Thomas stood in the doorway of his old family home, or rather his memory of it. At his back was the familiar furniture and stained carpet, almost as real as the last time he’d seen them before leaving that world behind. But Equestria’s only human didn’t dwell too long on such thoughts. Instead, he was set upon by a feeling of self-consciousness and checked himself in a nearby mirror. He was not terribly handsome, at least by his own standards, with a rather plain face and hair that looked like it had got in a fight with an angry blow-dryer. His physique was lean without being overly muscular; a product of his recent lifestyle of semi-rigorous exercise.

Peeling away from his nude image, he turned his attention out the door into the abyss of the dream realm. The shimmering, silvery orbs of dreaming ponies drifted aimlessly through the endless expanse. After scanning the horizon for a few moments, he caught sight of his guests for the day and eagerly waved them over.

Silver Bell and Moonlight Shield clung to Luna’s right hand while Apple Honey and Surprise held more tightly to her left. The first two mares had contented grins on their faces as they waved back at Thomas. They were familiar enough with Luna’s realm that the feeling of weightlessness no longer bothered them. The new mares, by contrast, weren’t so relaxed, although both put on brave faces as they tried to pretend to be anywhere but here. Luna smiled in elation as she glided closer, anxious for the special day they had planned.

“Welcome, ladies!” Thomas declared. They came to a halt directly in front of the doorway, their hooves clopping on the floor Luna had conjured. He stepped aside to allow the mares entry.

Sensing the familiarity of normal ground, Honey was the first to rush inside, causing a gust of wind to follow in her wake. The large, green, muscular mare found the support beam to the house and clung to it like a lost lover. It was a good thing everything in this realm was a dream, otherwise the beam might not have held up against her tremendous earth pony strength. She even kissed it in appreciation for existing. “Oh ground. Sweet ground! Ah’ll never leave ya again.”

“Wheeee!” Surprise cheered as she gleefully bounced inside, her full figure jiggling each time her hooves made contact with the ground. She was by no means obese, but still a far cry from the small and lean figure often expected of pegasi; having a build more akin to a slightly chubby earth pony, which jiggled in all the right places. “Whoa! This place is neat!” the large white mare awed as she looked around the living room.

“That’s one way to put it,” Silver added, nodding to Thomas. The lean, silvery bat mare entered the humble abode with a refined elegance to each step. “It never fails to impress how similar our cultures seem, despite such vast differences.” She fixed her attention on the large flat screen TV, smiling in fond memory of the last time Thomas, her boss and favorite human, had invited her to sit down and watch with him and the others. It had been especially amusing because she’d been human at the time, thus allowing her to sit comfortably in Thomas’ lap. “I’m just glad I’m not being made the smallest one for a change.”

“Don’t be like that,” Moonlight encouraged. Walking past Thomas and giving him an affectionate brush with her tail, an almost subconscious act to mark her mate with her scent, the orange unicorn came up behind the little bat mare and patted her back affectionately. “I promise no pony would step on you.”

“Tis not the ponies we should be wary of,” Luna cautioned. The alicorn’s tremendous eight foot height cast a small shadow over the others as she entered to join them. Her ethereal tail also brushed against Thomas, but added a playful swipe to his behind for good measure. “Remember that this will be a day of adventure!”

“Yay, adventure!” Surprise threw her arms up in cheer, making her breasts bounce.

“So long as it’s on solid ground,” Honey added after testing her hoof against the floor, finally relinquishing her grip of the support beam. “Although, what kind o’ adventure we talkin’ ‘bout here. Ah mean, its jus’ a video game.” She looked over at the TV screen. “Eight bits ‘n’ music on repeat, jus’ like an arcade, right?”

“Human video games outclass pony arcades by centuries,” Luna corrected, showing off her familiarity with the human world after her numerous ventures into Thomas’ dreams. “The worlds within are almost lifelike and the stories told can be quite engaging.”

“Although, this will be more like an engagement book,” Moonlight added, making sure she understood what was going on. “The kind that literally suck the reader into the story, right?”

Luna nodded in affirmation.

“Ah heard ‘bout those. They’re supposed ta be super expensive.”

“Yeah, but they’re also super fun!”

“And that’s what we offer here at Casa de Thomas, the private, luxury suite to Luna’s harem, also known as the inside of my head,” the human explained. “I don’t mind, but I still find it weird everyone always has to hang out in my dreams.”

“Oh! Ohohohohoh!” Surprise frantically waved her hand. “We can try my dreams next. They’re super-d-dooper funeriffic!”

Luna blinked and came up behind Surprise. She grabbed the mare’s shoulders and gave them a calming massage. “Perhaps after we try a few other dreams, dear Surprise. I fear the contents of your mind might be a bit… exhausting.”

Thomas blinked and imagined a number of cartoon depictions of being hi as a kite, specifically that of Mable Pines after overdosing on illegal sugar. He looked around and found similar looks of apprehension on the other mares.

“Okay,” Surprise conceded simply. “I wanted to try this human video game, anyway.”

There was a collective sigh of relief.

“So how do we begin?” Silver asked, directing her question at Thomas.

“Don’t ask me. I just provide the setting. She’s the one driving.” He gestured at Luna.

“Verily!” Luna clapped her hands together. “And we shall begin by getting into character.” She snapped her fingers and the group were momentarily blinded by a flash of light.

Blinking until his eyes cleared, Thomas looked down at himself. White strips of cloth were wrapped around his hands and lower legs with open toed, leathery shoes on his feet. He wore a long blue shirt and white baggy pants. A simple pack held to his back, fastened by a large buckle across his chest. The material was as soft as satin against his skin, but an experimental tug showed it to be quite strong. Feeling the nostalgia taking hold, Thomas reached up and grinned as his fingers traced along the eight inch length of his ear and the even more impressive height of his spikey anime hair.

“Wowee!” Surprise exclaimed.

Thomas turned around to see what had become of the others. Their manes were all the same color, but definitely spikier. Their muzzles had all flattened out considerably while things like hooves, horns, tails, and wings were absent. Their ears were all much longer and thinner, coming out of the sides of their heads rather than sitting on top. Further, much to the human’s interest, he was no longer the only human in the room.

“Heh. Would ya look at that,” Honey said as she spun around, looking over every inch of her new body. She was human now, with an overall Caucasian appearance, save for the somewhat fuller lips and greenish skin that still somehow looked tan. Her height had changed only a little, bringing her down to about six and a half feet tall, which still left her tremendously tall. Her ensemble featured full length blue jeans, blue shoes, and a red tank top that just barely contained her massive cleavage. “Ah make this look good,” she beamed as she examined her new feet.

“Hehe. I look funny.” Surprise wore a green button up top that showed off her midriff, a light brown skirt, and red and orange boots that came up just below her knees. She also wore a fingerless glove on her right hand. Her height remained equal to that of Honey’s, although her fuller figure put Thomas in mind of someone of African descent, with an especially stark contrast brought on by the skin tone that remained as white as her fur. She paid only a brief glance to her absence of wings before shrugging it off, likely the dream magic assuring her that all was normal. “But also daring, like I’m ready for anything.”

“Strange. I want to say this look is terribly unsuited to adventure of any sort,” Silver began as she played with her new ears. She was dressed in an aqua vest with a baggy white undershirt. Her tan trousers were held up by a dark brown belt and leather straps covered her lower legs, which stood in stark contrast to her silvery-pale skin. As far as height went, she’d only lost a couple inches, making her the shortest person in the room. Having transformed in dreams before, she also made no fuss as her hands ran along her high cheek bones and shapely nose, making her look rather regal. “However, I have to admit there is a peculiar charm to the simplicity.”

“That might just be Thomas’ feelings of nostalgia at playing a childhood favorite spilling over to us,” Moonlight offered. She was currently playing with her violet tube top that hugged her chest almost too perfectly, outlining every detail. Almost as snug were her tattered legless jean shorts. She also wore knee high boots with a number of buckles. Following the theme of the other mares-turned-women, Moonlight’s skin retained its orange tint. Her lips had thinned somewhat and her eyes had a slightly squinted look, making her look vaguely Asian. She’d lost about six inches of height, leaving her about half a head taller than Thomas. “Although, I’m definitely starting to get an affinity for these kinds of clothes.” She gave her human a sly wink.

“There is most certainly bias at work here,” Luna said conclusively. Her outfit was the most formal of all with guards covering her shoulders, elbows, and knees. A silken crimson top hugged her chest snugly and a thick brown belt held up her hip-hugging black trousers. Holes were cut in said trousers to allow her cutie marks to poke through and a black tiara resembling her crown adorned her head. She remained the tallest, about as tall as Surprise and Honey were normally. Her skin had a somewhat darker hue reminiscent of the game’s villains. However, her appearance was far more regal with angular cheek bones, a well-defined chin, and somewhat larger eyes. Seeing the way the others were now staring at her, she cocked her hips just slightly in an alluring pose, enjoying the attention. “Although I will not say that I mind.”

“I know what I’m wearing next Nightmare Night,” Surprise announced.

“This is awesome!” Thomas cheered as he took in the mare’s, or rather, women’s new appearances. A silly grin split his face as he watched them examine themselves, in mirrors Luna had summoned for them. Surprise and Honey had taken a special interest in playing with their new toes while the others were more curious about their new skin tones compared to what they usually had. Thomas found it rather fitting, given where they were going, but eventually, like most men, he grew bored of standing in front of a mirror and longed for some action. “So, onto the first cut scene?” he asked of Luna.

Luna nodded and waved her hand in a dramatic arc. The room around them shimmered and shifted until it became a scene on a small dock. Wood planks replaced tile beneath their feet and a full moon with many glimmering stars filled up the vast blue of the night sky. A wind carrying the salty smell of the ocean blew in, drawing everyone’s attention to the vast ocean that stretched across the horizon. Many houses dotted the nearby cliff side, with one particular hut on an outcropping declaring itself to be of special importance.

Thomas looked up the dock to see if they were going to be joined by the title characters, but they were nowhere in sight. “Anyone else coming?” he asked Luna.

“It would seem not,” Luna answered curiously. “I may have provided the machinations for this adventure, but the outline and implementation were all up to your subconscious.” She indicated Thomas. “It would seem that you desire for us to go on this adventure without the aid of the game’s original protagonists.”

Thomas thought this over a moment. “I guess that fits.” Daxter’s character no longer had the same appeal as it did when he was little and Jak’s muteness wasn’t what most people would consider compelling. Besides that, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t like the idea of remaining the only male adventurer surrounded by so many beautiful women.

“Does that mean we get to be the heroes?” Surprise asked.

“I believe it does,” Luna answered.

“Yay, heroes!” Surprise threw up her arms in cheer, once more causing her breasts to bounce, even in spite of her shirt’s efforts to contain her jiggle physics.

“So where we headed, partner?” Honey asked, setting one hand on her cocked hip.

Thomas quickly scanned their surroundings until he found the speedboat. “We take that to there.” He pointed from the boat to the distant island that looked to be drowning in fog. “If I’m the Jak of this story, then my mentor, Samos, gave me strict orders never to go to Misty Island.”

“And the naïve student is explicitly disobeying his master’s orders anyway?” Silver asked and Thomas nodded. “I almost want to call that cliché, but I suppose it makes for an adequate beginning for the hero’s journey,” she conceded.

The group filed into the speed boat, which took off of its own will once they were all aboard. It was a tight fit, meaning Moonlight had to ‘reluctantly’ sit in Thomas’ lap, with her arms around his neck and shoulders. Moonlight didn’t seem to mind their size difference as Thomas endeavored to explain the premise of this game. “This is a world filled with this sort of magical energy called eco. Its powerful stuff and some people are out to abuse it.” He found it increasingly difficult to speak as Moonlight started teasingly rotating her hips against his groin. “Bad mare-er, girl,” he scolded. “Don’t make me spank you.” Thomas immediately regretted his words as Moonlight looked down at him with a ‘seriously?’ look in her eyes.

He really should have known better. The other women agreed as they began laughing at his expense.

“I feel I should explain a few things before we carry on,” Luna interjected. “This game is not entirely as you remember. It is much more flexible, ready to adapt to the decisions we make. Moonlight’s comparison of the engagement book was most fitting, as I have modeled our adventure off of that very spell. We are fully incorporated into the story, meaning the other characters will interact with us as though we are meant to be here. In fact, it may even be interesting to learn how they see us, or rather how dearest Thomas imagines they would see us.”

“Thomas mentioned he was a student of a master,” Silver spoke up. “Does that mean we are all students?”

“Likely so, but I cannot say for certain,” Luna admitted with an anxious grin. “I truly do not know where this adventure will take us, but I am excited to learn.”

They were nearing their destination and a thought occurred to Thomas. “If I’m the Jak of this story, then who’s the Daxter?” He looked around the assembled women.

“I am not familiar with that character, but it could be any one of us,” Luna acknowledged. “The only way to find out is to press on and see where the adventure takes us.”

“Who is Daxter, anyway?” Surprise asked.

“Jak’s best friend and sidekick,” Thomas replied. Thinking of what happened to Daxter reminded him of something more urgent. “Just for the record, what happens if we die?”

Luna stroked her chin as she considered. “If I am interpreting the mechanics of the game correctly, the fallen individual will reappear in one of the numerous save points, leaving the rest of us to either wait or press on.” She smiled reassuringly. “It would not be a very fun game if we could actually be hurt. I assure you nothing bad will happen.”

“Of course it won’t,” Moonlight agreed. “Not with us protecting you.” And she kissed his forehead while the other women vocalized their own vows to protect their stallion and Princess.

There was no fanfare when they arrived on Misty Island. Thomas pressed his feet deep into the sandy beach, experimenting with its squishiness, though he found the sensation lacking for some reason. The others were more mindful of the environment as they took in the spooky atmosphere. Massive, monstrous skeletons littered the area with torches as the only source of light. The stone looked dark and grimy and the surrounding waters had an inky opaqueness to them. Before they even realized it, the group had assembled in front of the meeting place where the creatures, which their minds immediately identified as lurkers, were assembled. They were hunched over, gorilla-like brutes with magenta fur, bright orange eyes, thick arms that hung down to their feet, and Mohawks along their backs. For attire they wore simple loin cloths and metal collars with rings hanging below their chins. Two dark figures, an aged man in a blue overcoat and a buxom woman in red, body hugging armor, appeared before a large metal wall and began issuing orders to their troops.

“Continue your search for artifacts and eco,” wheezed the man, clutching his chest as if the words had winded him. “If the locals possess Precursor items, you know what to do.”

“Deal harshly with anybody who strays from the village,” continued the woman. “We will attack it, in due time,” she finished with a menacing glower.

“Bad guys?” Honey whispered, but it was obvious to all. “Do we fight ‘em?”

Thomas considered this. Gol and Maia were never shown to have any real offensive abilities, relying on their army and machines. They could fly, which his party could no longer match. Magic was also useless, meaning they were defenseless against eco blasts. All that was left were physical attacks; meaning Moonlight, Honey, and Luna were probably in the best shape to fight. Having what he imagined to be Jak’s strength, Thomas figured he could be backup, or maybe guard the rear with Silver and Surprise. However, he decided instead to shake his head and motion the group to leave. The odds simply weren’t in their favor against such numbers. Besides, beating the game before it even started didn’t sound like much fun.

The group moved on, not really intending to go anywhere in particular, only to find themselves suddenly trekking over the metal that surrounded a well of dark eco. All looked down into the shimmering, bubbling substance, sensing the danger it posed.

“What is that dark ooze?” Moonlight asked as she looked apprehensively down in the well. “It sure doesn’t look friendly.”

Thomas gave the woman a deadpan scowl, hoping she hadn’t just jinxed herself. Even after Luna’s assurances, the thought of any of the women getting hurt, especially Moonlight, made his stomach turn.

“Dark eco,” he explained, not wanting the others to worry. “Of all the different types of eco out there, this is the stuff that’s basically liquid death.”

“Like concentrated dark magic?” Luna asked quietly. At Thomas’ nod, she too leaned over to look in the well, scowling at the bubbling tar as if it had kicked her puppy.

“What’s this thing?” Surprise asked, lifting up the orange, vaguely cylindrical canister Daxter was meant to trip over.

“Careful with that!” Thomas warned. “It’s basically a bomb. You throw it and it explodes!”

As carefully as she could, Surprise set the canister back down in the place where she found it and backed away. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back for you later,” she whispered to the canister.

Thomas shook his head and picked up the canister, holding it between his hands until blue lights came to life all around it. “Careful everyone. This is the part where we get attacked.” At his words, the women immediately formed a defensive ring around him, their instincts driving them to protect the male. Thomas gaze lingered worriedly on Moonlight as he clutched the canister tightly to his chest. He didn’t know for certain if her words had marked her for what was to come. “You’re sure no one will get hurt, right?” he asked Luna.

“You have my word as a Princess,” she vowed, crossing her heart.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine,” Moonlight assured.

As if in response, a blue lurker covered in bone armor jumped down from the ceiling. It was followed by two more of the magenta colored gorilla variety.

“That’s different,” Thomas muttered.

“Back, fiends!” Luna ordered, her voice sending tremors through the metal floor.

The lurkers hesitated a moment, but the one in armor grunted something to its fellows, rekindling their courage. The three of them let out bestial roars and made to charge. The women held their ground, save Honey who tackled the armored leader, knocking his club away as she grappled. Surprise and Luna took on the smaller lurkers.

“Enemies on our six!” Moonlight called.

Thomas turned around to see Moonlight had just dodged the swinging claw of one of the common lurkers who’d attempted to sneak up behind them. “This is way different from the game,” he added apprehensively as he felt the adrenaline of the moment pump through him.

“Don’t worry, Thomas,” Silver encouraged. She struck a defensive posture as she stood between the human and the largest body of enemies. “Just stay back and we’ll take care of it.”

“Hot damn!” Honey growled with a grin as she landed another punch on her foe. “These buggers is tough.” She panted heavily. “Ah haven’t had a good fight like this in moons!”

“Same,” Surprise agreed as, despite her generous, jiggling figure, she still managed to weave around her opponent’s strikes, wearing him down and striking at his unguarded joints.

“I think I’d like to start training in dreams,” Moonlight offered as she delivered a roundhouse kick to her enemy.

“I would advise against that,” Luna cautioned as she delivered her best uppercut into her lurker, causing its jaw to make a crackling sound. “Dream action is strictly for entertainment. It provides none of the exercise, muscle memory, or other benefits of actual training.”

“Poop,” Moonlight replied flatly as she shuffled between her new feet, needing to be ready to move on a moment’s notice. “Either way, we’re playing this more often.”

While momentarily distracted by the casual exchange going on, Thomas blinked as he remembered the canister in his hands. Peering into its glowing runes, he saw his own reflection staring back at him, as if asking what he wanted to do. Was he just going to sit back and let everyone else fight for him, like always? Was he going to ignore his social conditioning and biological compulsion as a male to defend the women he cared for? Was he going to do nothing and let everyone else have all the fun? “Oh fuck me!”

“Oof!” Silver grunted as Thomas carelessly bumped her aside, charging towards where the others were fighting. “Thomas! What are you doing?”

“Sorry, but I’m the game, too,” he answered back and readied his best pitching arm. “Everybody duck!”

The women all did as instructed, acting in reflex to the authority in the man’s words. Thomas launched the canister into the armored lurker, fracturing the device’s shell. The resulting explosion incinerated the three lurkers in front, but the shockwave also forced everyone else to step back or fall over. Luna, who was standing closest to the explosion, was knocked clear off her feet and sent flying into the well. This left the final lurker to look around, assess the situation, and decide he had better places to be.

“Luna!” Thomas cried out as he crawled up to the well. His body was shaking from the aftershock and his hands felt uncomfortably tingly. He gazed anxiously into the globulous mass of glowing darkness, his emotions in turmoil as he realized what he had done.

“What happened?” Moonlight asked as she came up beside Thomas. “Where is she?”

The other mares followed suit, staring helplessly into the darkness, not knowing what they were looking for.

Thankfully, before Thomas could fall into his spiral of depression, a small burst in the eco, like the popping of a bubble, spat out a small creature. The creature was sent flying over the players’ heads as she screamed in a familiar voice. She rolled to a stop a short distance before snapping up. “Faust, that stung!” Luna hissed as she stood.

The players blinked at what they saw. The creature speaking in Luna’s voice was some manner of weasel and only came up to Thomas’ knee at full height. She had thick, indigo fur, but was completely naked. The weasel’s body was lean in figure, but only possessed the most miniscule remnants of the mare’s formerly generous assets. At least she still wore her tiara, even if it was sized down. The little indigo weasel turned around, fixing her teal eyes on the others.

“It didn’t really hurt,” she assured at seeing the expressions of worry. She was so focused on their concerns as she walked up to them that she hadn’t yet noticed the hobbling of her now shortened legs. “It was more like my mind receiving a signal that pain was meant to be there and my imagination filling in the blanks.” Her tone was casual and matter-of-fact, hoping to assuage any and all worries. “There’s no reason to fret or-when did you all get so tall?” she added, realizing how far she had to crane her neck back.

“L-Luna?” Silver asked, bottom lip quivering and eyes wide as saucers. “Is that… you?”

Blinking, Luna snapped her head down low to take a look at herself. Her clothes and generous chest were gone, her flanks might as well have been flat, and, after feeling around, she found her marehood, or rather womanhood, was missing. All in all, her reaction was rather subdued.

“AHHHHHHHH!”

**********

Luna was pouting, nonplussed by the loss of her figure and stature.

Silver hummed happily as she held the tiny Luna tightly to her chest on the ride back to the village. She just could not help but beam as she nuzzled and cuddled the former alicorn with all her might. Her hands roamed freely, caressing every inch of the little creature’s new body. Her hope was to find some of Luna’s sensitive spots, with which she would be able to massage and coerce the melody of moans from her alicorn’s lips. Alas, the alteration had also stripped the once mighty mare of many of her erogenous zones. However, Silver was not one to be deterred from caressing her pint-sized Princess.

Once, seeing how displeased Luna looked by this turn of events, Surprise attempted to reach out and extract the little creature from her captor. When said captor nearly bit the other woman’s fingers off, Surprise decided she wouldn’t try again.

Honey, meanwhile, was doing her very best not to burst out laughing. “Ah, Ah’m sorry,” she said between breaths at Luna’s glower. “It’s jus’… you look so adorable! Bahahaha!”

“She is adorable,” Silver agreed, never ceasing in her assault of cheek rubs of her tiny lover. “She’s so warm and snuggly. I almost want to keep her like this forever.”

“You do, you die,” Luna growled. “I still can’t believe this happened to me.”

Thomas shook his head, smiling incredulously as he watched the former mare made helpless. He was glad that Luna did not seem too terribly upset by this turn of events. She was more upset with her own carelessness rather than him. “You and me both.”

“I thought you knew about this game,” Moonlight said. Without Luna to take up space, she was free to sit beside Thomas, rather than on him as she comforted him, warry that he might fall into self-blame for his actions. “Didn’t you plan for something like this?”

Luna averted her tiny eyes. “I… did not actually watch these particular memories.” She noted the way the others were now glowering in disappointment. “I wanted to enjoy the surprise with the rest of you,” she insisted.

“I mean, I guess you said that earlier, but,” Surprise offered uncertainly. She extended her hand to gesture at Luna’s new form, careful not to get too close. “Look at you. You’re, like, the team mascot.”

“The Naughty Ottsels,” Thomas suggested, his words clicking in the minds of the others as what Luna’s new species was called. “We should get shirts.”

“Mark my words. There will be a reckoning the likes of which this world has never known,” Luna said, trying her best to sound menacing. Her efforts were neutralized by the way Silver was continuing to coo over her, so she groaned instead. “Please tell me there’s a way to fix this.”

“I’m guessing just changing yourself back is out of the question?” Thomas asked.

Luna huffed indignantly. “What do you take me for? Just because I am unhappy with the outcome does not mean I’m willing to cheat!”

“My honorable little ottsel,” Silver sung happily.

Thomas just sighed tiredly. “The only way forward is to play the game.”

The party arrived at the dock soon after, following Thomas as he navigated through the small village and up to the biggest hut. Silver, distracted by her favoritest possession in the whole world, thoughtlessly stepped in. The top floor of the hut was lined with a variety of potted plants, including one with razor sharp teeth, machines made of wood, and several bookshelves.

A floating, grizzled old man with green skin and a log on his head spun around and met the group with an angry scowl and lopsided spectacles. His white beard covered most of his body and he stood on little logs for stilts, with an even larger log adoring his head like some bizarre crown. “What in green tarnation do you six want?” he barked out, sounding like he hadn’t had his morning coffee.

“Well-” Thomas began, only to be cut off.

“Wait. Don’t tell me,” barked the man the group recognized as Samos. “Instead of heeding my wisdom, the six of you went mucking about in the only place I told you not to go.” He gestured with his staff out the window. “Misty Island.”

“Master Samos. Please,” Luna implored, finally wrenching herself free from Silver’s grasp. She approached the old sage, swallowing her ire to be as diplomatic as possible. In her centuries of experience, shouting angrily at one’s mentor rarely yielded ideal results. “I know we disobeyed, but-”

“And Luna,” Samos cut her off, much to her chagrin. “You finally took a much needed bath, but in a bathtub filled with dark eco,” he said dramatically, paying no mind to the way Luna’s eye twitched. “Now you look like something the fisherman uses for bait.”

“Look old man!” Luna snapped, feeling the game compel her words. Either that, or she simply wasn’t in the mood for such disrespect after suffering such an indignity, especially the accusation of poor hygiene. “Are you going to keep yapping, or are you going to change me back?”

“I’m going to keep yappin’,” Samos replied snarkly. “Because, while I must admit this change is far from an improvement,” he said, trying to sound sympathetic, “I couldn’t change you back if I wanted to.”

“Whaaaat!” Luna cried.

Silver pumped her fist in triumph, only to flinch back when Luna shot a death glare her way.

“There are only two people who have studied dark eco long enough to return you to your previous form. The sages Gol Acheron and his sister Maia.”

“Wait-wait-wait!” Surprise waved her hand out. “Dark sages?”

Samos nodded. “Excellent, Surprise,” he congratulated facetiously. “A sage of dark eco is called a dark sage. Here. Have a cookie.” He plucked the pastry from his white beard and tossed it to the former pegasus, who caught it like a dog.

“Almonds! Yum,” Surprise beamed as she quickly downed the treat.

“But they live far to the north,” Samos continued. “Far, far to the north. No one has spoken to either of them in ages. I would teleport you there, but I can’t do that either.” He motioned to the ring containing a rippling blue energy. “None of the three sages that maintain the other teleporter gates have seen fit to turn their ends on in quite a while. The only other way north is through the fire canyon, but it’s volcanic soil is hot enough to melt Precursor metal.”

“Shoot,” Moonlight swore as she looked to the party’s former flyers. “If only we could fly.”

“But you can,” chirped a new, somewhat scratchy voice. It belonged to a woman with green hair and green eyes. She wore orange bracelets, a white top with purple overalls, and blue goggles hanging from her neck. “If you had a zoomer equipped with a heat shield. I just happen to be working on such a thing at this very moment,” she bragged as she idly inspected her finger nails before resting her hand on her hip in a show of raw confidence.

“Kiera?” Honey asked, being the first to pull the new girl’s name from the dreamscape.

“You know it.” Kiera shaped her hand into a gun and pointed at Honey before walking into the hut. It was already growing crowded in the small space, but the others stepped aside to make room. “All I would need is twenty power cells to give it enough energy to withstand the canyon’s heat. Isn’t that right, daddy?”

“Yes, Kiera, that might work,” Samos agreed hesitantly. “But where are a boy, four amazons, and a weasel without nipples going to get twenty power cells?”

Luna reached out her hands to the old man and made a strangling motion. “They’ll never find your body,” she whispered too softly for all but the former flyers to hear.

“We can just go out exploring,” Thomas cut in, wanting to wrap this up. He decided to test what Luna had said about their ability to control this reality. “There’s plenty of stuff just lying around out there, and you’re always going on about how irresponsible it is to leave such precious artifacts out in the wild, right Samos?”

Samos nodded. “True.”

“Well, you’ve been training us for years to go out and explore the wilds, so let’s just do that and gather what we need. Plus I’m sure we can convince the villagers to make a little contribution,” he added while rubbing the ends of his fingers together.

“He’s got a point, daddy,” Kiera agreed as she mosied up to Thomas. She was shorter than him, so had to crane her neck back a bit to look up adoringly into his eyes. “The wilds are just full of treasures waiting for some brave adventurers to find.”

Moonlight looked like she was ready to say something, only for Kiera to shoot the taller woman a wink and a smile, putting her at ease. Even if it was just a game, Moonlight felt her instincts assuaged by the fact that this new female was interested in the entire herd and not out to steal her stallion.

Afterwards, Samos sent the party through the gate to Geyser Rock for the final steps in their training, to prove that they were ready to begin their quest.

I’ve just had Jak and Daxter on the brain a lot, so I decided to play around the with the possibilities of the dreamscape to allow for a little VR experience. Originally I was going to have the titular characters along for the ride, but decided the story would be stronger if I stayed focused on our mane characters. But for me, the real fun has been in fleshing out this world and playing with the premise of players making changes as they go, which will become more prominent as the story progresses.

And with that said, the opening cut scene comes to an end and our characters can finally start playing the game.