Over the next couple of weeks, Ralph and Nightmare developed a habitual schedule for their activities. At first wake up, they would each enjoy their power-up pies. Afterwards, Ralph would head to his position in the game, and Nightmare would choose a game to play in during the day. As Wily had mentioned, as long as Nightmare didn't do anything destructive and played by the rules of the game she was entering - and copied her data to a local code block, players would merely think she was an Easter Egg in the code. In anticipation of this, Wily had already programmed in the 'Easter Egg' code blocks in several of the games, and Nightmare had uploaded herself into all of them.
At Wily's recommendation, Nightmare stuck to a schedule of the games she went to on a daily basis, so it didn't look completely random. On Mondays, she would enter Marvel vs Capcom 3, where she would either sit in the background of several stages throwing things at the battling characters, or be an extra character to be chosen. She wasn't entirely fond of letting the player dictate her actions - especially as they could never figure out the button combos for her magic - but her small sprite size meant that she was outside most of the other characters' damage zones.
On Tuesday, she raced in Sugar Rush. Dream Eater quickly became a user favorite over the next few weeks, as it allowed them to really show off their skills behind the wheel. Not only that, but it was noticeably different from every other kart in the game, and the players thought it looked 'awesome!' While not every player who selected her kart could properly control it, enough did that she quickly had a cache of gold coins for competing in the qualifying race Monday nights.
On Wednesday, she went into Legend of Zelda as a bonus boss. Oddly enough, fighting Link was rather enjoyable, as she didn't actually get hurt as she 'took damage' from his sword stabs. She just faked it well as her health bar depleted. She also made especially sure to be extra difficult, as Wily told her that 'secret optional bosses' were always tougher than the genuine final boss. She also made it so - if the player did beat her - Link's sword would then shoot lightning, a modification Wily made for Link's anti-viral duties.
On Thursday, she spent her time in Mega Man 3. Here she varied her schedule up a bit. On odd numbered weeks, she would act as the support unit in place of Rush. 'Nightmare Throw' replaced 'Rush Coil', 'Dark Wings' replaced 'Rush Jet', and 'Scuba Gear' replaced 'Rush Marine'. Oddly enough, 'Scuba Gear' got a great deal more use than 'Rush Marine' ever did. Considering it was Nightmare jumping into the water with scuba goggles, flippers, a snorkel, and a water pistol, Wily's theory was that she was 'just too adorable'. She threw Mega Man up to ledges with 'Nightmare Throw', and had Mega Man on her back while flying and shooting lightning for 'Dark Wings'.
On even numbered weeks, she fought on Wily's side, replacing the Doc Robot. However, rather than fight until she exploded - she didn't like exploding - she went into battle with an energy barrier around her that had its own health bar. When the barrier dropped, she teleported out. Apparently, players liked that sort of boss a great deal more. Of course, it could have been the way she danced whenever she triggered a Robot Master power.
On Friday, she relaxed in Tapper's as an 'intern bartender'. Unlike Tapper, who ran up and down rows sliding drinks across, she ran across the counters to deliver the drinks, pushing them with her forehead as she raced across. She found this both relaxing and fun.
On the weekends, however, she stayed in Fix It Felix Jr. Encoded into the game, she became present in 'Nightmare Mode'. If the player selected that, they got a special treat...and a special difficulty.
After clearing the first stage of climbing up the building to get to Ralph, Nightmare would swoop up next to the building. She would then declare in her tiny, adorable voice, "You shall fear the wrath of Nightmare Moon!" She then attacked the platforms Felix hopped between with her lightning, making them break. Thanks to coding from Wily, they'd auto repair after a time, and Nightmare would time her attacks so that there was always a way for Felix to make it out.
If Felix fell from jumping on a broken platform, he lost a life. If he got zapped by Moony's lightning, he would suffer an insta-kill, regardless of his power ups. Since Moony moved extra fast and couldn't be targeted - even in the 'retro' bonus stage - this proved especially challenging for players, who apparently loved the extra challenge, considering it was selected every time it became available.
The end game animations also changed with Moony's involvement. Instead of a Game Over if Felix ran out of the lives, Nightmare Moon would fly up towards the screen and laugh. She'd then proclaim, with text overlay, "The night...shall last...forever!" The cabinet would then go dark with the Game Over music looped for a full minute. It would then return to the boot up screen as though nothing happened.
If the player won in Nightmare Mode, however, Moony would fly down next to Ralph as he lay in the mud and nuzzle him. She'd then look back up at the roof and shake her hoof, proclaiming with text overlay, "I'll get you next time, Felix! Next time!" before laughing maniacally.
Whichever game she spent the day in, however, she always returned to Fix it Felix Jr. after the arcade closed. She then stayed right by Ralph's side no matter where he went, whether it was to another game or just laying back in the junkyard and looking up at the stars. Either way, after they ate for the night - whether pie from Mary, fruit from Pac Man, candy with Vanellope, or Ramen with Wily and Zero - Moony would curl up in Ralph's pocket against his chest, rest her head over his heart, and listen to his heartbeat and his stories of his first adventure until she dozed off.
It was a perfect time for Moony. She was truly happy and content, and wanted this life to last forever. She had no idea just how significant it was for her to be...at peace.
And she couldn't begin to imagine how quickly it would all change...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I love this story. Keep going!
Awww
ohshitm8
6037461
That was cute.
Such an adorable chapter. I want more of this... slice of life? I guess?
6037264 the revolution will not be silenced!
6037556 dawww cat flutters is adorable also ME TO
Best/ cutest story EVER!! i need more of her royal cuteness
6037628 Was gonna spot that
Celestia comes by and Tubro creates havoc?
After looking into a crystal ball I have seen...
...a growth spurt. Am I right?
6037758 Noooooo! We need to get Moony an everstone stat! She can't grow up!
Are the arcade owners slowly going mad in the background?
6038020
Considering that the Nightmare Moon 'Easter Eggs' have tripled their average income...
Nope!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! The cute shall last forever!!!
The follow up question to "What happens when she grows up?" is "Will she be able to return to a filly?"
The last line foreshadows a fire nation attack.
6038107 elements of dis-harmony. I'm sorry.
6038177 Aaaaaawwwwwww...
I doubt it'll pan out this way, but if something like this really happened (meaning a new character kept reoccurring across unrelated games in the arcade) I bet the players would begin to think it was some kind of low-key advertising/endorsement for a new unrealeased game of Nightmare's own. Again, unlikely to happen here, but still interesting.
6038202
And that kind of speculation would lead to a lot more business for the arcade.
6038076 I guess it depends on who they are. Some people would be willing to just accept it if it benefits them, and some would be driving themselves mad trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
6038245
Considering how the arcade owner responded to first Ralph going missing and then his spontaneous return, I don't think he's going to question anything.
6038076 WHO SHALL JOIN THE MOON ARMY!?
Oh BTW, I kind of started A Trixie Army for Ze Fans. Couldn't resist. I hated having a crying Trixie sorry.
I love all of Moony's various modes in the arcade. I do have to wonder what the arcade manager thinks of her and if he'll start getting Moony plushies made to sell.
6038293 I have a feeling he's spotted sprites acting out of their game routines before, maybe on a security camera or something. Plus, I read this awesome fic where he rushed to the arcade in the middle of a terrible storm just to plug in a generator and keep all the games alive.
6038759
Wait...implying the guy who runs the arcade knows that the sprites inside the game are alive and interact with each other?
...if he isn't named in canon, I now want to name him Cain.
6038798 All we know is he is Mr. Litwak But since he owns the arcade since it started, it could be easy to say he has some idea what goes on, especially when changes like the all new 'Bonus round' appear without any work being done on the machines.
6038846
Especially if he recognizes sprites there from games he's had to unplug.
Heck, he probably got another clue seeing that the side of Vanellope's kart says "Made by Vanellope and Ralph" on it, and Vanellope's sudden return, and her animation when she wins the race involves her waving at Fix-it Felix Jr..
6038868 Sounds good to me. Plus, I get the feeling he loves his games, so it would totally make sense that he has some idea of what happens.
6038894
So...
If a new arcade cabinet appeared out of nowhere plugged into the power strip without explanation but about the new 'Easter Egg' character, he wouldn't question it?
Hypothetically speaking, of course.
...also, link that awesome fic you mentioned please?
6038907 Here's the story, the second chapter has the scene I was talking about but the whole story is great
If he didn't plug a game in I'm pretty sure he would know something was up when a new one suddenly appeared. Figuring it was magic is another thing though.
But everything changed when the fire nation attacked...
cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/48379460.jpg
When are we going to get the chapter where a Brony comes to the Arcade and asks "Why is Nighmare Moon in this game, she's a cartoon character from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, not a video game character?"
Another epic chapter! Nice work!
Awwww, that part where she nuzzles him in the game,. that's adorable.
I can picture a tiny cute voice yelling Nightmare Moon's thing, The Night shall last forever
Good job!
I really want an interlude now, where the players are talking about the new Nightmare Moon easter egg that is popping up, in real life she would be the talk of the town, I don't know about internet because, I don't know how popular a local arcade would get with a new easter egg...
INTERNET! Oh god internet, is there going to be someway for Nighty to connect with it? PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS!
6039254 considering that Moony is about to 'Level Up' into a young mare rather than a cute foal....
6039630
Oh of course, that's when she becomes famous, typical hormonal teenage boys... Wait, should we be worried by that?
I NoNo, maybe Mr Litwick could put an empty arcade game nearby and have it become inhabited by Nightmare? Seems like a way to get her noticed more.
D'AWWWDORABLE!! I love this!
By the way - Someone, draw me that f*cking picture! I want it!!!
6040172
See the fan art at the end of the first chapter now.
Turbo Will Strike Soon, I Just Know It. He Wants Revenge, And He Will Do Whatever He Can To Get It.
Best Regards,
Prophet_Of_Madness
6040330
Adorable!
GAME OVER
RETURN OF NIGHTMARE
*wop wop wop wop wop*
6037556 More like a slice of pie, amirite? Up top.
6040979
Down low!
6041064 Too slow.
Loved the update!
I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!!
And...CUE OMINOUS MUSIC!