowed into his mouth.

“So what do evil villains do?” Dave joked as he asked

Odio shrugged “Stay up late, drink energy drinks and play video games” He rubbed his eyes “Sorry I just summarised your life” Odio cracked a smile at Dave that chuckled in response “But don’t call me evil because I’m not”

Dave spun his chair to look at the fog in a hammock “I know it is opinion but I mean come on…” He shook his hand at the black fog “Spirit of hatred sounds evil”

“Hatred is a perfectly natural emotion all living things can feel in one way or another” Odio looked at Dave “Does every world have a being that controls the sun? A being with such power they demand worship?”

Dave turned back to the screen “Celestia doesn’t demand anything” Dave scratched his chin. He wondered what Odio’s response would be. Probably that Celestia would not be as eager to use her powers if she was homeless

“Sorta, I was going to say she doesn’t say no to all the riches and power” Odio snarled at his game “Can you help me in this game?” Dave grabbed his controller but Odio dropped his “How about we go completely immersive?”

Dave nodded as the humanoid figure fell apart and the usual fog with eyes began to consume Dave’s vision. As he opened his eyes, Dave noticed the snowy ground and space ships fly over his head.

“Over here you green bastard” Odio called. Dave turned to see the large reptilian head that belonged to the ridged black body of a krogan soldier. Dave looked at his chest to see his green, rough skin

“I’m a drell?” Dave gasped in a slightly raspier voice “Are we in Mass Effect?” his smile was short lived as a couple of shots flew past his head. He jumped into cover beside Odio as he grabbed a pistol attached to his waist “This is cool!”

Odio’s large mouth revealed a long set of sharp, dirty teeth “We are fighting reaper forces on Firebase White” Odio pulled out a large shot gun “But instead of waves we have ten minutes before extraction”

Dave nodded as he pulled his gun from its holster and looked over the broken ship the duo was using as cover. He pointed his gun at the large tumour on a cannibal’s back and fired a round. The bullet easily tore through the soft flesh and the grey inside sprayed over the skeletal husks that ran towards them

One husk jumped into the air over the cover. Dave shot his hand out in reflex and a blue blast knocked the black robotic zombie away. Odio grabbed the other and slammed his shotgun into its eye socket before pulling the trigger. Dave wasn’t sure which to be more scared by, the noise of the shotgun or the loud screech that drowned it out

Odio swore as he broke cover with Dave close behind. Roaring the krogan head butted an incoming husk, smashing its weaker face inwards. Dave used his newfound agility and athletics to dive over cover, shooting the ghastly figure that was hiding behind it

The screech called again as Dave and Odio reached the entrance to the base. Dave stood at the top of a ladder, kicking or shooting anything foolish enough to try to climb up. Odio’s hand glowed a bright orange as holographic panels coated his lower arm and a ball of fire raced toward a hulking beast that began climbing the stairs. Another screech echoed out, causing the already outnumbered team of two to scan for the source in panic

Odio stuffed his shotgun into the large brute’s mouth before blowing it back down the stairs, its weight crushed a husk that did not move in time. Dave was snapping the neck of another as he felt the ripples of something teleport behind him. He turned to see the lanky, grotesque body of a once alien female

Dave could not move as a large claw grasped his neck and lifted him from the ground. It’s other claw explored down his chest before the beast found the soft spot of his stomach. It readied its claw to plunge in but was tackled to the ground by Odio

The stronger reptilian grabbed its claw and ripped the entire arm from its naked, warped body. “SCREAM NOW YOU BANSHEE BITCH!” Odio roared as he used the creatures own arm to slash its throat. The scream now turned into a loud hiss and splutter as the beast shook violently in an increasingly large pool of black blood

A shuttle craft flew into view, the side door opened allowing for entry. “Come on Odio, extraction is here!” Dave yelled as he continued to shoot at the incoming group of hostiles. Odio released the heat sink in his gun, cooling it quicker. He grabbed the searing hot piece of metal and stuck it into the opening of the Banshee’s neck

“Say hey to Sovereign for me” He chuckled as he followed Dave to the extraction vehicle. He charged through the enemies as he ran around the cover towards the only chance of escape. Dave did a flip over an enemy, making sure to put a bullet in the back of its head along the way before he climbed into the shuttle

As Odio leapt on, he was quickly followed by another large brute. Its arms pinned Odio whilst it’s large, heavy body helped to lower its skull and mouth to the krogan’s face. Dave reached around his belt and thanked his luck as he pulled out three joined cylinders.

He stuffed the grenades into the brute’s ribcage and pushed the trigger button. The krogan roared as he slowly lifted the brute off him, Dave used his biotics to lift it the final way and kicked it out of the shuttle. The door slid shut before the sound of three repetitive detonations signalled the cluster grenade had done some damage

“Nice” Odio grinned, “How do you like the new way to play?”

Dave panted for breath “This is amazing!” He gawped at Odio “I am loving the realism and the intensity” He looked around the shuttle, not noticing Odio had readied his shotgun again

“Hey Dave?” Odio smirked as the drell turned to have the barrel pressed against his forehead “This is for killing me on Halo” The shot rang out through the shuttle and Dave’s body flew backwards against the side of the shuttle. Odio laughed as he dropped the shotgun “thanks for the game though”

Dave bolted awake, bashing his head on the bunk above his. He looked around the real world around him “Dick” He whispered half-smiling as he rubbed his head. Odio swirled proudly before resting back in his normal spot

“Did you think I would forgive you for cutting my head off?” Odio chuckled “besides, you are back in Canterlot in five minutes” Odio silenced as he resumed playing games by himself

Dave climbed out of his bunk, making sure everything was in his pockets before heading to the cartridge door. He looked out the small window in time to see the platform appear, only a few posh ponies were waiting but apart from them the station was almost deserted

Dave hopped out as the train slowed to a crawl and began his walk to the castle. The upper class that trotted down the streets with their heads held high did not glare at Dave. Well not anymore than usual at least

The happy human made a detour towards a small donut shop, the seats inside were reasonably full and didn’t give Dave much hassle as he bought a bag of donuts with pink icing and sprinkles

Dave began nibbling one of the donuts, making sure to make it last until he reached the castle gates. He wiped his mouth, stuffing the bag of donuts into his trench coat pocket before the guards noticed

He quickly jogged through the castle, attempting to find Celestia. If he ran into anypony else then he could start his act now but his happiness was too great.

“Alright Dave, tomorrow we can throw our little performance” Odio suggested “Because today you only have one thing to do and if you get agitated whilst you are training then it would look like you have had enough”

Dave hummed as Odio talked “I see what you mean… alright we can train a bit, get annoyed and then spend the next couple of days refusing and spend time with Celestia” He wondered if there was a quicker way but his mind found another problem “Wont it be weird that the evil will never show up?”

“Nope because if you and Celestia form a special bond then using you would be foolish no matter the outcome” Odio chuckled “Besides I doubt I could force you to kill Celestia”

Dave frowned slightly “Nopony can make me do anything from now on” His smile returned “From now on it is going to be me, you and Celestia as the only beings I care about”

Odio slid around Dave’s mind “So everything is going to be alright? No problems?”

“Don’t worry, be happy” Dave began to sing, “Cos every little thing, is gonna be alright!”