//------------------------------//
// Part III 
// Story: Creation of a Mediaverse 
// by SFyr 
//------------------------------//

	A knock on the door startled Buffy from her place on the couch. With a smile, she quickly threw her textbook aside with all the care of a freshman who would rather be doing anything else. Viola looked on curiously from nearby, Maxwell cradled in her hooves while being meticulously cleaned by a white cloth. With a wide grin, Buffy trotted up to the door and looked through the tiny glass peek hole. In the next instant she flung the door open revealing a green mare with a large projector over her back and a saddlebag bursting with film reels. Beside her a smiling orange unicorn stood by with a silver lanyard around his neck.
"Viridian! Nova!" Buffy exclaimed.
"Hello Buffy! May we come in?" Viridian asked. At Buffy's nod, the pair entered quickly, the precarious load the mare bore threatening to topple over with each step, though Viridian showed no concern through her cocky grin. "Boy, have I got some films for you two! I can't wait to show you some of the highlights of my collection! Why, I have most of the greatest pieces of the early years of film with me!"
"Early years?" Viola said from the couch. "Hasn't cinematography only been around for a decade or two?"
"Oh, but so much has happened already!" Viridian returned, her grin growing. "I thought we'd start off with something classic. Say, the Whinnying Halls. The director Still Shot practically revolutionized the way film makers went about narrative structure!"
"I have to say, the choice is one of my own favorites as well," Nova commented with a partial grin. "Viridian really does know a good movie when she sees one."
"Comes with the passion," Viridian said with pride. "Really helped with getting in with the film club too. Gives me all the chances I could want to subject people to my favorites as well!"
As the two settled into the small common area, Viridian unloaded her bags not far from the couch, sending a spare reel or two rolling away before quickly being regathered by a quick hoof. Buffy, her eyes wide and curious, wandered over to the bag to begin looking at the different films her friend brought for them to choose from. Viridan in turn began removing and setting up her projector, while Nova moved to make himself comfortable on the couch.
"Excuse me, may I?" Nova motioned to the cushion beside Viola.
"O-of course." 
Buffy kept looking through the film reals, missing the slight blush crossing Viola's face. Most titles were unknown to her, while others she could remember hearing about. Only a few were films she had seen herself however. She eventually even came to a particular reel with a name in another language. Holding it up to the green unicorn, she asked, "Hey Viridian, what's this?"
"Nuit des Lucioles," Viridian said with a smile, recognizing it from a short distance away. "It's Prench, and one of the better romantic mystery movies out there, though there are very few," she said with a laugh. "I don't think you'd like it though."
Buffy tilted her head. "Why?"
"It's hard to catch some of the subtleties unless you're fluent in Prench. That, and well, it's rather hammy."
“Ah, okay.” Buffy resumed her digging. “Got any particularly interesting films? Something a bit more recent?”
“Weeeell,” Viridian murmured, a loud click sounding from the tripod of the projector as she righted it. “There is a newer psychological thriller by Goodword, though it’s a bit much for some ponies. It’s called Cabin in the Meadow, but believe me,” she chuckled, “the name is a bit deceptive.”
“I’d be up for it!” Buffy proclaimed confidently. “It can’t be too bad if you’re willing to recommend it, right?”
Viridian smiled a wolfish smile before turning to the two ponies on the couch. "Any opposition to a night of classics and horror?"
Nearby, Nova and Viola stopped their conversation regarding Maxwell and chimed in affirmation.
"Great, let's get started then!" Viridian said with a wide grin as she set the reels of the projector in motion. A large, somewhat faint image in light was cast onto the far wall. The opening title came through blurry, until Viridian managed to turn off all lights and cast the room into relative darkness. Buffy grinned as the image became almost clear on the far wall. Despite the impromptu setup, she felt like she was in an actual theater, surrounded by her friends!




After an hour or so of drama, adventure, and scenes of small town politics falling apart and coming together, the group was in high spirits. Viridian left her nest of blankets on the floor to change out the reels, all the while spouting on about the different uses of camera angles, establishing techniques, and jargon of the like. Buffy tried to follow, but almost all of it was over her head and spoken far too fast for her to catch. Thankfully, Viridian soon calmed down, took a deep breath, and changed tracks.
"So, Cabin in the Meadow next?" Viridian asked cheerfully. She was met with several calls of excitement, each of varied levels of enthusiasm.
"By the way," Buffy pointed to the silver lanyard and ID hanging around Nova's neck. This whole time she found it odd, but she felt it rude to ask about it during the film. "Why are you wearing that?"
“Oh this? This is my badge for Saddle Hall’s new arcade.” He held it closer to her for a better look. In the corner, his face and cutiemark were printed, along with the name Nova Burst, a physical description, age, and a large barcode underneath a series of numbers. Nearby, the title ‘Student Manager’ could be seen.
"I didn't even know we had an arcade." Buffy blinked.
"Entirely new addition, actually. My parents have been long-time supporters of Fillydelphia’s Entertainment Media University, and they wanted to help bring things a little more up to date." He smiled, modest pride shining through his voice. "For the past few weeks we have been accumulating and installing many of the more well representing titles for the benefit of the student body."
"But... an arcade?" Buffy asked, her head tilted dubiously. "Why an arcade?"
"Why not?" He returned smoothly. "After all, I would be remise if a college so strong on exploring different venues of entertainment lacked such an important new medium of expression, one my family is honored to help provide to the student body mind you."
"Excuse my question, but are your parents not CEOs?” Viridian asked in confusion. “The choice of an arcade seems rather odd given their backgrounds in medicine and hospitality."
"Why of course. The arcade was entirely my own idea. In a few years, I hope to even add a few of my own design to the selection as well." Nova said with a winning smile. "Perhaps one based on the world of Ponies and Dragons, in the vein of a cooperative dungeon crawler."
"But why games?"
“It’s quite simple really,” Nova said smoothly. “To me, electronic media represents an escape of sorts. It gives you a place to simply adopt a persona, or a mission, and enjoy yourself regardless of who you are or where you come from. For a time, you are a hero, without ever truly risking your life to feel the part.”
“Personally, I find it odd that you didn’t follow after your parents. It seems like they would want you to either practice medicine or law.”
Nova chuckled good-naturedly.
“My parents always had a love for providing joy. They say it’s one of the best things you can do with your wealth, and I see games as a pure expression of that want to entertain.”
“Well, I think that’s just amazing,” Buffy cheered.
“I suppose I can sympathize,” Viridian said with a smile. “I feel the same way about film. It’s hard to be upset when you have so many interesting lives and stories you can watch as if you were a part of it. On top of it all, one of the greatest joys of a good movie is sharing it with friends.”
“I can say the same about a good piece of music,” Viola said with a smirk. “Somepony once said that music is the language of the heart, and if there is any truth to that, music may very well be the key not only to communicate one’s truest feelings, but also revel in what it has to offer. Even as a filly, I felt myself drawn to the melodies my grandmother would play, like she was telling me a story with only notes and chords. I could really imagine no other path for myself after she gave me my first violin.”
Buffy smiled. It was... striking, to be surrounded by ponies so sure of what they wanted to do. Still, it left her feeling somehow small next to them, like she was once again surrounded by ponies older than herself. It might have been true in the case of her newer friends, but the gap felt much larger than it was.
“What about you, Buffy?” Viridian asked with a smile. “What brought you here to FEMU?”
“Oh, umm,” Buffy stumbled, her tail curling closer around her side. “I-I don’t really know. I like meeting new ponies, and making friends. It just seemed like a good... fit?”
Viola stepped in on her behalf. “She’s actually studying management. Few are as determined understand the needs and personalities of others. That, and she lives to meet new ponies.”
“Well, I think it’s quite admirable,” Viridian commented. “The entertainment world needs ponies such as yourself.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Buffy returned, sounding more sure of herself than she felt.
“Now, who’s ready for some too-innocently-named thriller?” Viridian asked, once again adopting her wolfish smile.




Closing the door Buffy said goodbye to her friends. Together with a yawning Viola, she went to take care of their nightly rituals and retired to their shared bedroom. 
The left side of the room was in complete disarray. Only a week had passed since the first day of class, yet Buffy had already managed to scatter all kinds of things over her shag carpet. Her desk was a mess of scattered paper, with a few pencils left haphazardly near the edge. Boxes and half sorted bags sat nearby. Her bed still had the covers heaped at the bottom from where she had tossed them off this morning.
Viola's side of the room, however, was well kept by any standards. The bed was made and looked immaculately clean, as was the floor and surrounding area. The only 'clutter' to be seen was a small stack of books--some textbooks for their new classes, while others were music references and sheets of compositions. Viola gently rested Maxwell's case to the foot of her bed, where it sat carefully in its usual space against the hoofboard.
With a yawn, Buffy jumped onto her own bed, taking a second to struggle with the tangled blankets and properly cover herself. With a small sigh, she pulled them around her neck and snuggled into her comforter. The lights soon flicked off, leaving her in the comfort of darkness. She closed her eyes, but thoughts still buzzed around her head. The conversations from earlier pulled at her. What she learned was certainly interesting, but something more unidentifiable bothered her. She couldn't help but compare what she could have said to that of her new friends.
"Hey Viola?" She asked softly.
After a moment of silence, another low voice answered her through the darkness. "Yes, Buffy? Is something the matter?"
“D-do you think I made the right choice?”
"What do you mean Buffy?”
"Nothing," she breathed quietly. "It’s just, strange, how sure Viridian and Nova are. Viridian has her movies. Nova wants to make games. Even you have your music, but... is this really what I want?”
"Is this about your sisters?"
Buffy remained quiet. Nearby, she could hear the shuffling of bed sheets, followed by the sound of hooves on hardwood flooring. The silhouette of a pony rose nearby, a wide smile on her nearly obscured face. She felt her bed shift as another body climbed up next to her. Two hooves wrapped around her body and gave her a gentle but strong squeeze.
"Dear, don't worry so much about what you’ll do after leaving here. If you find something you enjoy more than management, you’re free to change. It's true, Viridian, Nova, and I know our paths already, but I promise you, you will find yours in time." She took a moment to give her a friendly nuzzle. "You already know your love lies with befriending new ponies. There's not a soul out there you wouldn't talk to and hear what they have to say. Just give yourself time, and you will surely find your place."
Buffy returned the hug, a smile crossing her face. "Yeah... It's just hard, ya know? My sisters were always the talented ones. I was always... the one overlooked." Buffy sighed. "I just don't want to be 'Halo's little sister' anymore, or 'Damsel's little sister' for that matter."
"I, for one, never thought of you as such," Viola proclaimed happily. "I have been your friend since grade school because I saw how wonderful of a pony you were from the start. Not once did I befriend as an effort to get closer to your family."
"But, when you found out who they were, you were practically jumping with excitement." Buffy said with a sad smirk, her usual energy well subdued.
"And yet, I wish you were no one but yourself." Viola proceeded to snuggle deeper into the covers. “I would take a day with you over your sisters any day.”
Soon, Buffy felt one of her pillows being stolen away, a tongue barely visible through the darkness as Viola blew a raspberry at her. After the two had a moment to settle, Buffy couldn't help the creeping grin from adorning her face. Warmth spread through her chest, wiping away her downcast thoughts.
"...Thanks, Viola. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Quite." Viola returned with a smirk.