I used to think that my life was pretty normal; that I was pretty normal. Now, not so much. I would wake up, go through my morning rituals and face whatever the world would throw at me. And after facing all that I would seek comfort in whatever struck my fancy, one of those things being anime. Growing up I loved pretty much all the stuff that Toonami and Adult Swim would show. Dragon Ball Z, Big O, Cowboy Bebop, you name it I had at least tried it, even Pilot Candidate (much to my eternal dismay). Though, my favorite out of all of those shows was Trigun. Something about Vash’s outlook on life and philosophy spoke to me and helped shape who I’d become.

Of course, life went on and I occupied my time with things other than over-the-top animation from the far-east. I had even decided to go into engineering to try and satisfy my childhood fantasy of becoming a mad scientist/inventor (mainly in an attempt to build my own megadeus). Everything seemed to be going well, but fate decided to throw the mother of all monkey wrenches into the gears of my life.

I was just about finished with my post-grad work and was set to get my masters. It had been pretty tough but I had made it through and had decided to reward myself by buying a pass to my first anime convention. Lucky for me I lived close enough to the second largest one in America, Otakon. And of course I decided to go as my favorite character of all time, Vash. I worked hard to make my own costume. I used some metal-working equipment to make the glasses and a fake hidden knife in the boot. I even had the tubes along the duster that he used to reload his gun in his duel with Knives. The only thing I was missing was Vash’s signature gun because I didn’t have enough materials. When all was said and done I thought I looked pretty good.

The day of the con came quickly and I was all set in my costume and ready for one of the best weekends of my life. I had even heard a rumor that Johnny Yong Bosch was going to be there and I was excited to ask him some questions. I entered the convention center and was swept up in the sea of the crowd. I was so glad that I had decided to come here. The place was chock full of stands, and events were everywhere. A few people even came up to me and asked to take pictures of me, though they were disappointed that I didn’t have the gun. I was too, but what was I going to do about it? Just as I was thinking this a guy with a too-big smile came up to me.

“Hey there man, that’s one cool Vash cosplay you got there.”

“Thanks, I did a lot of this myself,” I said uncertainly.

“I can tell. The things they sell online always leave out details, but you’ve got ‘em down pat. How did you do the glasses?”

“Metal working is a hobby of mine so it wasn’t too hard to get the frames done. When I was done with that I ordered the lenses online,”

“Nice going there, but I can’t help but notice that you’re missing a crucial component there. You don’t have Vash’s signature pistol,” the guy said as he pointed at the spot where the gun would’ve gone.

“Yeah, I wanted to try and make that myself, but I couldn’t afford the materials. And I couldn’t find an affordable recreation that I liked.”

“Well, I think I can help you find a good recreation that will probably be in your price range.”

‘Why do I feel like I’m about to enter an afterschool special on either drugs or stranger danger… maybe both.’ I thought as a worried grimace spread across my face. ‘All I know is if I see Bugs Bunny pick up a joint I’m out of here.’

“That does sound pretty interesting,” I told the guy as I scratched my chin in thought.

“That’s the spirit. Come on, I’ll show you where the stand is that’s selling all this stuff.”

The guy then led me through the convention with his smile still on his face. Eventually we made it to a stall in a little corner of the main room. Now, I had heard some rumors and seen some stories online about people who went to cons suddenly disappearing, but I had never really believed them. It all sounded like a dumb internet ghost story. And considering the prevalence of things like creepy-pastas that dealt with similar subject matter, I was fairly confident in that assessment.

I smiled as I saw that the guy at the stand looked like a familiar merchant from a survival horror game. I thought it was pretty cool that it seemed like a fellow nerd was selling this stuff. I then turned my attention away from the merchant and towards his stall. I had to fight the urge to drool when I saw what was on the table. It was like someone had reached into my wildest dreams and pulled out everything they could find. I couldn’t tell you if there was a tablecloth on the stall because every millimeter of the table’s surface was covered in merch. I could already feel my wallet lighten at the prospect of buying everything I could from this stand. I had almost lost myself into my fantasy when the merchant’s raspy voice called out to me.

“So, what brings you to my little shop, stranger?”

‘A role-player, huh. Well I guess that’s pretty cool.’

“I uh heard that you have something that could go with my costume. But now that I see what you have I’m half-tempted to try and clean you out of your wares,” I told him with a chuckle.

“Sorry, but I have a one item limit for my customers.”

In hindsight that should’ve been a red flag.

“Now let’s see, I think I’ve got just what you’re looking for,” the merchant told me as he reached under his table and threw me something. I caught it and I let out a whistle when I noticed what it was. This really was Vash’s gun. Everything about it just felt right, from the look down to the feel of it.

“This is some really impressive work. How much do you want for this?”

“For something like that, I’ll give it to ya for fifty dollars.” I was dumbstruck by what I had just heard.

“I’m sorry, but are you being serious?!” I yelled.

“I never joke about my prices. Now, do you want the gun or not?” The merchant asked getting impatient with me.

“You got yourself a deal!” I enthused as I thrust a few crumpled bills into the hand of the merchant. I didn’t get to enjoy my purchase for very long because all of a sudden I was enveloped in a brilliant, white glow and I passed out.

I don’t know how much time had passed before I woke up. All I knew was that I was suddenly in some sort of dark forest. Considering the situation I had found myself in I gave the only reasonable response.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Okay, so I screamed, but it was a very deep, masculine scream… Shut up, you can’t prove that it wasn’t. Anyway, my mind was racing as I tried to figure out what was happening.

‘Someone must’ve drugged me at the convention. Now, there are plenty of rural areas within easy driving distance of the convention center. I don’t know why anyone would want to kidnap me but then again you can’t account for random sickos. Alright, now let’s just remember that basic survival training you took. Find a source of water, make a shelter and stay put until someone eventually finds you.’

After a few moments I managed to calm myself down and stood up so I could set out and hunker down until I could get rescued. When I did I noticed that my pockets had a bit more jingle to them than I had remembered. I reached into them and pulled out… bullets. I stood slack-jawed at what I was holding in my hands. I think it goes without saying that I did not go to the con with bullets in my pockets.

I didn’t have much time to consider what all this could mean because I suddenly heard a growling noise right behind me. What I saw when I turned around left me fully convinced that I was either very high or insane, maybe both considering I was looking at a goddamned manticore! I really wish I was kidding, but no. If there really is a god or gods, then they have a real sick sense of humor. This really was something straight out of a mythology book. The beast approached me with its stinger bobbing with each step and its leonine fangs bared in a snarl. And just to add to this sick twist of fate the thing had bat wings twitching on its back. I held up my hands defensively as the manticore showed its impressive size to me.

“Nice kitty, good kitty, please don’t eat me.”

If the manticore could understand me, it didn’t care. I considered my options and did the most sensible thing I could think of.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” I screamed and ran. But it was very masc… You know what just forget about it. I moved with a speed that would make the Kenyan Olympic team proud. I could tell that the manticore was following me but I didn’t pay that any mind. I was a little more preoccupied with trying to stay alive, and a small part of me was hoping that I could just wish the thing out of existence. I don’t know how long I ran, but it was long enough to make it out of the forest, and for the manticore to give up on chasing me. I didn’t care, I just kept running.

I just wanted this nightmare of a day to be over. I started to curse at the top of my lungs. I cursed the smiling jackass that had led me to that stall, I cursed that merchant for selling me that replica gun, I even cursed Yasuhiro Nightow for creating something so amazing that it compelled me to buy that gun.

Third Person POV:

Celestia and Luna the princesses of the fledgling nation of Equestria were battered and bruised as a being floated above them and laughed. This being was Discord, Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony. He stood for everything that the two young princesses opposed. He was a mismatch of various animal parts that seemed to be more of a foal’s art project gone wrong rather than an actual being. Although, despite his bizarre, even goofy appearance, he was still a force to be reckoned with.

“Is this really all the two of you can do?” Discord asked in an attempt to mock them. “When you told me that you’d defend your little country with everything you have I was expecting much more than this.”

Celestia and Luna just balled their fists and refused to look Discord in the eye. If they were going to die than they would do so with dignity and would not give Discord the sick pleasure of seeing them afraid. Celestia looked over to her younger sister in some hope that it would offer her some small comfort. However, her heart sank as she saw the state Luna was in. Her regal, black armor that had once been polished enough to rival any jewel was nothing more than piecemeal at the moment, and what was left of it was dented and cracked beyond the repair of any mortal blacksmith. Luna herself didn’t look much better. She was covered in so much blood, dirt and bruises that she appeared brown and red rather than her normal midnight blue. And her starry mane that normally waved elegantly without the aid of any breeze now hung limply all around her. Celestia knew she wasn’t in any better condition and reached out to grab her sister’s hand.

“I’m so sorry, Lulu,” Celestia whispered.

Just as the two sisters were prepared to meet their end all three of them felt their ears twitch as a strange sound seemed to be approaching them.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Fuck you Smiley! Fuck you Merchant! And Fuck! My! Life!” Somepony screamed as they crashed into the two princesses and sending the three into a sprawling heap.