When I say video games are awesome I dont mean ones that can literally take your life. Starting at the beginning. It's been about... oh two weeks since I got the vacation on the mountain with the Princesses. Celestia and Luna took the girls to the beach for the weekend for a nice getaway. They left me, Big Mac and Spike at home. Yes Spike is with us because Twilight left as well as Pinkie, Rarity, AJ, Scoot and AB, Sweetie Belle as well. Fluttershy and Dash were out in Cloudsdale because they got clearance from Mama Spitfire to fly with the wonderbolts for the weekend. Even secretly paid Mama Spitfire to give both of them a jumpsuit. But back to the story. Big Mac and I were walking through the castle with Spike. There was a storm going on outside. Could hear the wind and the distant thunder. I was wearing a black tee shirt under a jacket. Jacket wasnt anything special but the shirt underneath had a broken down equestrian flag on the back. Symbol of the sun and moon colliding. Even wore my guard soldier pants as well as the combat boots. Big Mac wore his jeans, boots and a white tee shirt and had his jacket hung over his arm while Spike was in sweat pants, a long sleeve and slippers. He sighed looking back at us. "Thanks for coming guys. Castle's real lonely when the storms hit hard." He said.

I huffed. "You're good dude. Was getting bored beating Big Mac at chess anyways when the power went out at the house." I replied giving my friend a snarky smile.

Big Mac nudged me a bit. "Well I'm callin' it even since I kicked your tail so much in Alley Brawlers! Why did you think that Beaten thing would work when you didnt have it equipped to Orange Hurricane?" He asked.

"How am I supposed to know?! It's a new game! Cant expect me to know anything about a new game I HAVENT PLAYED BEFORE!"

Spike laughed as I just kinda pouted turning a corner into the dining area. Though... A clap of thunder shot me into Big Mac's arms. Same with Spike. Big Mac surprisingly held us both up well. He huffed forcing us off and onto our feet. "I-Is everyone okay? Totally not scared are we?" Spike asked.

I shook my head trying to keep my wings from just puffing out... and to keep from pissing myself. Big Mac sighed. "I'm good. Dunno about this guy..." He said subtly pointing to me. "Probably should get him a drink to calm him down. Twi got any soda here?" I walked over to the table and just plopped myself down hugging myself. Spike just ran over to the fridge and just started rummaging through the fridge. Never liked thunder. AT ALL. Pegasus? Yes. Peagasai control the weather? Yes. Dash can be an idiot? Yes. This was kinda her fault. Set some storm clouds in place that didnt need to be here but it was also Cloudsdales fault for giving her instructions for Manehattan. Dunno how she mixed it up but she did. Thankfully not in trouble on Cloudsdales part. Big Mac came over and sat with me resting a hand on my shoulder. "It's good dude... Thunder aint gonna getcha in here.... You'll be good..."

I shivered a bit hearing a roll of thunder. "...No windows, no warning... I j-just hope Twilight put some soundproofing spells in some of these rooms... or hope that some guards know some spells for that..." I said.

"No worries. That happens again feel free to grab onto me. Just try to control your bladder when you do. Not sure if anyones gonna go back out there to get clothes for us so we can still have our change for tomorrow. You'll be good if ya just use the toilet after you calm down here. Got me?" I nodded a bit. "Good. Just start by takin' deep breaths Ryder. Aint no use entertainin' ourselves here when one of us aint even entertained. You even grab our console from the house before ya left?"

"Console, clothes, wires and a few games as well as the controllers. Last I checked we had three multiplayer games, ones Alley Brawler, other two are shooters. Glad the more important games are digital and not hard copy.... I need my Nukes Galore." Big Mac gave a laugh.

"Damn near addicted to that game more than your characters are addicted to drugs and just totally being wasted on all that Whiskey you pick up!"

"It's not my fault I have a perk that gives me a bonus every time I drink booze!"

"Kinda is if you wanted the perk. So tell me I'm wrong when you drink twenty bottles to get that 'Wasted Wasteland' perk!" I was gonna slug him in the shoulder before another clap of thunder scared me making my wings puff out. He just kept me in my seat and just scratched behind my ears... it... works apparently. Helped me set my wings back in place, calmed me a bit even as he shushed me. I swear that dog I took control of became a part of me at times. Not only am I getting calmed by ear scratches I'm kinda vulnerable to high pitched noises.... Strange. Spike came back from the fridge with a few bottles of tea in hand.

The dragon huffed as he handed them out. "Hope Twilight doesnt mind I gave you guys these. Outta soda's and she hides all the good stuff while the magic cooler is being repaired...." He said. I took the bottle and opened it. Drank it slowly as Big Mac rubbed my back. Tasted like.... cherries and mango. Not much for mangoes but this was a good tea. The bottle read 'Mending Melody', a brand I knew very well. Love their lemon teas as well. "Also uh... nobody tell Twilight but I may have heated up her salad a bit when that thunder hit..."

Big Mac and I both nodded. Ended up hitting the bathroom after that to assure myself no accidents happen. Made sure of everything. Another clap of thunder might've loosened something buuut... yeah. After maybe... oh an hour of listening to howling winds and what not we had the guards soundproof a portion of the castle. Lasts for a day or so just to A: Help mask the safe room from invading forces and B: Give the princess some well needed rest and saves ears of anyone visiting while Cadence and Shining are in town... yeah... that kinda ear saving. But it put me at ease. We ended up going to Twilight's media room for gaming. She had a few consoles for the guards to play on their breaks or some. It's a bit of a weird break room but it works for those ones who need to blow off steam. Though the games have to be brought by who ever wants to play... Prevents games from being stolen if the Princess bought them. Canterlot guards know what happens if they take a game from Luna's stash... So many tears, so many hurt game scores. Even worse live stream humiliation. She did that to me as a joke and I didnt realize it until we had Sparkpliers come on and surprise me. Jackass move but worth it. Okay so we didnt start gaming right away. I was just sitting down on the middle chair just watching some weird alien movie. Loved these ones. Think they made a game. Just wasnt so good. I huffed changing the channel. "Dont know if Twilight would be happy if you woke up with nightmares about these things crawling over the castle." I said as Spike was helping set up the console into a hidden panel just in front of the large movie screen. Spike looked back at me as Big Mac plugged in the power cord.

"I've seen scarier stuff before Ryder!"

"Those cartoon zombie games on your phone arent scary! Try being trapped in a sewer with changelings trying to suck the love out of you and be threatened to be used as a living egg sack."

Big Mac huffed tossing me my controller. Had to buy a few more for multiplayer for stuff like this. "He dont mean nothin' by that Spike." He said. "Could watch some movies later if'n you promise not to come crawling into our beds after you piss yours... Well... if you do. Hopefully you dont."

Spike sighed. "What ever. Lets just play something. One V One on the rooftops in Warfighter?" He asked. "Maybe a free for all for three?"

"Yeah Spike but maybe later. Ry and I had a challenge before we left the house. See who's better with The Brick."

Spike groaned a bit as I grabbed my controller. "But not before I get my achievement for Nukes Galore." I said. I looked to Big Mac as he took up his controller. "Need I remind you to replace the batteries in your controller so we can do these things?" I watched as he checked his controller. No batteries. He grabbed Spikes controller from the seat next to him. Nothing. He looked to me.

"Y'all planned this didntcha?"

"Maybe I did. Maybe I didnt. Up to you. But someone's gonna have to grab some batteries." I didnt plan it. Swear to Celestia.

"Fine. Well I'll go with Spike to get some batteries. You just get on that game when I come back and I'm kicking your ass so hard you'll beg to be fighting that damn final boss in Alley Brawlers seven!" He tossed his controller down in his seat as he got up and just gave me a dirty look as he and Spike walked out of the room. I gave a small chuckle as I was now alone. I held down a button on my controller and turned the console on. Flicked a few buttons and thumbsticks and then I was playing Nukes Galore. This one was an earlier game in the series. No cars to drive, no major weapons of ass destruction (Dont ask) and weapon degredation over time. That's the worst thing though. I've not been used to that after a while of playing a game without that? Weapons. Break. All the time. Its worse when you're in the middle of combat with the scariest enemy in the game. I'm talking big ol claws made of knives, big ass gator mutant that can knock you away with its tail. But luckily I was nowhere near one. Where I was was a building for my achievement.

It was an old factory building, littered with traps, enemies and what not. Worst was the giant ants in the basement and that's where I need to be for my achievement. Killing the boss- a giant ant queen spider mutant- with a pistol. Yeah... and the best place to shoot it is the weak spot on its head that has a flower that nearly never opens up long enough for a few shots. Pistols include revolvers, clip fed pistols, one handed automatic weapons and such. Can only be done with a pistol and heres the weird part. There's a bug in the game that allows compainions to get said achievement but with the aim they have and the sense of weapon durability is not good as well as ammo count when you give them all the ammo in the world? Yeah cant keep count on ammo, cant keep count how many enemies there are around them and get knocked out most of the time. As I started moving through the building a few steps a stallion came through the doors and stopped me to talk to me. "Good... Havent gone too far yet.... Glad I caught you otherwise you'd've been dead!" He said. A dialogue box popped up giving me a few choices. Perception check, strength, and a few other options. Some of which lower Karma. I knew which one I was the one I needed to choose.

I chose the strength one. Lucky me this game had voice acting. "Thanks for looking out for me but I can take care of myself." I said.

"That maybe true but you dont know what lies beneath this building! You're taking that job from Fire Starter right?"

"Yeah... why? He's not a liar is he? I need those gears!"

"He's true to his word but many have died entering here! There's some weird bug underground and this thing is HUGE! Ant, spider, I dont know what this is but you best be bringing some fire power if you think you can take it on and come out alive!"

"I've got a few frags and a knife. That thing killed my family!"

"Alright... I'm just gonna pretend you were kidding about that. What do you really have?" My favorite movie reference. It was about an alien race that hunted ponies and killed that characters family so he sought to kill it. Ran out of ammo with every gun he had and decided to cut it open, shove a frag in it and kill it from inside. Spoiler alert he won and got a gift from that alien race... actually something Braeburn has a replica of.

"I seriously have just a knife and frags. That's it." The stallion huffed.

"I'll give you a rifle and all the ammo I have for a hundred gears. Things broken but its well gonna be worth the money if you can fix it." The lights flickered as I clicked the next option.

"Look just let me do this. I come out alive and I get that gun for free, ammo, and some gears. You're not gonna really need that gun once it breaks are you?" There was a little hesitancy in this characters voice. Just as that happened the lights flickered again as I heard a slot machine sound off a bit.

"Alright. Fine. You can take the gun and ammo but the gears will depend on if you bring me proof its dead. Understand?"

"Got it. Kill it dead, bring the head."

"Doesnt have to be THAT extra but... if you do get into those jaws of its head casing that's gonna get you some gears every now and then. Got a shop up near New Las Pegasus. Visit me every week for a share."

"Deal." The lights flickered worse this time and a bolt of electricity came out of the switches in the floor and it hit me. Hurt so bad it knocked me out. Dunno how long i was out but when I came to all I heard was sand and dirt hitting the floor, the smell of dust on a could gritty ground... felt like... tile... Twilight doesnt have tiles in the castle other than her kitchen. My wrist felt a bit elevated and heavy when I tried moving it. I groaned a bit and shifted a bit. Rolled over and bumped into something hard. I opened my eyes. It was somewhat dark and I saw I was in front of a desk. I sat up and used my not heavy arm to reach up and pull myself up. As I stood up from my woozy snoozy I had a look around and... it was dark... But off.... I turned around and if I could shit myself it would've been done ten times over. I saw the character I created behind me, still right by that pony I was talking to... and behind them... The very room I was in, my controller lying on my seat.

I started to breathe heavily, the dusty- and what I realized ash filled- air nearly choking me up. "...No... no no no this isnt happening... this is NOT fucking happening... I play this game too much... I passed out after being shocked...." I said to myself. "I'll... I'll wake up in the infirmary.... I'm just gonna be back in the infirmary, gonna get back to playing games with Big Mac and Spike..." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I kept them closed for a moment before opening them back up and still finding myself in the same place. "...L-Luna... if this is some joke GET ME OUT NOW!" I waited for an answer. Nothing. Not a word. No snicker, giggle or a single magical discharge. Realizing where I was I scrambled around to find a weapon. I even checked- and yes it took me this long to realize this- the weird magical device known as a Colt Companion. Basically a wrist mounted computer, that plays tapes, games when you find them, even allows you to summon weapons you've picked up, changed clothes and what not. There were switches, dials and buttons for just about anything. Switching to see my health (My health was about sixty percent), checked my inventory (Nothing but the clothes on my back, surprisingly my own) and what ever else was there including a map and an inventory of useless Items I had including my phone and what not. I couldnt even get into my pockets at all. Like my clothes didnt have pockets.

I maybe looked around for a few minutes trying to find a weapon at least. I'd even be good with a switch blade or something. Couldnt go very far strangely. Had to stick close to the other two ponies. As I turned around I saw Big Mac and Spike coming back into the room. "Ryder? Dammit... Dumbass must've had to go to the bathroom...." Big Mac said.

Spike sighed. "Even left his stupid game on... How pissed is he gonna get if we just shut it off?" He asked. I ran over to my character knowing one of the only ways to get him out of the dialogue stuff is to hurt him. I just ran up and punched him a bit getting in front as the other guy ran off scared.

I grabbed my character by the shoulders and looked him right in the face. "BIG MAC AND SPIKE DONT YOU DARE SHUT THIS FUCKING GAME OFF WHILE I'M IN HERE!!" I yelled. Both of them kinda jumped a bit. "ONE OF YOU PLAY THIS GOD DAMN GAME SO THE SYSTEM DOESNT SHUT DOWN! BIG MAC PREFERABLY!" Spike gave a confused look.

"Wait wh-hat the heck?! WHY NOT ME?!"

"BIG MAC KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS DAMN GAME THAN YOU DO! AND I NEED THIS ACHIEVEMENT! YOU GET TWILIGHT TO GET BACK HERE AND GET ME THE HELL OUT OF THIS GAME!"

Spike hesitantly nodded and Big Mac grabbed my controller. "Alright what do I do Ryder?" He asked.

"Press the Y button on the controller to bring up your inventory! If its not hit the bumpers to switch tabs and you're gonna drop me a gun and ammo! Shot gun, shells and a fifty cal pistol! Should be called The Cavalry!" I started walking towards my character and froze just as he put his arm up looking at the screen. Lucky me I could still breathe. This was about as uncomfortable as being stuck in Twilight's magic. Last time that happened I was arguing with Spike over who's drink it was while we were playing video games. She made me apologize after dumping my drink down the drain. It was nearly full still! I was sooooo pissed about that. But it took a few moments to have him drop the weapons for me. Pistol first, ammo box, then the combat shotgun, box of shells. They floated in the air for a moment before he dropped his wrist and the items dropped to the ground. I ran up and grabbed the shotgun, the box of shells and then the pistol and the ammo for that as well. I brought my wrist up and tapped at the inventory screen a few times equipping them to... I'm not sure how these are gonna work but i put them in my favorites slots. I equipped my shotgun first and reloaded it just by taking the clip out for a moment and putting it back in and cocking it.

"Aint it weird you love this game so much and now you're inside it?"

"Shut up. I dont know if you know this but this area is one I hate the most.... Especially lately.... Spider ant Hybrids and I'm trying to get an achievement to kill the queen with a pistol and you should still have a few. Magnums, other revolvers, even some 9mm guns. Rifles from what I read can be used to whittle it down but the last hit must come from a pistol and I gotta blow its head clean off for a quick kill and its harder than it is. And this time I've got it down."

"I dont know... I never got too far into this game as it is Ry.... I aint sure what's gonna happen if I die or dont protect you...."

"I can protect myself. Just follow my lead." Honestly I was scared... I didnt know what would happen if the power went out.... wouldnt know what would happen if i got hurt in here. Would I even get out? These questions rang out in my head. I gave Big Mac a bit of time to get accustomed to my controls. Had him jump around a bit, fire off a few rounds into a statue, practice with melee weapons, and even gave him a quick set up of soda bottles I found and just started throwing. Hit em all once or twice. To be honest he wasnt that bad of a shot considering a ricocheting bullet nearly hit me. While he was jumping around I found a nail bat and when I picked it up it disappeared on me... Into my inventory. It was strange having a material object just disappear in my hands. After he was done I looked to my character. Weirdly I could see the screen with my friend on it behind him and yet he could only see me through my own characters eyes. "Mac. You're gonna follow my lead okay? We can explore but keep an eye on the right side of your screen. See that bar there? That's your warning meter. What's it reading right now?" He hummed a bit.

"Uh... Looks like its.... Half? Am I supposed to be reading the red part or the green part?"

"...That's your health. Hit the left thumbstick and you should drink something. Your warning meter should be blue or yellow. If its red just watch out. Middle right not bottom right... Actually that was your left... You're not drunk are you?"

"Nah. Just... Turned around in this damn castle. Just.... Lead on." I watched as my character grabbed a green bottle from his pocket and pop the top on it before knocking it back before letting out a hearty belch and breaking the bottle on the ground. It stayed in a pile on the floor for a moment before fading out. I drew my gun and had it at the ready because I was legitimately freaking out. This wasnt ANYTHING like what I've been through. Sure I've been shot at and fought my way through changelings as well as survived a terrorist attack and a collapsing building with a filly.... I need to visit Babs again. Make sure she's alright. Or... Not freakin out still. Last I saw she did have an accident in bed when she was sleeping over. Padded her up and stayed with her in the living room. That was when Big Mac was out of the house for something. Forget what.

We explored the building a bit. Shot a few Rotters, made sure a few never got up with my nail bat and my god they smell HORRIBLE! Burning rubber is a better smell than this. I couldnt even describe how bad this smelt. Luckily I wasnt programmed to vomit. Spike came back in and huffed sitting down. "Ryder I do hope you can be in there for a while because I got some news...." He said.

I bashed a few more of those stupid Rotters in the head and made damn sure they werent getting up. "Spike you better say they're on their way soon! I really dont wanna go to one of those DLC areas with someone who doesnt know what the hell they're doing!" I said. "No offense Mac but I'd trust my life with the worst companion in this game than you but you're the only one that can fight well with these fucking shamblers!" I turned around and batted anothers head right off.

Big Mac huffed firing a few shots from a rifle hitting a few around me. "None taken. But just why are you saying this?" He asked.

"SPIDER ANT HYBRIDS AND I DONT WANNA BE STUCK WITH THEM!" I drew my pistol from its nonexistant holster and just domed a few.

"Well why didnt you say so? Lets get out of here!"

"But we have to now! We go without bringing that guy the head of this thing, that guy will send mercenaries to kill us and those guys arent easy! Full heavy armor, large heavy guns and they fucking hurt! Groups of two to three. Theres no telling what's gonna happen!" The last of the horde came and I blasted the last of them with the combat shotgun and reloaded it before putting it on my back and starting to loot the gross smelling corpses. "You guys are SO lucky you cant smell this!"

"Yeah hopefully you dont come out smelling like this shit. Now uh... Should we let Spike talk?"

I gave a nod and just watched the screen. Spike looked a bit nervous which didnt make me feel good. "Well uh... You will be getting out Ryder.... Just.... way later because of this storm...." He said. I just sat there and stared at him in disbelief. "Uh... Ryder? You uh... You okay?" My character moved around a bit.

"Okay... Game didnt crash... maybe I should just...." Big Mac moved my character out of the room and I just went ballistic. I tore apart the bodies with my hands, yelling, screaming. Found a grenade, pulled the pin on it and chucked it before charging out of the room before it exploded. Fucking hell I was pissed. I even charged into another room and smashed a corpse. Somehow found a minigun with seven hundred rounds of ammo and I just layed into the corpse I smashed. I admit it wasnt the best Idea but it helped me calm down. Next thing you know I see my character come in and pull his gun out. The screen showing my friends popped up behind him. "...You uh... You feeling better now Ry?" You dont know how bad I wanted to brain my own character ever either.

I huffed. "Spike... I'll give you a chance to help me fix this FAST... And i need Luna NOW." I snapped. "I'm not sure if she knows spells to get herself in and out of these games but its my ONLY option right now! I dont want to be stuck in here, die from raiders, radiation poisoning or even eat this shitty food! I dont wanna know what an irradiated Rasie sandwich tastes like! Especially on moldy bread!" Yeah.... The shit you're forced to eat in this godforsaken land. Well unless I can find an MRE. Those are rare. At least the music wasnt bad. Big Mac huffed.

"Aint sure if you're aware but... I dont think either of us are willing to wake up a princess for this but... If you're that desperate it might be a good idea..." He looked to Spike. "You wanna go and call Luna or Celestia get em out here?"

Spike sighed. "I would but I dont have either of their numbers." He said. "Couldnt have either of their numbers after I got my new phone. Thought my phone would lead to getting hacked because that happened one time before with someone elses phone YEARS ago... and that was just a test of the phones firewall! We're even out of those enchanted scrolls to send the princesses letters!" I huffed and opened up my CC menu and went to my miscellaneous tab and just tapped on my phone. I brought it out by tapping on it and looked it over. Still had use even though it was in the 'useless tab' as I call it.

I started looking through it and surprisingly it still had a signal. I started going through my contacts until I found Luna's contact information and just didnt hesitate to call her. It buzzed a few times as my character started rummaging around through containers and such. This was weird as hell but I'm not questioning anything anymore. The buzzing lasted a few moments before it clicked. "Ryder? Why must you call me at this hour... you should know I'm asleep..." I heard Luna say as clear as day almost. She did sound very tired.

I huffed. "Luna I hope you know how to use spells that get you in and out of video games because I'm currently stuck in one somehow...." I said. Luna hesitated a moment.

"Ryder I'm not sure if this is me being tired or what but... that doesnt make any sense..."

"I understand Princess but I am! Big Mac and Spike are trying to keep me alive and I'm seriously trapped! Twilight said she'd help but only until the storm is over here and I dont wanna wait that long! This fucking castle could power down and I'd be stuck in here, maybe worse!" She huffed.

"Alright... I'm gonna do a video call and see for myself... You better not be drunk or high General... I wont tolerate calls under the influence!" She hung up the call and I was starting to panic more. Was the game gonna be able to handle a video call? Just then my phone rang with a video camera on the phone. I clicked the green button I saw and it opened up into a video call nearly as clear as the graphics would allow. I smiled a bit as I saw Luna's face come in to frame. "There we go... Now Ryder I...." She stopped and looked a bit shocked as I started moving my phone around being careful of the corpses that were left around. "Graphics are... low quality but very advanced.... Dingy... terminals broken and.... is that your character you keep playing as...?" I gave a hesitant nod. "...Sweet.... well... Holy fuck that's just... HOW?!"

"Dunno. You tell me! I was playing games in Twilight's castle during a storm and BAM here I am, unarmed, endangered and scared shitless thinking this was your version of a dream room from the last thing I remember after being knocked out by being shocked somehow..."

"My word... And where is Twilight? Why cant she get you out?"

"She's with the girls having fun away from the storm. But are you able to help me? You surely have had to input yourself in some games to play for your self right?"

"I know of spells like that but.... That's strange... nothing I've experienced.... closest I get is Virtual Reality- by the by I may let you try it one day. But... what spells I know put me in comics and such.... I'm gonna get dressed and get out there as fast as I can. Maybe research some spells along the way. Just... Try not to injure yourself or do anything stupid!"

"Hard to do that when you're obligated to do a mission involving braining a spider ant hybrid with a pistol just to get an achievement and Gears... Speaking of how dangerous this place is... Might need some armor... I feel VERY vulnerable right now..." I looked to the screen and showed Luna who still looked on in disbelief at the sight of seeing my friends watching over me. "Uh Mac... You wanna see if you cant drop me some armor? I should have some metal armor I was gonna scrap but... it should be near full condition!"

Big Mac sighed. "Give me a minute to check what I got... That the strongest you got though?" He asked.

"Other than the armor my character has on, yes." I looked to Spike. "Spike. Get on the internet and look up unique gear in Nukes Galore and the name of this place is Hangmanes Hive. I'll take what ever gear I can get just hurry."

Spike huffed. "Alright I'll do this but... Just know I've got the power at my fingertips..." He said. Both Big Mac and I looked at him shocked.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" He looked to Big Mac.

"That means as long as you're playing and I dont get my way I can turn off the power!"

I looked to Luna. "Luna... Contact the guard and get Spike out of there...." I said. Spike looked to me.

"Luna! If you can hear me that's a big mistake! One guard comes in here with intention to remove me I cut the power and melt the console!"

"SPIKE YOU LITTLE SHIT YOU DO THAT I SWEAR TO FUCKING CELESTIA IF I FIND MY WAY INTO YOUR PHONE I WILL ENDLESSLY FACTORY RESET THAT AND EVERY PHONE YOU GET UNTIL YOU GO CRAZY AND GET RID OF ALL YOUR TECH!" I looked to Luna. "Just get out here. Do NOT tip any guards off... I know Spike and he knows neither of us will lay a hand on him... Just hurry please!" Luna nodded and hung up. I put my phone in my pocket and it disappeared. Yeah. Weird. I looked to Spike. "Spike alright.... You've got control but do NOT get me killed! You do you're gonna have to be the one to explain to Scootaloo where her big brother is and SPEND THE REST OF YOUR FUCKING LIFE IN TARTARUS!" I honestly wish I was trapped in tartarus. Probably better than a radioactive, toxic mutant filled wasteland that could kill you as soon as you looked at it! "Big Mac. Do what he says for now but you're still gonna drop me that armor!" Everything stopped as my character brought up his wrist.

"You're wise to listen Ryder... I always wanna play but when you and Big Mac are together I CANT because I'm TOO YOUNG, TOO INEXPERIENCED AND CAST ASIDE LIKE SOME STUPID SIDE KICK!" I huffed.

"Spike I said we'd let you play AFTER I got my achievement! You just wait till I get out of here!" Everything resumed as armor hit the floor with a clang. I ran over and grabbed it and quickly equipped it. It was old, discolored guard armor. Weird enough the armor was always fitting your character whether you were a pegasus, earth pony or unicorn. Same armor, just fit differently. Silverish guard armor with road signs working as leg pieces and shoulder guards. It was a bit heavy but I could still move around in it. Even had combat boots and faded Lunar republic pants. "Alright... This is awesome... Probably gonna give me back problems towards the end of this but as long as I dont die..."

Big Mac huffed. "You're gonna be fine Ry. I'll give that big ol bug a good squashin' for ya and make sure we get that achievement and keep from pissing that guy off." He said. "If you need to we'll just hang around here for..."

Spike laughed. "Hope you guys like ants." He said. "Spider ants especially!" I shivered as I heard the movement of those spider ants... "Mac.... Why dont you equip a melee weapon and go find them?"

I gave a hefty sigh. "Good thing the runts are easy...." I said getting my melee weapon out. "Spike can we PLEASE agree that we need to get my achievement with the specified requirements. I dont get that achievement Twilight isnt letting you play ANY games at ALL and any game you get is MINE and I'll spoil every game you could ever want to play!"

"Fine. You get to get your achievement. But I better get time to play what I wanna play!" I went to the door of the room and got my nail bat ready. The stench of Rotters was still in the air. The sad part of this universe? All pegasus were grounded when the bombs hit. Something in the bombs was a chemical that ruined the wings of ponies who werent locked up in the underground bunkers. Even then they lost the genes that gave them their flight wings over the years. But do you know how scary a Rotwing is when it's flying around? Only found in the bunker southwest of Fillydelphia in the newest game. Then again graphics in that game were better. Not to mention bigger map so a car was definitely needed to traverse it. I just hope I can fly outside the game after this though... But why I wish that I could fly right now? Those damn spider ants. Armored ants with eight legs, glowing green eyes and two of the eight legs were up like how a spiders is at times. "...Mac... I... I think I'm gonna need my mommy after this...." Cant even piss myself. Thank god. I forced myself to get out into the hall and just start smashing those bugs. The crunch of their shells when the nails went through just.... oh my god I wanted to cry. I dont know why i didnt use my shotgun when it was Big Mac who was told to use melee weapons but I was basically shitting myself. It was maybe two or three of em. Hit em so hard, they exploded and couldnt tell how many there were.

After we were done I had to sit down and just hug myself. Big Mac huffed. "It's good Ry... They're dead... You were brave...." He said. I was but I couldnt hold myself together. My arachnophobia just went wild. "Ry I aint changing your bedding when you get back. Just calm down, take some breaths, I'll drop you something to drink that aint gonna kill ya!"

I shuttered whimpering. "...P-Pure canned water... and... Relaxall... Maybe one of those refresher drinks to get my health back up..." I said. "...No radiation... very l-low addiction ch-ch-chance... Fucking.... I just... those things creeped me out when I held the controller but... now that I see them upclose... i swear if we ever get a VR thing Big Mac we are NOT getting this fucking game on it! Not even the company's medieval game! Giant fire spiders in that one and... holy shit they run up fast...." At least these have a set speed that doesnt go very fast because of the legs.... Their creepy armored speedslashing legs... Yes they use their front legs to SLASH at you! Everything paused around me as I sat there staring at the broken bug corpses at my feet. Their insect blood mixing in with Rotter gore... I wanted to be sick but I couldnt pass out, I couldnt get sick. Apparently programming for those wasnt needed until the new games because the company thought scarfing down three things of tofu, seven 'fresh' apples and fourteen bags of sugarcoated raisins to heal yourself if you didnt have any firstaid shots was a bad way to play the game. So now if you try that you'll get full and if you get full there's a chance depending on what you eat that will make you throw up. Its always the raisins that get me.

It only lasted me a few moments of staring at everything before everything resumed and three things dropped from the air next to me. Can of pure water, refresher Soda and a bottle (well enough for a single dose) of Relaxall. I grabbed it all before taking the pill first, felt it slide right down my throat without even putting it in my mouth, drank the water and then the soda. Gave a belch that made me feel a whole lot better after I was done with it and even smashed the bottle on the ground. That Relaxall kicked in. Supposed to calm someone, steady their aim and gives them more action points to do things. I felt scared still but the more I sat there the calmer I felt. Breathing started slowing, heart rate slowed and stopped shaking. Spike laughed. "And you're gonna have to go through this entire dungeon FILLED with these things!"

Big Mac huffed. "Dammit Spike if Ryder's life werent in danger and I werent flammable you'd be out the door, on the ground and bloodied and I'll be damned if Twilight still wants to arrest me for protecting my friend from some idiotic dragon helbent on getting his friend STUCK in a damn video game!" He said. "Alright... what's next?" Spike scrolled through his phone a bit as I got up and started exploring the room around my character, looting some ammo, a few health packs and even some other weapons like a machete, an old sword and a six shooter. I'm no cowpoke but I can handle the kicks of this revolver. I pulled my shotgun out and just looked it over, checked its condition and what not. I usually kept my weapons in good condition. This one was pretty good, not perfect. Still good enough to fire a good amount of times before breaking. I just equipped that and kept it ready.

"Alright... Just keep walking through the dungeon. You're gonna have a few major loot caches in here. One should be down the hall from here."

"Alright... Better not be a damned lie... Anyone wanna bet if its a trap?"

"Would I really do that to you?" Me and Big Mac both glared at him.

I huffed. "Spike. You lead us into a trap I swear once I get out-" I said but he grabbed the controller firing off a shot from what gun Big Mac had equipped. Rifle. Lucky it was single shot.

"Whatever! You're in there, I'm out here, Big Mac isnt gonna do SHIT with you at risk!" Yeah he's dead when I get out. No doubt. "No trap here! I swear. You need a key to get from in the room there. Key should be in a safe nearby. All you have to do is find it." I watched as Spike gave the controller back to Big Mac and Big Mac trying not to backhand the dragon.

"Alright... Guess we're looking for a safe Mac... By the by... if we get into any fire fights PLEASE try not to hit me."

The stallion huffed stowing his weapon on his back. "Hopefully you stay back in gunfights... You remember getting into any gunfights in here?" He asked.

"Other than getting attacked by those assassins I didnt realize would attack me? Not really... Only Rotters and those Ant Spiders. When Luna gets here I'm gonna see if she cant speak to the makers of this game and keep those things out of the newer games they make..."

"Ry that shit better be calming you. Need more or somethin?"

"If I need it I'll ask for it... Maybe give me a few with some more water and Refresher Soda.... Just in case I get a bit worse for wear. Drop a few just in case." And he dropped me three of each. Didnt think I'd need them but good to have em on hand. I picked em all up and got my gun ready again. "Alright... Lets move." My character started moving along with me as I turned around. Looking at everything in each room I passed was kinda depressing. To think if this ever happened in real life we'd have to scavenge for food, fresh water, keep radiation sickness at bay and just... Not have kids because of all the stupid fucking mutated creatures like these stupid spider ants... And those KillJaws.... Holy shit those things are fast... Slash at you, grab you and possibly take a chunk out of your arm. Died many times from those things and I hope we can just leave and fast travel back to a safe part if Luna isnt here... I had to shoot a few spider ants that didnt notice us while they were sitting in a side room with a stairway going down into the floor below us. Things exploded like a water balloon. Their blood pooled a bit on the floor as chunks of them went everywhere.

Spike hummed. "I think the cache is somewhere to your right. Safe could be around there too." He said.

"So if that cache is to the right... I think I'll go left for the key..." As I started to walk through the door I stopped seeing something out of the corner of my eye. It was booby trapped with a gun aimed who ever walked through the door. Never killed in one shot unless you were really low on health. I looked down and saw a trip wire just beyond my toes and even a few bear traps on the floor. Safe was actually embedded into the wall connected to a computer. I looked to Big Mac. "Mac. You wanna start getting these traps out of the way? Just walk close to em, aim at em and press the interact button. Should be your A button!" Big Mac made my character crouch down and he just started disabling the traps without even touching them. Snapped the tripwire, took the gun off the wall, made the bear traps snap shut. I dont wanna figure it out if it hurts, how bad it will hurt or if the game will glitch out and just let me get through unscathed. Once he got the traps disarmed I followed him through the door keeping my eye out for other traps. Even checked some terminals. "Alright. If I'm right this terminal is locked... Shouldnt be that hard but I dont want you going at it like I did when I first started. Let me just...." I checked my Colt Companion and my stats. High strength, somewhat high perception, same agility as perception, low intelligence... endurance was standard and my luck was... high surprisingly.

Big Mac hummed. "Cant I tell you to open em?" Big Mac asked. "Think I watched you use that command once... Cant tell if it was this game or the other ones..."

"Well if you think you can just start up dialogue with me. Interact button as usual."

Big Mac nodded and walked my character up to me. "Hey." He said. Generic fucking dialogue sometimes.

"What's up?"

"Do you think you can do something for me?"

"Sure. Point me in the direction of what you want me to do."

And Big Mac took control of my character again and he was looking around. "And what...? I just aim at what I want you to do and press A?" I nodded.

My character looked around at the terminal and then the safe. "Think you can pick that lock?" He asked.

I huffed as if not even in control of myself. "And I do that with what exactly?" I asked. It kinda freaked me out but with the drugs in my system keeping me grounded I didnt show it. "Yeah... that was the AI talking... somehow got a hold on me but I got control... I hope... But I'm right... What do I need to pick a lock? You've got it in your inventory. Paperclips. Give me at least five of them because I dont know how I'll do with them. If you dont wanna drop them see if you cant trade em to me but no taking my stuff. Gotta keep myself armed and I wanna keep my clothes before I come back... dunno how its gonna be when I am pulled out of this but I wanna be ready." Spike said nothing as my character looked to me again.

"Hey, think you'd be able to hold some stuff for me?"

"Sure. Just make it light." I dont know what's up with this AI but it's freaky... kinda funny too making me say these things even though I'm strong as fuck. I saw the UI for the trade dialogue pop up and a maker just starts scrolling through all the items on my character.

Big Mac sighed. "Paperclips... Paperclips paperclips.... clips for paper... Where....?" He asked. "Thing's in this damn inventory is too messy...carrying to much Shit Ry...."

Spike looked to the red stallion. "Use the bumpers to swap tabs!" He said. "Should be in the misc. tab." For a dragon that hasnt touched this game he is helping a lot... even though he's trying to screw me... I saw the marker lock onto Paperclips. Had a stack of forty seven. Always good to raid offices to find some... especially the supply rooms if they have some. Even when its NOT the apocalypse ponies are always raiding the supply closet. I see him click onto it, put ten into my inventory and exit dialogue.

"Alright... I think I got it? You wanna give it another go?"

I gave a nod as I looked to my character again. "Hey! You able to do something for me?" My character asked.

I smiled. "Yeah. Point me somewhere." I replied autonomously. He looked to the safe.

"Open that up. Might have good stuff inside."

"Sure thing." I had zero control of myself as I went over to the safe and started picking the lock. A few clips broke but that was only until I unlocked it with the third or forth clip. "Got it. Have at it and dont forget to share!" I shook my head as I stepped away. "I really hope this doesnt carry over when I get out... puppet master shit.... Let's just keep moving...." Big Mac moved my character to the safe and started looting it.

Big Mac gave a bit of a laugh. "Got it! Now where's that door?" He asked.

Spike looked to his phone. "Uh.... Across the hall to the... left?" He said questionably. "This map is confusing... I forgot where we were...."

"...You're serious...?" Spike nodded turning his phone to try and read what was on his screen. "...Well you're about as useful as a door bell on a stick hut.... C'mon Ry. Lets find this ourselves. You go left, I'll go right. Just shoot if you're in trouble or if you found it. You'll know what to do." Yeah... unlike SOMEONE here.... hopefully my leading is helping him learn... so far... I doubt it. We walked out of the room as I got my gun ready again. Made sure I reloaded. And that I had everything. Even that he didnt nick my ammo... I space out sometimes and they take shit from me and I dont notice until I come out of it.

I walked down a few doors and just stopped feeling something was wrong. I crouched down and looked to my Colt Companion. It shows a little compass when on a certain tab (or top of screen when playing as the character...) but the creators showed this off in a buildable version that actually works. Somewhat... Has a few features in its coded chip ready for installation (Braeburn showed me). Otherwise its just a toy for a costume. I mean.. Both could be used but that's not the point. I looked to my thing at the compass and looked at each marking. North, east, west, south. The door I was at was to the southwest. I saw other markers moving behind it. Couldnt tell how far away but I couldnt hear anything. Carefully I opened the door (Doors opening go at one speed yet dont alert anyone anyways even if they're staring at it. Love this game.) Inside I saw a hole and webs.... No eggs thankfully but it made my skin crawl. I closed the door and hurried the other way to where my character was. I came up behind my character and huffed. "Welp I found the way we should go! Spike tried walking me into it!" I snapped. I looked into the screen showing my friends.

Spike smiled. "I dont know what you mean!" He said being a smug ass. "I told you I didnt know where you could go!"

"Spike. Tell us now you lied and your punishments when I get out are easy! And all I give you is my word! Nothing. More."

"Okay okay fine! I tried to see what happens if you get hurt! You're a video game character! You cant die!"

Big Mac looked to Spike as he brought up a UI for a locked door to pick. "Dammit Spike dont you realize in this game companions die?" He asked. "I played this game more than you and even I know that! If Ry dies, he's dead! No getting back up!"

"But... This is the third game of the series right? I thought there was reviveable companions."

I huffed. "THATS THE FIFTH ONE! AND THE FORTH ONE BUT SERIOUSLY SPIKE REMEMBER WHAT I SAID!" I yelled. "I DIE OR GET TRAPPED HERE YOU'RE EXPLAINING TO APPLEJACK AND SCOOTALOO WHERE I AM!" I knew there was something fishy about it.

Big Mac huffed as he started trying to unlock the door. "Fucking idiot.... Do anything and the damage I do to you would be easier to cover than that done to Ryder." He snapped. Guess this wasnt the door considering he was picking the lock instead of it just unlocking. "Now tell us where that cache is or I'm snatching that phone of yours right up. Got it?"

Spike huffed. "Fuck off.... Its a few doors over." He said. After Big Mac was done picking the lock which only took a minute since he found a sweet spot, we raided this room. Nothing but a skeleton, a shit weapon which I took (it was a pistol that was only semi good depending on level.) and a few boxes of junk. After that we went over a few doors and found the cache. We opened it up and my lord. Seven ammo boxes, two gun cabinets with okay weapons and a rare melee weapon which my character cant even use considering his strength yet with me.... Yes I took it. It was a set of brass knuckles that had a bonus to sneak, critical multiplier times strength (holy shit right?) and were extra spiked. These are rare but there are multiple of them. He took all the ammo I didnt need while I took shotgun shells, fifty cal rounds and a few sonic grenades. The thing that sucked was these grenades do wonders for these things but you have to land em just right and possibly take damage which these do very little depending if you're wearing power armor or something. Either way you take perception loss because it works like a flashbang kinda... Kinda... only thing this is is just a loud fucking sound. I guess a concussion grenade? I'm not the sma- I'M NOT AN IDIOT! Fucking game...

After taking a few of those as well as some frags we decided to go back to the room with the hole in it. I shivered hearing those stupid thing move around. As we descended I felt each strand of web cross my hands as I gripped the rocky walls. This for my character was a loading zone and I'd appear at the end as soon as he loaded in. I just took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Took a moment for me to feel flat ground under me. I opened up my eyes and huffed. "Th-there... I'm here now... Now I know why the companions always come through that animation or always say something stupid about that...." I said. I looked to the screen. "Mac. Stay with me.... I may... I may be coming down from my Relaxall.... I'm just... Just gonna try to not use it for right now... just breathe.... Kill these things and try not to do friendly fire..."

Big Mac huffed. "You're gonna be fine dude. Just keep your head down, breathe and if you need to take that damn thing do it. I dont wanna find you a sniveling mess in the corner. Not to mention I dont think Luna would wanna come into this dungeon just to carry you back out only to piss and shit yourself. Just get what ever weapon ready and shoot those bastards. Need a rifle? Think I can help there. Picked up a few in that cache that might help."

"Use a few repair kits on one... Equip it and the repair kit should be in the aid tab... Towards the bottom. " Everything froze around me again. I could feel myself start getting more panicked as I waited.

"Alright... Gonna give you... this rifle... Go to repair it with these.... Ah shit... drank a whiskey... Didnt need that did you Ry?"

"Nah but... Does help to keep a bottle on ya... Probably was a good idea drinking it... Just... Maybe drop me a bottle?"

"Nope! I feel weird giving you these drugs and alcohol on top of that? Please! I'd rather be giving it to someone I know can hold their alcohol!"

"Like Dash? Or Fluttershy? I've seen the way you kook at her after a few drinks! Now you gonna drop me some l-liquid courage or not? Just give me one of the beers. Hard stuff comes for later when I'm out! Understand?"

"Got it. Let me just...."

"Big Mac what the hell are you doing to my inventory! You better not be using up all my stuff!"

"I'm not. I'm just... a bit lost... how much shit do you keep in here! Like... damn... your room is cleaner than this shit! This even what you'd do when the time comes? Just hoard all this good shit and not give it to someone who needs it?"

"All those beggars need are gears and I give plenty! Just drop what I need and stop fucking around! I swear if I piss myself tonight its gonna be in your bed Big Mac!" He huffed.

"Alright you big baby... shit... Beer and a bitching.... fucking hell...." I saw a bottle of beer appear out of thin air just floating there. Lasted about a few seconds before it just dropped. I picked it up, drank it. Left a bad taste in my mouth but it was better than the smell of those rotters. I armed myself with my shotgun and we made quick work of those damned spider ants. Few here in a nook, some there in a caved in area, and even some that came from a hole in the ceiling... Creepy as shit the way they do.... I blasted their asses and they exploded. That was when I equipped my knuckles. I was wondering how much damage these things did... I was surprisingly not afraid to get upclose and squash one. First punch sent it flying, dead and extra dead because it exploded pieces. Glad my weird strength carried over.

We ended up fighting through a few groups of em, no match for me. Even found a few rooms full of rotters which carefully inspected I saw nothing but webs on them. They were being controlled by these things. Something I didnt notice before after... what thirteen times of playing this game? I've put in a lot of hours to this game if you havent guessed. But I kept on fighting. Even ripped a few of those rotters apart before tossing their carcasses away. They didnt stay dead in later games but I enjoyed every moment. We stopped for a bit for me to heal a bit, take that Relaxall and make sure my weapons were fixed up. These caves were long and extensive. Webs were everywhere, blocking some passages and there were even egg clutches that I set fire to with some molotovs I found. Some of those do explode into baby spiders. Better to burn em alive anyways. When I wasnt in the mix i was laughing like a maniac... Applejack would look at me weird but understood how good I felt killing these things when they could do nothing to me in real life... Now... I dont know... I wanted to burn everything but I couldnt. Not even with a napalm bomb launcher. We stopped near the exit. Spike huffed. "I'm getting bored of this..." He said. "Give me the controller! I wanna play!"

I huffed. "And I'm getting tired of this...." I said looking to the screen. "Big Mac. Strike team Theta. Execute."

Big Mac looked at me with my character and I saw his expression on his face. Spike kinda looked confused. "Ry... You've gotta be kidding..." He said.

"Big Mac..." It took him a moment to think about it but he just huffed and punched Spike right in the face knocking him out cold. Little thing: Shining trained each Element of Brotherhood something specific. Each have specific callouts for what it is. Mine? Leg sweep. Strike team Alpha. Big Mac has a swift knockout punch with little to no damage. Strike team Theta. Shining has his own take down, and Soarin has his Flight Fight. Strike Team Delta and Omega. I huffed. "Good. If a guard walks in give him the code 'Omega heart felt.' Means nonlethal take down, got rough! They might question it but tell them what he was doing!" He huffed.

"I swear he's gonna tell Twilight what we did!"

"Is she gonna take the word of her general or her fucking assistant? Especially with evidence from Luna?"

"Good point. Now uh... You wanna wait around or you wanna get that achievement yourself?" I huffed.

"I've been after this achievement for so fucking long it made the war seem like it went by fast. At this point what the hell is stopping me from killing that thing? Let me dose up, drink up and we should be good." I saw Big Mac nod a bit before I went into my Colt Companion. Dosed up on that Relaxall (probably not the best with the alcohol I still had in my system), drank some water and couldnt really drink the healing drink. Near full health. I equipped my knuckles and waited for my character to activate the load zone. This one lasted a short time, only a few seconds. Worst thing is the thought of the game crashing which it does every now and then. Hasnt done it for a while but I should be good. Once we were on the other side my wrist started vibrating... yes my Colt Companion started vibrating... a feature I didnt know it had. That was when I looked to it and activated my phone.

It was a video call from Princess Luna. I answered it motioning to Big Mac to be ready for danger. I looked to my phone and smiled seeing Luna's face in the back seat of a transport vehicle siren blaring. "Ryder! Good you're still okay!" She said. "I've found out what happened! I called the developer and they're just as confused as you are that you found that so called 'glitch'. It's no glitch at all! It's a developing spell for the creators and somehow you've gone and activated it!" I hummed a bit.

"Well... I am at Twilight's castle... perhaps when lightning hit something on the castle it surged through everything and activated the feature while I was holding the controller... Does this in ANY way affect my chances of getting that achievement I'm after?" Luna huffed.

"Thankfully no because they never thought someone would get pulled in! I'm unsure if they're putting a patch into it or not but you should be able to get what ever thine accomplishment trophy is desired. What one are you going after in this game anyways?" With my offhand I pulled out my pistol and flashed it to the camera and looked around.

"Well... This one you'd think I'd freak at and... you are right... used some of the ingame drugs and hoping they dont have any affect on me in the real world but you'll probably know why..." I crouched down and made my way over to a broken out window with web on a corner of it. Raised it over the sill of the window. Luna gasped seeing a very large Spider Ant Queen. The good thing about this thing is it was stationary held in by web. Had a few defenders there but they were easy to take care of. I brought the phone back down and smiled nervously. "So now you know why I needed those things..."

"Ryder... I'm going to be honest with you... you're insane for doing this... that thing is HUGE.... even Celestia and I wouldnt trifle with something that big!"

"You and Celestia faced Tirek didnt you? And he turned out to be a huge asshole didnt he?"

"This is different! I like my spiders but... That thing is deadly scary... I know there are spiders out there as big as an Ursa Minor but they're so rare you dont know they're there!" Well thank you Luna for making it freakier to go outside.... "And you expect to kill it with a pistol? How dumb are you?! That thing needs a rocket launcher and a flame thrower!"

"Princess. I'll be fine. These things are nothing if you hit em just right. I've gotten upclose and personal with these things and fucked em up. All I need is one well placed shot with this thing and I'm done... How far out are you?" She shuttered I guess getting a thought in her head.

"I'm just near my sisters summer home. Guards have been booking it with the sirens blaring since air transport is out of the question. What's going on with Spike? Is he still being unruly?"

"Do NOT tell Twilight I ordered this but I had to have Big Mac knock him out! He was gonna take the controller and do something crazy! I wasnt taking any chances!" Luna turned away and huffed.

"Okay... I wont say a thing... What I will say is Spike needs to be grounded. I'll fix him, wipe his mind and make him forget that happened. Make him think he just passed out.... Hopefully he stays out until I get there..."

"Well hurry... I'm a tad... worried that he will wake up from being knocked out and burn this console AND my game up, trapping me!"

"Driver's are hurrying as fast as they-" The phone screen froze. I could move around, Big Mac was moving my character and I could hear the large queen behind me moving about. I huffed putting away my phone and bringing out my guns. Pistol.

"And call dropped... Well Mac we gotta focus... Be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye on the queen and her protectiles, pistols, and rifles but keep an eye on her health. Use your ability if you have to by pressing the left bumper!" I watched him press the bumper and it pulled up a UI for him. I was bathed in a green glow with percentages of what chance the bullet would hit me. He hit a red button i have mapped to back up.

He hummed. "Nice. Just so I dont hit you... How do I switch targets?" He asked.

"Left and right on the D-Pad. Just warn me when you're going to do that. Heal up, make sure you've got a powerful pistol at your disposal and drop a few of those repair kits as well as some Refresher Sodas. Just three of em. Should have a good number there." Everything stopped around us and my character brought his arm up to his face to look at his Colt Companion. I waited a few minutes. Heard a few crunching noises, a drink cracking open and a few bottles and a few tool boxes dropping from nowhere. Once they dropped to the ground I rushed them and picked them up before repairing both of my weapons. Wrenches clicked and such as I fixed my guns up and I barely lifted a finger. I was pretty good on health when I checked. That's when I drew my pistol and huffed looking to Big Mac. "Get ready. This should go fast if we place our shots just right and dodge the slime balls. Got me?" I looked to the screen and saw Big Mac nodded and moved my character by me crouching him down. He pulled out a flame thrower. "Where the hell did you find that?"

"Snagged it exploring in that cave. This thing is good right?"

"Well... Not really but... I have read this thing does cause it to open its weak point.... Burns it and it freaks out." I reloaded my gun because it's the only way I could cock it. "Lets do this. I'll fire a few shots and you just start burning it and when reloading just move. I'll just keep moving and shooting at its weak point. Understand?"

"Got it. Keep moving, keep shooting but uh... what happens if I run out of ammo?"

"Keep an eye on its health and switch to another weapon. Pistol preferably. Should have a revolver set to he left D-pad button. Just be ready okay?" He nodded and I just ran out enraging the giant thing. I shot it a few times as Big Mac burned the shit out of it. Didnt let up until he got low on the current canister of fuel. I shot its weak point a few times as I hid behind a broken down car, snot blasts landing left and right of me. Big Mac ran my character over to me and kept using the flamethrower on it. Ooh I wish I had a minigun for this damn thing. Or at least a gatling gun. Something powerful. I shot it a few more times when it opened its big clamp like maw and even threw a few grenades that Big Mac knew to run away from. It focused on Big Mac a little until things froze and he drank a few Refreshers. Once everything started moving again I did as well. I had to pull out my shotgun knowing this thing wasnt gonna be easy. Blasted it a few times in its legs, its egg sack and its maw a few times. Barely damaged it now that it was at half health. I could tell because of the image of it on my Colt Companion. I snapped a few shots from my shotgun while Big Mac now brandishing an automatic rifle just started laying into it. Just as we got to the end of it I equipped my pistol again and reloaded to my LAST clip. "BIG MAC! LAY OFF! FINAL HIT MUST COME FROM A PISTOL IN THE HEAD!" It shot a few more snot blasts at us and we dodged them, My character got grazed but he ended up pulling that revolver he had. We ran around a bit but neither of us could get a good shot when we saw its maw open. I healed up as I felt myself starting to come down from my Relaxall before taking aim just standing there while it focused Mac. "BIG MAC! SURE SHOT NOW!"

I saw him hit the bumper on the controller and take aim at me before he moved it to the giant queen before clicking the trigger a few times and hitting the accept button. Things went in slow motion and he shot twice before the thing opened up its maw and he hit another button executing a critical hit that shot out fast as it closed and opened its maw and that bullet exploded this thing's head and sent chunks everywhere. I dodged a few bits and splashes of blood before hearing a shining sound and a few dings notifying me we got what I was after. I looked to Big Mac who was now leaning back in his chair and cheered. "Holy... fuck... NEVER... let me play this again... shit aint my cupocider...." He said.

"Well fuck that! I need an extra hand sometimes and you just got me what I needed. Loot your prize and lets head back to the guy. We gotta wait somewhere before Luna gets here too you know!" He nodded and started looting all the stuff off the bug including a weapon, ammo, some big bug meat and its head which... doesnt make sense but then again its not my creation. Or real life for that matter. I followed my character back through the tunnels before being back in the main factory.

As we approached the stallion ran up to my character. "Did ya get it? I heard that gun fight from here!" He said.

My character huffed. "Probably could've blown it up faster but yeah... it's done..." He said. "Now about my payment?"

"All's right here. You get my gun and Two thousand Gears! That head is gonna be mounted on my wall with your name on it! Come by Severton if you're willing to see it!" And just like that the conversation ended and we ran out after him.

When the loading screen ended I looked to Big Mac. "Pull up the map and teleport to Newton. Got a player home there that we can hang out at." I said. He nodded and pulled up my characters colt companion. I got a good look at everything and god this dusty wasteland smelt like shit. When we fast traveled everything faded to black for me. Again it took a bit to lad. Maybe a few minutes or so. Scared it was crashing. As we loaded in I started off to where my characters home was. Up a few catwalks, through a busted bus bridge, behind a sitting area for a bar and through the door that my character had to open. I changed out of my armor back into my normal clothes and dropped everything except my phone. My character picked it all back up and we just sat on the couch. Explored my characters home while Big Mac went and got a drink. I kept a close eye on Spike but he was just OUT. O-U-T. It's bad that I was left alone with this little maniac Spike. Didnt take long for me to see Big Mac come back with Princess Luna at his side. I got in front of my character and started waving.

Luna got close to the screen and just looked at me. "Wow! This is very impressive! They did tell me this would've been tricky to do but somehow you've managed to do this first try and without magic..." She said. I huffed.

"Yeah... Real fun now can I come out of here please? I have a wife and a sister to go home to... Maybe take the little brat to bed after you fix him up." She sighed.

"If I fix him there is to be no trouble to be had with him. No jailing, no more hitting and no groundings from Twilight."

"We should at least tell her what he was trying to do!"

"But you think he's not gonna say what happened to him to Twilight?"

"Just get me out PLEASE! I've got a plan!" Luna just looked to me for a moment and huffed.

"Fine. I'll let you go on with this plan but all I do is fix him and you and Big Mac feign ignorance about that. Just give me a moment to ready." I watched her close her eyes and just have her horn glow. It took a moment for her to teleport out of the room and into the game. She surprised me a little. She couldnt help but look around at the place. "My my... this is actually.... amazing... You're one lucky stallion to... to..." Just then she started coughing. Hard. "Good fucking lord what is that SMELL?!" I blushed a bit.

"Rotwing guts and spider ant blood... Maybe possible shit in my pants... Do you have a possible spell to negate the smell on me until I get a shower? Please?" She used her magic on me and within moments I smelt clean yet still felt gross.

"There... Fucking hell that was worse than Scootaloo's messes.... Worse than that rotting corpse flower.... Shit..." She gagged a bit but rubbed her throat.

"Well... Let's just hurry Princess.... Faster we get this done faster I take a shower...." She took a deep breath and swallowed that lump in her throat before hesitating on even touching me. But she did. She grabbed a hold of me and used her magic to take us out. When we teleported out we fell over onto the floor and Luna pushed me away squirming, gagging and just wanting to cry. I got up and just looked at myself. No Colt Companion, phone in pocket, all my clothes where they were, nothing feeling out of place yet... Yeah I did have a load in my pants... Didnt smell. Anyways I had to hurry out of the room and to the nearest shower while Big Mac had to get some new pants for me. I scrubbed EVERYWHERE. Felt so good after. Sure I had to have a guard find me some clothes from the lost and found I could wear while mine go in the wash to keep from smelling of rotting guts.

After a while I came back to the entertainment room. Dressed in a jumpsuit. Utility workers one that I had to wear a tee under. To be honest yes it made me feel like I was back in my mechanic days. Didnt care. Had my phone in a hip pocket and I walked back all the way to the entertainment room. Made it just in time to see Big Mac saving the game he just finished and being ready to put in another one. Had a door just off to the side that wasnt there before and Spike was still passed out in his chair. I felt his pockets carefully for his phone and slid it out. Big Mac looked to me confused as I unlocked it with the snoozing dragons finger. "The hell you doin?" He asked. I went in to his text messages. Some texts to Rarity, others to Applejack, me, Big Mac, and such. The one I was looking for was Twilights texts.

"Noooothin.... Just trying to stop Spike from sending some rude texts...." I opened up Twilight's texts and saw some texts that were just the cutest. 'Love you sweetie! Get to bed early!' my god i couldnt keep it together as I was texting very vulgar things to Twilight. Then to Rarity. "Oh no Spike! Stop it! Stop saying those things!" I gave Big Mac a wink as I even sent texts that were vulgar to even Shining. The replies were almost INSTANT! Twilight said he was grounded, Rarity said her make up does not look like a 'lady of the night's make up' and Shining? His was the best. 'Good luck on getting anything good from Twilight OR Ryder. Sending both of them a text and I hope you dont talk like this around Twilight actually.... Still in big trouble though even if it was an accident!' Next thing you know my phone vibrates as I send Spike's phone back to the home screen and locked it before setting it next to his pocket opening where I grabbed it from.

"Dammit what the hell did you do? Thought we werent getting him in trouble!" I chuckled.

"Technically we didnt get him in trouble. He got himself in trouble! He sent some very naughty worded texts to everyone! Neither of us knew he did that capiche?" He huffed.

"I dont agree with this but I'll go along with it. Just hope he learns not to mess with us like that... threatening to destroy our stuff, kill you... like... shit... what got into him?"

"I'm not sure. Lets just get to gaming... maybe get some food after a few rounds of fighting...."

"But what about him? Do we want him waking up, realizing you're out here and he wants to break our shit?" I held up a finger and huffed going to the door and poking my head out looking to a guard.

"Hey you wanna take Spike to bed? He fell asleep in here." The guard nodded and came in just as Luna came out of her door. She closed it behind her and it disappeared. "Careful not to wake him. Seemed a bit cranky." The guard nodded and carefully picked him up and his phone before taking him out of the room. I looked to Luna. "Thank you for coming down here Princess. And I'm so sorry I was covered in that shit..."

Luna huffed. "It's alright General. I just wish you would've warned me before I got in there..." She said. "Just... Let me clean up and I'll be back to play games with you..." I nodded and just went to relax. To be honest I did kinda feel bad about doing that with Spike but he got what was coming to him over POSSIBLE empty threats towards a General. I went off for a few rounds between me and Big Mac before just heading out to get food. Just went outside to where the storm calmed down a lot. Windy, a bit of rain still but no thunder or lightning thank goodness. Had a guard truck run us by a fast food place and bring us back. As we came back we were met by Luna who didnt look happy... "Ryder.... A word perhaps?" I handed my bag off to Big Mac and just patted his back as he just went along his way.

"Yes Princess....?"

"Ryder... I want to let you know things arent alright between you and Spike... that's why he did what he did... He is still set to remember what happened but agreed not to say anything to anyone about it as long as you apologize to him. Perhaps you and Big MacIntosh both should apologize since you both had a hand in this...."

"But Princess he-"

"Do not 'but princess' me! Yes I am a friend, yes I will do anything for you but this is Spike we're talking about. A dragon Twilight raised from a hatchling. If he tells Twilight you had Big Mac hit him even with my evidence of you being trapped Twilight will lose all respect for you, not to mention she will possibly charge Big Mac for assault since he was the one who carried out the deed, Applejack would yell at you and the chain would go on from there! I implore you. Apologize to Spike."

"Well he's gonna have to apologize to me for threatening to trap me, injure me and destroy my stuff. Go keep an eye on him for right now. I'll be much more reasonable after I eat. Please?" She looked to me with a bad taste in her mouth. I could tell.

"Fine. I'll watch Spike and wait until he wakes up to bring him to you. But once we are there you two are to drop anything and everything you are doing and apologize otherwise there will be consequences. Do I make my self clear General?" I sighed.

"Yes Ma'am."

"Good. Tell Big Mac this. Leave nothing out." And like that she teleported away leaving me alone. Took me a moment to get myself moving but I walked the rest of the way back to the entertainment room. Watched a few videos on the streaming service. Some lore stuff about the game I was trapped in. Weird that there was a reference with that dead body I went to town on and didnt realize it. Anyways I barely picked at my food for a few minutes before eating. Hot pepper burger with fries, chipotle mayo, and ghost pepper flakes. As they say south of equestria 'Muy Caliente' or something like that. Only got about half way through my sandwich before I set it down in its wrapper before looking to Big Mac, wiping my mouth with a napkin and sipping my drink.

He glanced over at me. "Something wrong with your hayburger? Undercooked?" He asked.

I shook my head giving a huff. "Nah... Just... We gotta apologize to Spike otherwise we're in BIG trouble... and I mean huge... Basically assaulting a minor for you and for me a deranking so bad I might as well just not be a guard at all." I said. "I mean... that was our friend there Mac.... we always say we'll play with him but never do.... Last couple times I remember you and I hogged everything while he just sat on the side on his phone... When ever he asks to play and we say next time when is that? Several times after he asked?" Mac huffed.

"He had it comin' Ry. Lord knows what he could've done with that controller. Coulda gotten your character killed, coulda taken aim at you, hell coulda just hogged all the stuff from you and left you naked."

"True but all we had to do was to just say no. Sure the circumstances may be a risk but..."

"Look I'll only apologize if he apologizes first. Otherwise I wont do shit!"

"But you have to! We're there for Spike when Twilight's off doing something! We spend time with him when Rarity is busy and if the Princess of Friendship finds out we fucked up and hurt him we're screwed." He rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I'll apologize.... Worse than Applebloom there... One thing gets left out of her lunch bag and she's yellin' at me time and time again to not forget what I forgot... double it next time and shit...." He huffed and just went back to eating the rest of his fries while I took the last few bites of my burger. Holy hell this hayburger is always worth it.

Maybe a few minutes later after we finished our food a guard came in and told us to shut everything down before following him. As we followed I knew what was coming. We were lead through the castle until we got to the throne room where we see Spike and Princess Luna sitting. Luna sat in Twilight's throne with Spike in his next to her. I sat in AJ's which was just on the other side of Spike and Big Mac sat in Dash's just on the other side of Luna. Luna stood up and sighed sitting on the middle of the table. "Alright you three... I was called here to help Ryder from being trapped in a video game. But under my own investigation it seems theres some hard feelings between you three..." She said. "Each of you had a problem with the other party, some reasons on one side from the other." She looked to Spike. "Spike? Would you like to go first?"

Spike huffed. I knew he didnt wanna go first after what happened. He hesitated, trying to compose what he wanted to say in his head. I sighed. "Look... I'll go first..." I said getting up from my seat and kneeling down next to Spike. "Spike... I... I'm sorry dude.... I just... I didnt wanna be trapped in there by what ever could've been done... And you scared the hell out of me when you took control like that... I admit we should do better with our games, sharing them, playing together and what not but you gotta know Big Mac and I get a little protective of our stuff because we have sisters and they have friends that come over to play and we dont want someone screwing up all the hard work we've done. I do realize I messed up by ordering that... just... forgive me please...."

Spike looked at me. Worried and thoughtful look on his face. "I forgive you Ryder but... I wanna say I'm sorry for even threatening you like that..." He said. "I guess I got a bit carried away from not being able to play games for a while... Could see about getting my own console if Twilight will let me... could play multiplayer on a few different screens." I smiled a bit.

"Sounds cool.... Maybe for your birthday here in a few months but dont go getting greedy...." He smiled and hugged me.

Luna smiled and looked to Big Mac who was pouting in his chair. "Big Mac? Anything you want to say?" She asked.

Spike broke the hug with me and nudged me away before hopping over a seat. "It's fine Princess. I can tell he's sorry for what he did." He said. "Big guy's always quiet and doesnt wanna talk when he knows he's in trouble." I could see him blush from where I was. "C'mon Mac turn around and give me a hug! I forgive ya!" Big Mac hesitated. I came over and started tickling him, getting him to snicker a bit. Then Spike joined in tickling him before Luna just gave in and joined until he busted up laughing! Oh it didnt take long for him to grab both me and Spike hugging us. Luna backed off giggling.

"There we are! All friends again!" She got up and pried us apart with our magic. "I hope you dont mind but I wish to stay with you. Perhaps play a few games of my own? I can play a few games that arent even out yet!" And what did we do? We played on for a while. She ordered Pizza for dinner, ended up doing co-op on multiplayer stuff and my goodness it was nearing midnight before we even finished. We decided to stop around there. Go to bed. I may have shared a bed with Princess Luna for a bit for a nap she wanted. Stayed the rest of the night to keep tabs on us and went back to Canterlot come morning. Though... Not everything was smooth from there on out. I nearly forgot about the texts I sent from Spikes phone. Told him about it during breakfast, asked him to take the fall for this as punishment- which he was good on because of how he was the day prior- and I'd buy him his own console, controller and games... with Luna's help for an apology. When Twilight and the girls came home... He got an earful. Big Mac and I feigned ignorance for that. Told Twilight we had no idea, Spike got grounded, I talked Twilight into giving him a light sentence because he's been good since we got there. So instead of a few weeks he got about five days of a grounding. When that time was up he and I went digging for gems to show there were no hard feelings. Just hid it from Twilight as a surprise gift.

Next Chapter: Memories of Who? (Part 1) Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 2 Minutes