Prologue: Knightmarish Obsession

It's Only a Game... Isn't It?
By Ganondorf8
June 11, 2016
Prologue: Knightmarish Obsession.

" Where am I?"

" You're obviously in a room!"

" I need more information than that, you know."

" Why don't you just take off that helmet so you can see where you are?"

" You're the one who said that doing so would ruin the magic."

" Yeah, but it doesn't mean we have to do everything for you!"

" Rainbow Dash! You were the one who told me that I would enjoy being a dungeoneer and explore this fantasy dungeon, but did you ever stop to think that perhaps, I didn't want to go through with this? I was perfectly content with having our little get-together, but I wasn't expecting to be trouncing about someplace while being blinded by a horned helmet."

" This is the most awesome thing you've ever done, Sunset, so why complain?"

" Maybe you should have done this instead of me."

" I would've but you were chosen."

" That's because you guys volunteered me against my will."

" Whatever! It's too late to stop now."

" Sometimes, I really question your judgement, but I guess you're right. I'm here in this dungeon--although again let me state that I'm doing this under false pretenses--and I need you, Pinkie, and Twilight to get me through this in one piece."

" Want me to describe the room in more depth?"

" Yes, that would be nice."

I had been through many hardships in my life. They ranged from having a troubled childhood resulting from my family ignoring me, to being framed for actions I never committed during the most festive time of the year. No matter how often I found myself being kicked to the ground, I managed to get back onto my feet and continue. Many would be both jealous and shocked to know what I had experienced for one so young, yet those past experiences paled in comparison with what happened to me one day. I never guessed for an instant that there existed magic that wasn't from my homeland, Equestria, but you never know what might be waiting to surprise you.

Magic was my specialty--compared to Her Highness, Princess Twilight, I was a novice--so I always believed that I knew the ins and outs of magic. My friends turned to me to deal with problems that related to magic, and I overcame incredible odds to solve the issue. We used Equestrian magic to save our school, the world I now call home, and the world that I was born in. Had what happened not come to pass, I'd have remained ignorant of magical energies that were beyond the scope of my world. I learned a harsh reality Her Highness should never have to experience. It would be too much for even her mind to comprehend. Were she to learn the existence of other magic, she would do everything she could to understand how it functioned, and fail to grasp the properties behind its mien.

It had been about two months since the Friendship Games ended, and things were looking up for me and my friends. The human version of Her Highness, Twilight Sparkle, former top student of Crystal Prep Academy, had integrated into her new surroundings with incredible finesse. There were some issues that stemmed from the transition, but everyone who had gone through the same thing struggled during those early weeks. Twilight was very eager when it came to the pursuit of knowledge, but friendship was something she was still trying to understand. Her life had been hard and I didn't mean her experiences at Crystal Prep. She only had her dog, Spike, as her one and only friend, so she had been a loner for years, ridiculed by her peers all because she was the best student.

After the Games, she became more open with the prospect of having friends, and I had been steadily guiding her along the right path. It's kind of ironic actually. Her Highness did the very same thing to me after my brief tenure as a demonic monster who had ambitions of ruling over Equestria. I was given a second chance to change my path, and I took it otherwise my alternative would have been spending the remainder of my days alone. Twilight became a monster in a similar manner to myself, so I knew that I had to take Her Highness' words, and use them to help Twilight overcome her personal nightmare.

So far, the process had been effective, and she was well on her way to becoming a better person for it. Even when I revealed to her the secrets I had about those I've interacted with--written down in a secret journal--it only strengthened our friendship. At the same time, I revealed those same secrets to my friends. It took them some time to come to terms with what I had said about them, but they knew that I didn't mean to ridicule them. I was merely expressing my true feelings about them. They had their own opinions of me which they had surely written down somewhere, so the feeling was mutual. Princess Twilight had the strongest reaction of all to what I wrote. She learned a great deal about me that she never knew existed before.

One day, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and I were sitting together on the couch at Rainbow's place. Summer vacation was mere days away, and everyone was getting excited about the prospects that would come our way during the next couple of months. I still had my doubts on the whole thing, but I kept that thought to myself. When it came to summer vacation, being negative was the worst thing you could do.

" How has the idea of having friends affected you, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" I must admit that I never knew that students had such riveting experiences during the summer." Twilight answered.

" Uh, 'riveting'? Don't you mean 'awesome'?"

" Well, my perspective is different from yours, Rainbow Dash, but I'm looking forward to some time away from classes. This will be the first time I've spent the summer with anyone apart from Spike and my family, but you'll forgive me for being nervous about it." Twilight answered.

" Don't worry about it! You'll be fine."

" I hope so. I intend on catching up on some reading for extra credit."

" Seriously!?"

" What else would I be doing all summer?" Twilight asked. Even after spending these past couple of weeks getting adjusted to her new surroundings, Twilight still retained the quirks that made her who she was. Someone like Rainbow would prefer to spend the summer doing every last outdoor activity imaginable, but Twilight was much more reserved. She preferred peace and quiet that would enable her to continue her pursuit of knowledge.

The students of CHS could learn from Twilight's example and take a more relaxed approach to summer. Most of them were likely to go crazy and spend every day hanging out until school started again in the Fall, and then suffer from withdrawal afterwards.

Rainbow shrugged her shoulders and resumed watching the television while Twilight buried her face into a rather lengthy book. I was passionate about reading just as much as she was, but the book she had must have been at least twelve hundred pages. However, my concern was focused on Rainbow and what she perceived as "entertainment". I didn't think she would be a television junkie--someone who sat around and watched pointless drivel all day--but she would surprise me by her choice of programs. She had been watching a channel that dedicated itself to showing reruns of old shows no one had seen in the last thirty years.

It didn't make any sense to me--Equestria didn't have televisions and programs--but Rainbow was curious about the kind of shows that once aired. There was one particular show that had piqued her curiosity, but when I look back on it now, I wish she had chosen a different program instead.

" Ten minutes and it's on!' Rainbow Dash said, her eagerness showing no signs of wanting to be quelled.

" While I can appreciate looking forward to something, I'm just surprised that you're hooked on a television show." I said.

" I know, right? Pinkie showed me this channel about three weeks ago and initially I just found it lame. There's a reason why old shows don't exist anymore, and that's because they've had to move aside in favour of new stuff. Then, when I changed to the channel on a whim, the most awesome I've ever seen was on." Rainbow Dash said.

" The one you want us all to watch?"

" Yep!"

" I'm going to regret it if I don't ask, but what's it all about?"

" It's all about teams of four kids exploring a dungeon in a fantasy setting. Oh, and they also use magic." Rainbow Dash answered. I rolled my eyes. Considering what we've seen regarding magic, what could an old television show have on that? " One person is the dungeoneer who explores the dungeon, and the other three act as advisors. They guide the dungeoneer by telling them what to do."

" Why would they need to be told?"

" Because the dungeoneer is blind." Rainbow Dash answered. Blind!? That didn't sound like a fair compromise to the kid who had to explore the dungeon. I mean, they already suffer from not being able to see, but to further degrade them by forcing them to traverse something they can't see? I wasn't sure if this was a show that had a positive message. " They wear the helmet to prevent their eyes from seeing the illusions, but I read online that it was to prevent them from seeing a blue room."

" Blue room?"

" Twilight might get it more than you."

" What would I get?" Twilight asked.

" The blue room was used to create the special effects that the advisors and audience see in each episode, some kind of early version of virtual reality. They used really old computers to make it look realistic." Rainbow Dash answered.

" Really? Fascinating. You've piqued my curiosity."

" Knew you'd be interested."

" Makes me wish I were with Applejack right now." I said quietly to myself. Applejack would have been there with us, but she had to stay home at Sweet Apple Acres and do a variety of chores to prepare for some kind of farming festival.

Fluttershy was currently at the shelter and would be there until late tonight. They received a large assortment of animals that were in need of care, and all volunteers had to be there on a mandatory basis. I was a volunteer myself, but Fluttershy insisted that she and the others were more than enough to take care of the animals. I wouldn't have minded just standing around and watched them work if it meant not having to endure this mundane experience at Rainbow's. Rarity was also busy, but she was doing her own thing and not involved in a group activity. She had recently acquired some rare fabric and had the desire to make some new dresses. We told her that she could have done it tomorrow, but she wouldn't have any of it. When it came to making fashion, Rarity wouldn't dream of slacking off.

Knowing there wasn't anything else to do, I simply shrugged my shoulders and stared glooming at the television as Rainbow's program came on. It certainly had an interesting title sequence, a knight on a horse riding through a forest towards a castle on top of a large peak. Rainbow wasn't kidding when she said that it was a fantasy setting--the sword and shield were a dead giveaway--but I wasn't too thrilled about it. Aside from two monsters appearing, it was a simplistic animation, paling in comparison to what is seen these days. My eyes opened wide upon seeing the name of the program, "Knightmare", an obvious pun on nightmare and knight.

For the next few minutes, Rainbow explained what was going on in hopes of getting the rest of us excited. Pinkie would watch anything if it meant getting to see something fun, and Twilight was interested in the technical aspects. Me? I didn't really pay much attention at first, but Rainbow continued to explain only pausing to drink some water.

" The man sitting on the throne? That's Treguard, the Dungeon Master." Rainbow Dash said.

" What does he do?" I asked.

" He's the host who gives subtle hints to the teams, but doesn't get directly involved. In the early seasons, he was pretty intimidating and enjoyed portraying the teams as being the latest victims to challenge his dungeon. Later seasons had him as a genuine good guy who wanted to see teams succeed." Rainbow Dash answered.

" How do teams succeed?"

" They need to progress through the three levels of the dungeon by interacting with other characters, picking up clues, using items and spells, and ultimately finding the quest object located at the end of Level Three." Rainbow Dash answered. I yawned, thinking her description was dull, but she quickly took offence before grabbing my arm. " You might think the game is easy, yet you'd be surprised at how few teams were able to succeed." The grip she had on my arm began to hurt so I slapped her hand to get her to let go. Rainbow blushed over how she behaved, but quickly turned her attention back to the program. " Many teams died in the dungeon because of making mistakes."

" What!? They actually died!?"

" Not really. It was all part of the illusion the show became known for."

" You said teams made mistakes?"

" If they lacked the proper item, magic, or information, they weren't going to survive for much longer. Other teams failed out of sheer stupidity. I still laugh at some of the ways those teams perished." Rainbow Dash answered.

This "Knightmare" sounded much more devious than appearances suggested. If it was as difficult as Rainbow Dash claimed, then why would so many kids want to become participants knowing their success was anything but certain? Was there a desire for personal glory? The chance to be on television for several minutes? Whatever the reason, it was a compelling situation that brought many teams to want to try and win.

As the program continued, Rainbow revealed how most quests lasted between fifteen and thirty minutes. I was surprised when she revealed the length, but she quickly added that they only allowed a certain number of teams per season. Early seasons featured the most teams who appeared on the show while the latter had fewer teams. It sounded like it was more beneficial to have been able to take part early on, but Rainbow said the later quests were much more epic.

It simply boggled my mind over how much she knew about such an old program. Rainbow enjoyed talking non-stop about the different sports teams across Canterlot, but to hear her go on and on about a television show? Her interests were much more diverse than I had originally believed.

When the program finished, the copyright year appeared--I was curious to know when it was produced--and it was revealed as 1988. That meant those who had taken part when the episode was filmed must be older now than they were back then or perhaps the worst-case scenario.

" Is it finished?"

" Yep."

" That's a relief."

" We've still got another three episodes to follow."

" Seriously!?"

" Today is a mini-marathon of Knightmare."

" I'd prefer to spend that time doing something other than watching an old program from yesteryear."

" What about you, Twilight?"

" I am truly fascinated by how this show operates." Twilight answered. She had been writing things down on a notepad, but while Rainbow Dash thought she had enjoyed it for the adventuring aspect, I knew she had been intrigued by something that related to her curious nature. " The action sequences were handled competently, but I'm afraid that I can't consider it anything more than an attempt to escape from reality. However, I did enjoy the technical aspects that were used to bring this to life. The technology was clearly archaic, but they deserve a lot of credit for doing something that had never been done before."

" Figures you were only interested in the effects."

" What were you hoping for?"

" Never mind."

Pinkie Pie, who had been silent the whole time, finally decided to say something. I had hoped that she would have used common sense and told Rainbow Dash that the program wasn't up to her standards, but I should have known that she could be entertained by just about anything.

" That, was, awesome!" Pinkie Pie chirped.

" Glad you liked it."

" I've never seen anything so amazing like that! I wish that we could go on the show and compete in the dungeon in an effort to conquer it. But, if we did actually conquer it and make it our own dungeon, would that mean others would need our permission to use it?" Pinkie Pie asked.

" We can't compete."

" Why not?"

" That particular episode aired all the way back in 1988, Pinkie. That was around twenty-eight years ago, and the show came to a conclusion in 1994. It's been over twenty years since then, and while it still maintains cult status among fans, the chances of it being revived completely are slim to none." Rainbow Dash answered.

" Awww, bummer."

If only I had taken Pinkie's words to heart instead of dismissing them as her usual antics in a bid to get attention. I would've been better prepared for what would happen to the four of us later on instead of going about in a blind panic trying to make sense of things.

We watched the other three episodes--I just didn't see the appeal--and Rainbow Dash continued to talk about it as though she were an encyclopedia dedicated to its history. I commended her for having so much passion towards telling us every last possible detail, but it merely sailed over my head. I just wasn't all that interested in a program that claimed to be about fantasy and magic, but was merely pretending to give young kids a sense of exploring a world different from their own.

Knightmare... I just couldn't picturing it being any different to what my friends and I had already experienced. What we've witnessed was real magic being used to bring about the end of this world--including the time when I was the one using it. This show mocked the fantasy setting Equestria was known for by making it more of a novelty. Yes, my true home could be best described as a world of fantasy. Humans would never be able to comprehend just how different it is from their own everyday lives. In Equestria, magic is everywhere and never runs out unless some crazed maniac wanted to use it for their own twisted purposes. Her Highness told me of those who tried conquering it through such methods. They ultimately were defeated by the Magic of Friendship.

By the time we reached the last episode of this mini-marathon, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were on the edge of their seats, eager to see what was going to happen next. My opinion still remained in that I wasn't thrilled, but I was slowly getting interested in how the teams worked together in unison to complete their objectives. Some were clearly struggling to work together, so they ended up perishing in the dungeon. Other teams proved more competent with their skills, but ended up failing due to missing out on something obvious. I supposed there was some kind of challenge after all. Would it be the kind of challenge I'd want to be a part of? Not really. I had my own obligations in the forms of guiding Twilight, and continuing to research how magic worked in this world.

Twilight would have a similar viewpoint to my own, but her fascination over the technical points of Knightmare was where we differed.

" Now that was classic!" Rainbow Dash said, stretching her arms after the final episode's credits came and went.

" I still have goosebumps over that giant spider." Pinkie Pie said.

" Shame they wasted that spell."

" Yeah, but at least they had fun."

" The super-imposed spider was a nice touch in an attempt to frighten audiences, but wouldn't it have made more sense to go with something more computer generated? I mean, creating something like that using what technology they had in those days would have been impossible, yet they could have been true pioneers." Twilight said.

" You're over-thinking things, Twilight."

" In the pursuit of knowledge, I must question everything."

" If you say so."

" Now what do we do?" Pinkie Pie asked.

" There won't be another mini-marathon until next week, but there is gonna be an episode tomorrow."

" I still think it would be fun if we were there exploring the dungeon just like those kids."

" Not gonna happen."

" Come on, Dashie! Even you would be thrilled if it did happen, right?"

" It would be pretty awesome." Rainbow Dash answered. None of us noticed it at the time, but Treguard--the host of Knightmare, according to Rainbow Dash--briefly appeared on the television screen and winked before disappearing. Had he secretly overheard what Rainbow and Pinkie talked about and planned on doing something about it? I shook my head to get rid of such a notion. He was just an actor playing a character in order to bring about a sense of fantasy role-playing. No way did he have some kind of ulterior motive that would involve my friends and I getting the wish Pinkie wanted.

Sometimes, I wish that I could be right about that, but usually the worst case scenario happens.

" I have a question for you, Rainbow Dash." I said.

" What is it?"

" You mentioned earlier something about quest objects."

" Oh, those. Aside from the first season and three incidents in the second and third seasons, every team had to acquire a quest object." Rainbow Dash said. She reached for a small side table next to the couch, grabbed a large notepad and pencil, and began drawing feverishly in it. I wasn't sure why she did that considering her drawing skills weren't exactly worthy of being placed in a museum, but she acted like she were possessed. Her concentration was so strong that not even the sound of a balloon popping could have broken that stance. I had gained a new respect for Rainbow. " These are the four quest items teams were either asked to collect or they wanted to collect."

Again, her drawings were of poor quality, but at least she hadn't done a completely terrible job of it. The first one looked like a lanky stick, but I quickly figured out that it was supposed to have been a sword. The second one was clearly a shield, but it looked like it had been disjointed in a couple of places. Next was a drawing of a crown--it actually looked more like one of those novelty hats sold in party stores--and looked bigger than the other drawings. Finally, the last one was some kind of fancy looking cup. All four items were the kind used in a fantasy setting, but why use items that had been practically done to death? Why not go with something more unique, that you'd never even think of?

" Seems simple enough."

" You really think so, Sunset? No team ever won the cup."

" Really? How come?"

" No one knows why that happened, but teams referred to the cup as being cursed."

" 'Cursed'? You've got to be kidding me."

" How else do you explain why no team won it? Anyway, the prizes they got for winning were trophies in the shape of knights. Pretty sweet huh? I wouldn't mind something like that and showing it off to everyone I know." Rainbow Dash said.

" It doesn't sound like a worthy prize."

Rainbow was taken aback by my response, yet she didn't press the issue any further. She knew that I just wasn't interested in this Knightmare, and preferred something that I could personally relate to. I know that I came from a fantasy world, but it wasn't really that way to my fellow ponies. They viewed their lifestyle as being typical fare for living in a world where you walked on hooves. Life in this world was much more hectic due to advancements in technology, everyone being in a hurry, and events happening almost every other hour, but I had no desire to change it. I had gotten adjusted to living as a human despite yearning for the day when I could gallop about on hooves instead of legs. I still had to answer for the crime of stealing a national treasure, but hopefully it wouldn't result in banishment to the desolate wastes.

Later that day, the four of us decided to go to the park--being cooped up in Rainbow's place for the rest of the day wasn't my idea of fun--to relax and not have to worry about old programs from decades long passed. Rainbow continued explaining all of the various nuances Knightmare became famous for, and I was surprised at her dedication. She normally got this engrossed whenever she competed against Indigo Zap of Crystal Prep or achieving a new high score at the local arcade. To be like that because of a television show? Maybe her watching it had been worth it after all?

Tried as she might, however, she failed to get me interested in a fantasy game. I wanted to focus on what was really important, but perhaps I should have paid more attention to her words instead of ignoring them.

The park was oddly quiet. Normally at around this time of day on a Saturday, the place would be packed with people going about their business, but we were the only ones around to appreciate such serene beauty. I wasn't worried that something was going to happen, but it just felt odd to be in a public place without any public around.

" Wow... Freaky." Pinkie Pie said.

" Because of how quiet everything is?" Twilight asked.

" I was actually referring to the lack of people."

" Yes, I see what you mean. It's very unusual that the park doesn't have as many people as it usually does."

" And I was looking forward to playing hide and seek with the local kids."

" The weather conditions are perfect so why isn't the park teaming with human life? I wasn't going to call it strange in case there was some kind of event going on that has dragged everyone else away, but now that opinion has changed. It feels like some kind of unseen force wanted just the four of us to be here at this exact moment in time. Maybe I should quickly do some research to find a possible cause." Twilight said, placing her backpack on the ground. She opened it and began fiddling about for her notepad and pencil hoping to come up with an answer, but she was quickly stopped by Rainbow.

" Pfft! You don't need to write down something so obvious." Rainbow Dash said.

" And why do you say that?" I asked.

" Why worry about a lack of people? We can still have fun but in quiet solitude."

" Aren't you the tiniest bit curious?"

" Nope!"

" Why doesn't that surprise me." I said, slapping my forehead. Rainbow Dash didn't mean to test my patience. She was always there when you needed her to be--aside from some incidents where she bailed out of personal and selfish reasons--but her ego and lack of taking things seriously made it difficult to approach her in a positive light.

I supposed she did have a valid point. The fact that the park was deserted wasn't something that needed to be investigated. Whenever one of us encountered something that wasn't normal, we immediately chalked it up as being related to Equestrian magic. There were no signs of any magical energy in the vicinity so the idea of people being abducted by a villain from Equestria was slim to none. Still, something just wasn't right. If I had been more attentive, I would have sensed that we were walking into a trap, but Rainbow insisted that nothing was going to happen, so I shrugged my shoulders and thought nothing more of it.

That's when we noticed that Pinkie had suddenly wandered off. While she lacked a proper attention span--she couldn't remain fixated on a single thing for no longer than five minutes at a time--she would never intentionally go off somewhere without telling someone about it first. If the park had been filled with the sounds of people, it would have been almost impossible to have found Pinkie, but it didn't take long to pinpoint her location. She had apparently noticed something amongst a group of trees and wanted to take a closer look. I thought she found a rare bird or something similar and wanted Fluttershy to see it, but that wasn't the case at all.

" Pinkie Pie! Why did you wander off?" Twilight asked.

" I wanted to see this giant door." Pinkie Pie answered.

" I'm sorry, but what did you just say?"

" I wanted to see this giant door." Pinkie Pie answered. At first, I thought she was just trying to pull one of her pranks, but when she pointed at a nearby tree, it turned out she was being quite serious. To our left was an old oak tree that must have been planted in the park at least over a hundred years ago given its shabby appearance. Embedded in the front was a large wooden door that clearly looked suspicious. " I've seen plenty of giant doors, but this one is definitely the largest." Pinkie Pie said as she walked up to the tree without warning. We tried to warn her to keep away from due to not knowing whether it was safe, but our words fell on deaf ears as she touched it with her hand. " Yep! It is a giant door and not some kind of weird gelatinous form pretending it was."

" Why would you touch something you don't know about?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" I know it's a door, silly, so now it's completely safe."

" That's not what I meant." Rainbow Dash said, slapping her forehead.

" What do you think, Sunset?" Twilight asked.

" I'm not sure, but I can sense a strong magical presence coming from the other side." I answered. I should have suggested for us to leave the area immediately. I should have suggested us to ignore this suspicious door. Instead, I walked forward in order to satisfy my curiosity, and that turned out to be a big mistake. " It looks like an ordinary door, but look at the craftsmanship. I've seen doors similar to this one back in Equestria, but I never would've imagine I'd see one here in this world."

" Let's open it!" Pinkie Pie suggested.

I slapped my forehead again. I should've known Pinkie would say something like that. My curiosity proved too strong for me to ignore it, so I reached out slowly with my hand, and grasped the doorknob. It felt cold to the touch, as though it had never been used for centuries, but I persevered and twisted the knob. The door opened without any problems, but what we saw welcoming us on the other side wasn't what we were expecting. Actually, we weren't expecting anything other than old tree bark and maybe some annoyed squirrels. My suspicion about the magical presence were well-founded indeed. If this had been any other kind of door, I wouldn't have had an explanation, but here I knew that serious magic had been used to present what appeared before us.

The door had opened up to a room that appeared to be from some kind of ancient castle. Banners hanging on the walls featured a coat-of-arms that was unfamiliar to me, and the magic coming from every last nook and cranny was definitely foreign. Whatever this was, whoever did this had some considerable skill in the magic arts. They might even be on equal terms with Her Highness and the other princesses of Equestria.

" Maybe we shouldn't go in."

" Where's your spirit of adventure, Sunset?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" It's called common sense."

" I say we explore it!"

" And what if we get into trouble on the other side?"

" We can always pony up to get ourselves out of any situation."

" I know we can do that without playing our instruments, but it's not like we can control when that happens."

" Pfft! No sense in worrying over what won't happen. Come on!" Rainbow Dash, running into the room beyond the door without a moment's hesitation. I couldn't believe she just went ahead and did that without thinking about the potential consequences that could result. " Aren't you guys coming?"

Pinkie Pie immediately ran through the door leaving me and Twilight to ponder over our course of action. Knowing that there was something new for her to understand, Twilight walked through making sure to have her notepad and pen at the ready. Me? I hesitated at first. Why would anyone walk into a room they knew nothing about? Anyone who did that deserved a horrible fate on the other side. I had every intention of leaving my friends behind to deal with whatever lurked in this old castle, but I couldn't abandon them even if they were acting without discretion. They were my family and I wanted to ensure they would be okay. When it came to magic, I knew better than they did--even if the magic was foreign to me.

After mulling it over for a few moments, I sighed knowing I had no other choice but to follow them. I took a few moments to collect myself and walked through the door not knowing what awaited me on the other side.

Chapter 1: Dungeon Master

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It's Only a Game... Isn't It?
By Ganondorf8
June 17, 2016
Chapter 1: Dungeon Master.

" Welcome, Watchers of illusion, to the castle of confusion. I, Treguard, challenge you to the ultimate adventure." ~Treguard~ His introduction during Series 1 and Series 2.

I couldn't believe it! Why in the world would Rainbow Dash just run through a door leading who knows where without thinking it over first? She always was impulsive and that lead her to making poor decisions, but you'd think she would have common sense to think before acting. Someone like her yearns for adventure and wouldn't think twice about passing up on such an opportunity. Then again, I supposed it was good that we happened upon the door. Considering that there was a powerful magic--unfamiliar to me--that emanated from it, if someone oblivious to magic came along and encountered the door, I fear they would have been caught in something beyond their understanding.

To be fair, this situation had gone beyond even my understanding, and I was the resident magic expert. I had dealt with all kinds of magic over the years with most of them being spells and other incantations Princess Celestia taught me she was my mentor. Other spells I chanced upon through my own observations, and others I learned through Princess Twilight coming up with something that allowed us to overcome a difficult problem. The magic emanating from the door was foreign. I knew it was magic. It had a certain scent that didn't give off an odor like most other things. When you have dabbled in the magical arts as long as I have, you can instantly tell when something has an unusual presence. Had I actually been given the chance to analyze this foreign magic, I could have given my friends and I some reassurance.

But no. I didn't get the opportunity to check. Instead, I had to run after Rainbow Dash all because she lacked patience. The strange thing about this was that the door hadn't been there for very long. When magic is used, it leaves behind a residue that grows weaker over time until it dissipates. Had this door been left here for a lengthy period of time, I would've barely been able to sense the residue. However, what I sensed was very strong, indicating that it had only been created recently. Whoever created it knew we were going to be at the park at that precise time. If I had the foresight back then instead of having it now, I'd have told the others to walk away and ask Her Highness for advice.

That option was gone, so there we were inside of an ancient castle the likes of which I'd never seen before. Whoever lived in this place had a certain flair for showing off how strong they were--weapons were hung on several walls along with a few banners that depicted what looked to be the castle's coat-of-arms. There was hardly any light source apart from a few torches lining up on each wall, rather archaic in design, but fitted with the overall atmosphere. Modern conveniences were clearly not going to be applied, so the chances of us using our phones to call for help from our other friends would have been in vain.

Judging from the size of the room we were in, it was clear that this castle was large in scope. I had seen plenty of castles when I grew up back in Equestria. Princess Celestia often asked me to come with her to other kingdoms to serve as an official dignitary of Canterlot, and while my attitude back then was different--even now I still regret how I behaved all because I thought myself as the greatest unicorn who ever lived--I paid some attention to the kinds of places we visited. Some castles looked large enough to consume entire towns, while others were so small, they looked more like cottages than anything else. Everypony had their own style that best suited them.

" Whoa! This place is awesome!" Rainbow Dash shouted, her voice echoing throughout the entire chamber.

" Not so loud!" I said, gritting my teeth.

" It's not like anyone else is here, Sunset."

" And what makes you say that?"

" This place looks like it hasn't been touched in years." Rainbow Dash answered. She made a valid point. There were so many cobwebs strewn about, even an entire group of maids would have trouble trying to clean that up. Still, I knew she was wrong about the place being deserted. The weapons hanging on the walls weren't for decoration. I knew this because droplets of blood were trickling down several of them. That told me someone had used them and very recently. I pointed it out to Rainbow Dash and the excitement faded from her face in an instant. " Is that blood? What kind of castle would have something so disgusting like that!?"

" The kind where we shouldn't be."

" Heh! Guess I shouldn't run through that door, huh?"

" It's too late for us to go back anyway." Twilight announced. I knew what she was going to say next. It was fairly obvious to a magic expert like myself. That door had been created by magic, so once someone walked through it, it disappeared, its purpose now complete. We turned to face where we entered the room from, and it was no longer there. I simply stood there while Rainbow Dash began to freak out. Pinkie Pie didn't seem to care either way, and Twilight took out her notepad to write something down. " I know that I'm still new to this whole magical lifestyle you guys have experienced, but I must say that I'm just fascinated at how certain magical objects operate. The moment we entered this room, the door closed by itself and shrank down in size until it popped out of existence."

" How can a door just 'pop out of existence'?"

" It can if it was made with magic." I answered.

" So we're stuck here?"

" That does seem to be the case." Twilight answered.

" Well, you wanted us to follow you here, Rainbow Dash, and you wanted to check out what was beyond the door. It looks like you got your wish, but I'll admit that I wasn't expecting us to wind up in a place like this." I said.

" Okay, okay! I get it! I screwed up!" Rainbow Dash said, slapping her forehead.

" Since we're here now, we might as well start looking around for an exit."

" Are you familiar with castles, Sunset?" Twilight asked.

" Equestria has them all over the place, but I'll be honest in saying that the only one I frequented more than any other was Princess Celestia's castle in Canterlot. If I have my bearings correct here, I'd say that this room was somewhere on the lower levels indicating that we need to go up to get out." I answered.

" With all those weapons around, could this be some kind of armoury?"

" No, there'd be more than just what we can see hanging on these walls. Armouries in castles are filled to the brim with weapons of all kinds to give a variety to the soldiers who have to use them in battle." I answered.

" Maybe it's the castle dungeon?"

" We're down low enough in the castle's depths for that, but there aren't any prison cells." I answered. My own instincts were suggesting that this was a torture chamber given the bloodied weapons, but there would have been a few devices around to compliment such a presentation. This room simply consisted of weapons and torches hanging on the walls that made everything appear eerie. " Whatever this room is, we shouldn't stick around anymore in case the master of the place sends some guards down here to check up on things. If we get caught, we'll need to come up with something incredibly convincing to get ourselves out of it." I said, my eyes turning towards Pinkie.

" What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Pinkie Pie asked.

" If we need an excuse for the castle's master, you're the right person for the job."

" And what makes you think I can do that?"

" You always have something up your sleeve."

" Can't argue with you on that." Pinkie Pie said as she reached into her hair and pulled out a large book to the surprise of the rest of us. " I do have a lot of different excuses to use for any occasion to help ease tensions between friends whenever they get into an argument." She began flipping through numerous pages until she used her finger to stop on a specific page near the middle of her book. " But, I don't think I have one that can help someone get themselves out of a problem involving ancient castles. It'd be sweet if I did, but it just doesn't happen all that often."

" Seriously!? You have excuses for everything except the kind we need?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" If we can make one up that's believable, I can jot it down in my book for future reference."

" I... I just... How... Why!?"

" Maybe the master is an understanding person." Twilight said.

" If he isn't then we just have to hope that we're lucky."

" And if we're not?"

" You don't want to know that answer."

" No, I guess not." Twilight said. She then began writing something on her notepad. I walked over to see what she was doing, and it wasn't what I thought it was. I thought she was writing down a plausible excuse for us to use against the master, but she was actually drawing a square that represented this room. " Are you curious, Sunset? Since we don't know the layout of this castle, I figure that I could make a map that will inform us of where we've been. I'm not sure if it will be useful, but I'll do whatever I can to help."

I smiled. Despite only being a part of our circle of friends for a short period of time, Twilight had been doing everything in her power to fit in. It was an awkward transition at first, especially when she spoke with Her Highness, but she has slowly gotten used to having friends who cared about her. At least we had Twilight's best interests at heart. Her old "friends", if you could call them that, from Crystal Prep tried to make her into something she wasn't. I guess they didn't take too kindly about her transferring to CHS, but now they didn't have to feel stood up by her all the time. I knew all about how they felt inferior to Twilight because of how smart she was.

To be fair, they are also trying to come to grips with friendship, so I can give them the benefit of the doubt.

" So which door do we take?" Pinkie Pie asked.

" There's more than one door?" I asked.

" Yep! We've got that one over there in the corner, that one over there to our left, and that one over there on the floor." Pinkie Pie answered. Right off the bat, I knew for certain that the door on the floor would lead to a basement level or an underground sewer system. The other two doors both were potential ways of getting out to an exit, but which door was the correct one? It was that kind of pressure that didn't settle well with me.

" I say we take the one in the corner." Rainbow Dash suggested.

" Why that way?" I asked.

" Just a hunch."

" That's all!? No other reason for choosing it?"

" Why would I need to think that? Either one will take us where we need to go."

" We don't know that."

" And that's why we just pick one at random and see what happens."

I gritted my teeth for a few moments before breathing slowly to calm myself down. Rainbow Dash's lack of thinking had reached a point where I was about to lose my temper and let her feel the brunt of it, but I quickly realized that she made a lot of sense. Both directions could lead to an exit or lead to an even worse place. Since we knew nothing of this castle, thinking about which way to go wasn't important until we gained actual progress.

However, I wasn't about to just pick Rainbow's suggestion just because she said it. I wanted to take a more democratic approach, so I took out a coin I had in my pocket. I supposed making a decision by having a vote would have been the sensible course of action, but flipping a coin meant no one's feelings got hurt if their choice wasn't used. If the coin came up heads, we would take Rainbow's route--she would be thrilled to the point where her ego would grow exponentially--and tails meant going the other way. Our fate would be decided by a simple coin toss.

That would have happened had it not been for something else. My body suddenly felt a strange force, and it came from the door that Rainbow had suggested. A coincidence? Or, perhaps fate had intended for us to take that route?

" Come on! Flip the coin already!"

" I... sense something."

" Huh? You 'sense something'? Funny, I don't feel anything unless you mean the cold from a lack of temperature in here."

" No, it's not that. I feel a strange force all around us. I don't know why it took me this long to pick up on it, but I feel a powerful magic flowing about this room. I've been meaning to try something for a while now, and now's as good a time as any to see if it works." I said. I walked towards the door in the corner, stopped short at the wall, placed my hand on it, and closed my eyes to concentrate. The magic I had sensed was coming through the walls, and was the same kind that I sensed earlier at the park. Like before, this was unfamiliar magic, so my knowledge was very limited.

" Uh, what are you doing?"

" If you must know, Rainbow Dash, I'm trying to sense the magic that flows about this castle. By running my hand across the wall, I'm trying to figure out which direction we should go to finding ourselves an exit." I answered. There was nothing coming from the door to the left, so that told me going through there would be a bad decision. I moved my hand to the door in the corner, and the magic grew stronger to the point where I had to pull away. " Whatever this magic is, it's coming from that door! Guess we're going your way after all."

" How did you manage to pull that off?" Twilight asked.

" While each of us possesses Equestrian magic, remember that I'm from Equestria, so I grew up on magic. I've had more experience than all of you and our friends, so I can do things that are currently beyond your limitations. Her Highness has more experience than I do, of course, so if she were here then she could've figured this out instantly." I answered.

" There's no need to sell yourself short, Sunset."

" I know, but there have been times when I preferred to rely on Her Highness' experiences than my own."

" She's not here right now so you'll have to do." Rainbow Dash said.

" Let's hope that my instincts were right and don't lead us somewhere we'll regret." I said. Once again, I had to rely on my "expertise" when it came to magic. I was pretty good no doubt about it, but I wasn't on the same level as Her Highness.

Had I not abandoned my studies all because I was stupid and self-fish, I could've learned even more and became an alicorn in my own right. But, that path was denied to me through my own choice--idiotic as it was--so I had to live a few years without any magic until I brought Her Highness' crown into this world--the one we live in, not this castle. I knew my friends were relying on me to guide us through this castle, so I breathed heavily a few times, walked forward towards the door, and opened it.

The door opened with a loud creak--someone hadn't oiled it for a very long time--and on the other side was a long hallway. There were plenty of other doors scattered about, but we knew that picking one at random would be tantamount to suicide if something dangerous lurked beyond them. The poor lighting courtesy of the sparse torches didn't make me feel any easier about guiding us along, but we agreed to stick close and not go off on our own. There could be something waiting for us in the darkness and we'd have no means of dealing with it should that come to pass.

As we slowly walked along, I ran my hand along the way to follow the magical flow. While I had no problems following it--it was pretty easy--I had to stop every few minutes because there was something unusual about this magic. I mean, it was magic, but there was another presence with it.

When I pulled my hand away from the wall for the tenth time, Twilight finally took notice and placed her hand on my shoulder.

" Is something bothering you?" Twilight asked.

" No."

" Then why are you pulling your hand away from the wall?"

" It's the magic. I don't know why, but I can sense something else flowing with it. It's like the magic in this castle has been combined with something else."

" What does it feel like to you?"

" Like... an electrical device."

" That doesn't sound right."

" No, it doesn't."

" It's just techno-magic." Rainbow Dash said. I immediately turned towards her, my eyes wide open in shock over what she just said. Techno-magic? I've never heard of a magic like that, and I knew various kinds thanks to my studies with Princess Celestia. " Uh, Sunset? You're kind of freaking me out with your creepy stare." Rainbow Dash said, backing away slowly due to being uncomfortable.

" What did you say?"

" Huh? Techno-magic?"

" Yes!"

" That's cause what you've been sensing is techno-magic."

" And how did you come to that conclusion?"

" When you said electrical device, it just clicked in my head like that, and it reminded me of something from Knightmare. The leader of The Opposition, Lord Fear, used a form of magic that combined sorcery and technology in his bid to prevent quests from being completed. The Powers that Be would eventually use it themselves in order to keep up, but they were novices compared to Lord Fear." Rainbow Dash answered.

What was truly surprising wasn't the answer Rainbow gave, but the fact that she knew what kind of magic I had been sensing. I felt a little embarrassed that I wasn't able to figure it out, but that quickly faded away when I realized she had brought up that program again. Was it possible that the castle we were exploring was the one from Knightmare? Had it actually been the case, Rainbow would have geeked out profusely without end until the rest of us got sick and tired of it.

In truth, this wasn't the actual castle the dungeoneer explored, but was very close to the program's principle. Despite Rainbow Dash having got on my nerves with her lack of thinking, she did prove me wrong many times leaving me to feel like I had underestimated her. Still, what she said about magic and technology coming together had gotten Twilight's attention, and it had also gotten mine. Twilight was obviously interested in the technological aspect behind it while I was interested in the actual magic. Perhaps this was something I should write to Her Highness about whenever I got a free moment. She would definitely like to know about a magic completely foreign to Equestria.

" Would that mean our cellphones can work here?"

" I don't know but I'm going to say no."

" There goes that idea."

" The only place I know that uses techno-magic would be the dungeon of Knightmare." Rainbow Dash said. When she put two and two together several seconds later, her face lit up so much, I thought she was going to explode. " Oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh! We're actually here in Knightmare Castle! This is the best thing ever! But, I was expecting things to look a lot more special effect heavy, and not an old castle that could do with some lights." Despite how much she had annoyed me, I had to smile at Rainbow Dash for being so enthusiastic about our predicament. Granted, I didn't want us to be here, but she was completely in her element.

" I can see a flight of stairs at the end of the hallway." Twilight said.

" The magical flow is coming in that direction, so I guess we know where to go next." I said.

We walked slowly down the hallway until we reached the stairs, yet not once did we encounter anyone on patrol. Castles usually had guards who walked around to make sure that no one was causing trouble, but this place was completely deserted. Then again, perhaps this was an area that no one ever bothered to visit? That didn't explain the bloodied weapons on display as someone put them there. There were more questions and answers, but I was completely unprepared for what happened next.

The stairs looked sturdy enough despite some obvious cracks here and there, a sign of disrepair that further indicated how old this castle was. I was expecting Rainbow Dash to suddenly run up them without thinking things through again, but she surprised me by being hesitant. I could relate to her on that. I sensed a power coming from the floor above. I didn't know what kind of power it was exactly, but something was up there. Perhaps the master of the castle's personal chambers were up there? That was my thought-process. If we could find the master's room, it would certainly cut down on any exploration. That's when I noticed Pinkie Pie was missing and after I distinctly told her we had to stick together.

It didn't take a genius to figure out where she went.

A few moments later, the sound of Pinkie's giggling came from the next floor. We all walked up slowly--running would've only startled Pinkie and we didn't want to take any chances in case someone was waiting up there for us--and found her looking through a tiny crack in a rather large oak door.

" What took you guys so long to get up here?" Pinkie Pie asked.

" Pinkie! What are you doing?" I asked, trying my best not to lose my patience.

" Well, duh! I wanted to know what they've been cooking around here."

" Cooking? You mean, someone is actually here?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" Just before we reached the stairs, my nose suddenly smelt something delicious, and my brain was telling me to go and find the source. It turns out that the smell was coming from this floor and behind this door. Whoever is in charge of cooking in this castle certainly has the 'Pinkie Pie Stamp of Approval'." Pinkie Pie answered.

" I told you we had to stick together." I said.

" You were going to come up here anyway, so we're still together, silly."

Why do I even bother trying to argue with the likes of Pinkie? All it ever did was cause me nothing but headaches. Still, I was impressed that her nose was able to pick up on the smell of food, yet who would be a chef in such a dreary castle? Chefs worked in castles as private cooks for royalty--Princess Celestia had her personal chef who constantly acquiesced to her sweet tooth--or someone of similar rank, but none of it made any sense. If there was a chef around, how come we hadn't seen anyone else?

My next piece of curiosity came in the form of what Pinkie Pie had been looking at the entire time. Not once did her eyes turn away from whatever was happening in the room beyond the door, and it had certainly proven effective given how she continued giggling. I turned to Twilight, hoping she would have an answer, but merely shrugged her shoulders. That left me to turn to Rainbow Dash for a possible explanation. Just as I was about to speak up, another voice suddenly called out from beyond the door.

" Dire emergency team! You seem to be caught in quite the perilous predicament."

The voice didn't sound familiar to me in the least, but it sounded like there was more than one person on the other side.

" What you need is the Night Sight. Where is the Night Sight?"

My mind was confused with the random nonsense, but Rainbow Dash began glowing like a storm.

" Oh, they don't have the Night Sight!"

I was slightly curious as to why this person kept on saying "Night Sight". It sounded like a powerful magic spell that allowed someone to see in the dark, but then it could have been something else entirely. Rainbow started having trouble containing her eagerness so I had to refrain her from completely losing control of her hormones. We were strangers in a castle that was somewhere, and weren't in any position to explain our presence. Should Rainbow accidentally alert whoever was on the other side that they had intruders, things would quickly spiral out of control before we knew it.

" Ooooh nasty!"

" I know who that is!" Rainbow Dash said as she struggled to contain her excitement. She quickly covered her mouth to prevent herself from shouting and regained her composure several moments later. " I know who's on the other side of that door! That's Treguard, the dungeon master who acts as the host of Knightmare. I recognize that famous quote of his anywhere. Anyone who's seen this show knows everything about 'ooooh nasty', as it became his most endearing quote. I can't believe that the legendary Treguard is on the other side of that door giving advice to a team."

" So this castle is fake?" I asked.

" Yeah, but the contestants weren't meant to know that."

" Ruins the illusion?"

" Pretty much."

" Since you're the resident expert on Knightmare, mind telling the rest of us anything else you know about this Treguard?"

" I could talk about him for days without stopping! Since you probably don't want the full version, I'll just get straight to the point. Treguard was originally the only person who ever mastered the dungeon below Knightmare Castle, but he issued the gauntlet to any who dared to take on the challenge." Rainbow Dash answered.

" Is that why those 'teams' wanted to compete?"

" Yep."

Her answer didn't go into the kind of detail I had hoped for, but it was better than getting nothing. If this castle had been nothing more than a stage set like the kind used during the production of movies and television shows, things would have been resolved rather quickly, and we'd have been able to leave. Unfortunately, things were much more complicated than I had expected. What I perceived as being fake was anything but that.

" I'm afraid that this is where your quest ends, team. I didn't want to have to do this, but, farewell!"

A powerful striking sound suddenly filled the air followed by a whooshing sound. While I didn't focus on that noise per say, I was more concerned with what Treguard said about doing something he didn't want to do. I honestly thought he had either killed whoever he had been talking to or sent them to someone else who could. Before I came up with any other wild claims, Rainbow Dash reminded me of how Knightmare worked. She said Treguard dismisses teams who perished in the dungeon by sending them back home, but then she started to get annoyed over something I found trivial at best.

" Why didn't he cast the 'Dismiss' spell? He always did that whenever he dismissed a defeated team."

" Is that really important?" I asked.

" Of course it is! It's one of his trademarks! Although, he did drop it when he acquired that staff."

" There they go."

" Oh! I'm really starting to hate this game!"

" Well, it's not my fault that the Opposition has been getting even more devious lately."

" I thought we were finally going to win one for the first time in what feels like forever."

" It has been a long time since we last crowned any champions."

" It's not like a winning team is going to come through that door and magically change the game forever."

" You'd like that wouldn't you?"

It sounded like Treguard was arguing with a young woman although she was doing a fine job of responding to his comments. What Rainbow Dash said about his ability to send teams home had given me an idea. If we walked in there, explained the situation, and asked him nicely if he could send us back home, I was certain he would've done so. My plan had one major hiccup in the form of Rainbow Dash. She pushed Pinkie Pie aside before looking through the crack in the door.

" What are you doing?" I asked.

" I can't believe I'm seeing the Treguard in person." Rainbow Dash answered.

" Hey! I was looking first!" Pinkie Pie said.

" It's my turn now!"

Just seeing the two of them acting like spoiled brats made me question why I sometimes hung out with them. Twilight, who had been quiet for some time now, had been busy writing things down in her notepad. I could appreciate wanting to understand more of our situation, but she had chosen a lousy time to conduct research.

Rainbow and Pinkie continued pushing each other back and forth in their bid to see what was beyond the door, and it got to the point where I had to step in and break them up before they did anything to further embarrass themselves.

" Then there's only one thing for it... Enter, Stranger!"

Just as I was about to grab Rainbow Dash by the back of her shirt and reel her in, Pinkie Pie lurched forward in another effort to peak through the crack. Her leg brushed against mine and I tripped over, pushing all of us through the door and into the room startling the occupants. Unlike the previous parts of the castle, this room was highly furbished and gave off a warm feeling. A fireplace--it had been recently lit--was roaring to our left, a large chair stood next to it, and a bench that could sit at least three people was to the right of that. What truly surprised me was the large screen that hung on a wall. If this was supposed to be an ancient castle, why would they have a modern fixture like that?

My eyes were then drawn to the two individuals who were staring at us. The first one, a man, had a gruff exterior and his clothes indicated that he was of noble birth. The other, a woman, wore clothes one would see someone wear if they lived in the Middle East during more ancient times. It was pretty obvious that the man was Treguard, but the woman was someone Rainbow Dash failed to mention. My first thought was that we were in serious trouble, but that quickly faded away when Treguard stepped forward.

" You predicted correctly, Majida." Treguard said.

" I didn't really think the next team was going to literally come through that door. Besides, why did they come through that door? Aren't they supposed to appear out of thin air whenever you say 'enter stranger'?"

" Quite so, but I suppose they wanted to have a fancy entrance. Although, stumbling through the door doesn't bode very well, does it?" Treguard asked. I managed to get myself out from under Rainbow Dash--she fell on top of me when we came in--and stood up before Treguard. He began to comb me over and it made me feel rather uncomfortable. He then did the same to my friends although Rainbow continued geeking out. I hoped she had the decency to refrain from doing something stupid. " And who the hobgoblins are you?" Treguard asked.

" I'm Sunset Shimmer, and these are my friends, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle." I answered.

" Really? Parents can be so cruel, but pay me no mind."

" What's wrong with our names?"

" To be frank, I was expecting something more common, like Ben, Simon, Julie, or even January."

" Well, we're us."

" Yes, and your complexions are most unusual. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with orange skin before. Well, with the exception of a hobgoblin after it was roasted enough times with a fireball. Still, I suppose beggars can't be choosers, and we are desperate to have a winning team for the first time in years." Treguard said. He then suddenly felt his hand being shook up and down repeatedly, and turned his attention to Rainbow Dash who was behind the shaking. Treguard was beside himself at first, but quickly grew accustomed to what was happening before him. " My, but aren't you quite the excited teammate." I slapped my forehead. Why did she have to go and do that? " Anyway, may I ask where you four are from?"

" We're from Canterlot." Rainbow Dash answered.

" I don't believe I know that place."

" It's somewhere in North America."

" Then you four have obviously come a long way."

" And let me say that it's an honour to finally meet you face to face, Treguard."

" Since you have graced us with your names, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Treguard, fourth and youngest son of the Fifth Baron of Dunshelm. This castle, my ancestral home and birthright, was once a glorious castle that protected the land from northern invaders. For over a hundred years, my family served as guardians, and were vassals chosen by William II, son of 'The Conqueror'. However, it was besieged and conquered when Vestan of Brittany attacked." Treguard said.

Already, I wasn't impressed with what he said to us. While Rainbow Dash was thrilled beyond words, I thought that his story was dull and boring. Compared to what I've heard ponies from different royal houses boast about, this Treguard paled in comparison to them. Pinkie Pie chosen to listen as she loved a good story, and Twilight spent the time gazing at the various tapestries and other decorum that adorned the room. Why was this room more important than the others? Why not have such luxuries present all over the castle? Those were just two of the many questions I thought about, but then I reminded myself that we needed to be sent back home.

Treguard had spent the last couple of minutes talking about his struggles in the name of reclaiming his birthright--Rainbow Dash was mesmerized with each word--so I had to interrupt him before we got sidetracked completely.

" Excuse me. That's an interesting story and all, but my friends and I don't have the time to be listening to it."

" I agree with this one, Treguard. Why do you always tell new teams these days about your past?"

" It gets them in the mood." Treguard answered.

" And who is she?" I asked.

" This is Majida... My assistant, if you could call her one. Supposedly, she is a genie from somewhere in the Middle East, and while I don't doubt that claim, she hasn't exactly used any magic that would convince anyone that she is one." Treguard answered.

" Oh! You didn't have to say that to them." Majida shouted, turning her back to us.

" Ignore her. She gets this way whenever she feels the slightest bit offended. Now then, which one of you shall be the dungeoneer who shall brave the perils of the greater dungeon below, and seek out one of the four classic quest items?" Treguard asked.

" I was hoping you could help us return to where we came--" I answered. I suddenly stopped upon my brain taking what he just said into consideration. " I'm sorry, but what did you just say about someone going somewhere?"

Chapter 2: The Reluctant Dungeoneer

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It's Only a Game... Isn't It?
By Ganondorf8
June 21, 2016
Chapter 2: The Reluctant Dungeoneer.

" This is its manifestation, it is your own life force. This is condition green, the next stage is amber and on condition red you are in grave peril, for this is no game of numerous lives. Here, you have only one." ~Treguard~ Warning teams about their Lifeforce in series one and two.

" Yes, I said which one of you is going to become the dungeoneer, and retrieve one of the four classic quest items." Treguard answered.

" I'm sorry, but I think you have us confused with someone else." I said.

" I don't see how that's even possible. You were watching this show when I observed you earlier, and you clearly possessed a strong desire to take on the challenge presented to teams here at the castle. Despite being older than most teams, I can give you a fair shot at achieving glory. I'm surprised that the magic door I placed in your world brought you here instead of outside, but I suppose that magic wasn't as powerful as it once was." Treguard said.

" You brought us here?"

" All I did was provide the means to reach this castle. You came here of your own volition."

" Hold on! How did you know we were watching? Also, how can you possibly do that?"

" What people in your world see is merely an illusion designed to provide them with entertainment that keeps them wanting more. They believe that everything is real when in fact nothing here can harm those who come here." Treguard answered. I couldn't believe what he was telling us. He brought us under false pretenses or rather we brought ourselves, yet he was intentionally avoiding my questions about how we knew we were watching--my friends more so than myself. I had every mind to walk up to him and give him a stern shouting, but then Treguard's expression changed. " In reality, the greater game is very real. When dungeoneers perish, they truly meet their end, but we use powerful magic to bring them back to life, and return them home without them ever realizing it."

" Why tell us this? You're kind of ruining the magic of television."

" That's because you four are different from the other teams who have come before you."

" Is it because of our skin?"

" No. I can sense powerful magic coming from you, and it's something I've never seen before. The teams who have come to this castle only bring their wits and the belief that they can conquer what has proven to be a difficult challenge. Had they possessed what you have, they would have survived the truly terrifying trials of the lowest level." Treguard answered.

" How did you watch us despite being in an old program from over twenty years ago?"

" That's a question only you can answer."

I had to refrain myself from rushing forward and throttling this Treguard character. He deliberately avoided answering my question by giving me a lousy excuse, but then it made me think about his words. What if he didn't have an answer? Was he trying to have us come up with a credible answer?

Those questions were nothing compared to the bombshell he revealed about the true nature of this show. Everything that existed in the dungeon below was real and not the result of primitive--by today's standards--computer technology. I supposed this was done to appease to the youth who came on in an attempt to win this game. If they found out that things were real, it would have scarred them knowing their lives were in actual danger. Since my friends and I were much older, we were more capable of handling the truth. Our own experiences against fighting evil magic also gave us an edge compared to those kids.

Once I had calmed down and gotten my mind wrapped around everything Treguard said, I thought about the door we entered that brought us here. I should've realized that it had been created by magic. The aura that exuded from it was obvious enough for any self-respecting magic user to figure out, yet I remained ignorant and never questioned it. I had to give him credit for being able to conjure up a door in a place where my friends and I happened to be. It takes a lot of concentration to be able to do something like that. Treguard obviously possessed some arcane skill in magic, as I doubted that he could've asked an actual magic user to create the door for him--I was later proven wrong.

Looking around to see what my friends were up to, Rainbow Dash dashed about like she were an obsessed child, pandering over everything that we were surrounded by. She needed some self control before she did something that could cause us to be thrown into the dungeon. I understood that she had dreamt about coming to Knightmare Castle--even if said dream had only been in her mind for the last week or so--and was over the moon, but she wasn't doing us any favours by acting like a fangirl. Pinkie Pie was arguing with Treguard's assistant over food, and wanting access to their kitchen. I knew Pinkie was passionate about cooking, but her approach clearly wasn't working. If that woman, Majida--I think that was her name--was a genie as she claimed, Pinkie could be turned into something should she annoy her long enough.

The only one who wasn't really in over her head, was Twilight. She had since sat down on the bench that was next to Treguard's throne, and had been feverishly writing down on her notepad pausing every few moments to observe our current surroundings. I didn't know what she was writing down, but I did know that it was to further her own understanding of how everything worked around here. Me? I took a break from speaking to our host and took another look around the room. What struck me the most from my observation was a series of paintings that hung on a wall in a hallway that connected to this room. I couldn't tell what they were, but the paintings looked more like photos of kids.

I doubted that Treguard was willing to explain, but I had someone who could give me an answer.

" Rainbow Dash!" I said, grabbing her by the shoulder as she ran by, bringing her to a stop.

" I'm kinda busy right now gushing over how awesome everything is." Rainbow Dash said.

" Do you have a few moments to answer a question?"

" Depends on what it is."

" Those paintings hanging in that hallway over there. Do you know anything about them?"

" Huh?" Rainbow Dash said. She looked in the direction I was pointing in, and immediately began to squeal so loud, I had to cover my ears to avoid getting a headache. She followed that up by jumping up and down a few times before she grabbed my shoulders firmly. " Don't you know what that hallway is, Sunset?" I shook my head, prompting Rainbow's jaw to drop and her eyes to widen. " I can't believe you don't know about the hall of winners! The teams who succeeded in conquering the dungeon were forever immortalized in that room! Just being among them is enough to inspire anyone to want to succeed."

" So all the winning teams are in there?"

" Yep! They're the best of the best and the ones most people remember."

" Since you appear to be so eager about it, you should check that hallway out and gush over your idols." I said. Rainbow Dash let go of my shoulders, and immediately dashed off in the direction of the hallway. The sounds of her squeals echoed throughout the hallway, reverberating in this room, her noise attracting Treguard's attention. He walked over to me using lengthy strides, but I wasn't sure if he was going to scold me for allowing Rainbow to go off on her own--even if she was only in the adjacent hallway.

" I see your friend has taken a shining to our hallway of winners." Treguard said.

" She's the true fan of this world. My other friends are interested in this for their own reasons, but I just don't see the point of it. I mean, I appreciate you wanting to provide kids with such an impressive immersion that tickles their imaginations, but I've seen the real thing when it comes to magic and monsters. Sorry for giving your hopes up, but we came here to ask you to send us back home." I said.

" You've seen magic and monsters in your world?"

" Where I'm personally from, I grew up on it."

" Ah, so you were a wizard in your youth."

" No, a unicorn." I said. The moment I said that, Treguard's mouth dropped in disbelief. He wasn't the only person I've encountered who gave me that exact expression. Many people I've met had looked upon me that way, and doubted my claim that I was from a world of magical equines. I lacked proof of my claim, but my words were the only thing I had that could explain how I was familiar with things most others couldn't understand. " My friends may be impressed with what you have, but I'm not like them in that regard." I said.

My next thought involved gathering my friends together and demanding that Treguard send us back home, but instead he chose to keep silent before turning his back to me. I knew he was thinking about what I told him. Judging from his initial reaction, he had probably seen and heard some pretty strange things during his lifetime. He told us that during those ten years of self-exile from his homeland, he travelled about as a mercenary for hire before ultimately deciding to go back and claim his birthright. A world like this was filled with arcane creatures, powerful magic, and perhaps some things that didn't even exist in Equestria. Despite everything Treguard had experienced, was my claim enough to push him over the edge? Or, did he truly believe that I was what I said I was.

" So, you're actually a unicorn?"

" Yes."

" That makes you the rarest individual who has ever graced these castle walls." Treguard said. It sounded like he believed me, but I couldn't drop my guard just yet. Before I had a chance to ask him to send us home, he turned towards me, a sharp piercing gaze came from his eyes, piercing my skin. " You can be sent home to where you come from, but not in the way you are thinking of. In this game, the only way you can return to your world is either conquering the dungeon, or perish within it."

" Then I guess--"

" And I wouldn't think about simply entering the dungeon and killing yourself in the first room. The powers that be shall prevent that from happening. You would also be doing yourself a great disservice by choosing to act in a manner that goes against the Adventurer's Code." Treguard said.

" What's that?"

" Seriously!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her jaw dropped and eyes widened again. Before she answered my question, she ran up to Treguard, bowed before him a couple of times, and covered my mouth with her hand to prevent me from saying anything else. " I'm so, so sorry that my friend is slow on the uptake." I tried saying something in response to her insult, but her hand limited me to a few incomprehensible mumbles. " Sunset's usually a lot smarter than this!" She then looked at me with disdain in her eyes. " Everyone who's been here knows about the Adventurer's Code! 'Your Quest is for Truth and Justice. Attempt to remain true to them'. 'Aggression breeds aggression. It is best not to attack anything unless it appears to be attacking you, or threatening to do so'. 'Do not attack superior forces when your wits can serve you better'. Those are just three of the ten rules that make up the code."

" Mmph!" I said, trying hard to speak.

" The pressure of being here is slowly rotting her mind. She'd gladly read the Adventurer's Code if you happen to have a copy."

" Mmph!"

" There is a book over there on the table, but I think your friend isn't the only one who needs to read it." Treguard said.

At that precise moment, I finally managed to get Rainbow's hand off my mouth by pulling it away with my own hands. I couldn't believe she did that to me! I also couldn't believe she insulted my intelligence just because I wasn't as interested in this show as she was. Before I could shout at her for being so immature, a book was thrust into my hands, and I looked at the cover to see what it was. The title was called "The Adventurer's Code: The Guide to Being a Good Adventurer". I had no intention of reading something trivial, so I tossed it behind my back, but Pinkie Pie caught it before it landed.

" What are you doing!? Rainbow Dash said.

" I'm not interested."

" But you have to read it if you want to play."

" Who says I have to?"

" Duh! If we want to go back home, we have to play the game. You heard what Treguard said, Sunset. The only way we can go home is if we win this game, and that means playing by the rules detailed within that book. If I were you, I'd sit on that bench and read those rules until they've buried themselves in your brain." Rainbow Dash answered.

The look in her eyes told me that she was dead serious. Whenever she was passionate about something, she would let you have it were you to insult it. I didn't want to destroy my friendship with Rainbow over something so petty, so I quietly took the book from Pinkie, walked over to the bench, sat down, and started reading. Everyone else then looked at Rainbow in utter shock, and she slapped her forehead knowing that she made a blunder. Without saying another word, she walked over to a corner of the room, and beckoned Pinkie and Twilight to join her much to their displeasure. Treguard and Majida remained where they stood, and I focused on reading the code.

Despite my initial hesitancy of this game, I had to admit that the rules of the adventurer's code were written with the utmost detail. It also served as a reflection of the kind of person I used to be. When I was a bully, I manipulated others without remorse. I had no conscious telling me that what I was doing was wrong, so I kept on going until I was finally shown the error of my ways by Princess Twilight and my friends. Writing those rules gave me a sense that perhaps I could do more, and strive to truly be heroic.

In the meantime, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight talked amongst themselves. Despite their best efforts in keeping their conversation private, I was able to hear them from my current sitting position. It paid having been a unicorn, as my ears were sharper than most humans.

" That was quite the outburst you had against Sunset, Rainbow Dash." Twilight said.

" I haven't seen you this mad since the time I accidentally burned one of your soccer balls in the oven." Pinkie Pie added.

" Why did you do something like that?"

" It was going to be a birthday surprise. I wanted her to have the bestest cake imaginable, and I thought to combine her soccer ball with some cake mix to make something she would never forget." Pinkie Pie answered, her face blushing for a few moments. " Unfortunately, things ended up going wrong when I was told that you couldn't put a soccer ball into an oven even if you had placed it into a batch of cake mix."

" Sorry I asked."

" Can we please focus on what's important here?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" Having some guilt over how you treated Sunset?"

" Guess I did go too far, but she was ridiculing something I'm passionate about."

" That's because she's seen things the rest of us cannot even begin to fathom. A show like this merely tries to imitate what it can be like to experience a world full of fantasy, yet she's experienced the real thing." Twilight said.

" Still, she could've at least been more enthusiastic."

" You're up to something, Dashie." Pinkie Pie said.

" Oh yeah? What makes you think that?"

" Eh, just a hunch."

" We know now that the only way we can go home is to play the game of Knightmare, right?" Rainbow Dash asked. Both Pinkie and Twilight looked at each other for a few moments before turning their gaze back to Rainbow and shrugging their shoulders. She sighed knowing that she had to once again explain something that was deemed simple. " Treguard has the magic that can send us home, but he won't use it unless we become a team who attempts to conquer the dungeon." Again, both Pinkie and Twilight looked at each other before looking back, but this time Twilight decided to speak up.

" If this is true, then we need to quickly overcome our differences." Twilight said.

" Our little spat aside, I think we'd make for an awesome team!"

" Uh, but you're the only one who has read the adventurer's code, Dashie. Neither Twilight or I have even read let alone glanced at the cover, so how can the two of us hope to do anything without reading something that's so vital?" Pinkie Pie asked.

" Don't worry about that. I already have an idea in mind."

" Why do I have a feeling Sunset isn't going to be liking it?" Twilight asked.

" Okay! The way this works is that three of the four team members will be the advisors. They sit on that bench Sunset's sitting on, and they guide the fourth team member around the dungeon as their eyes and eyes. They see everything and the dungeoneer's limited to what's at their feet." Rainbow Dash answered.

" It must get pretty boring staring at your feet." Pinkie Pie said.

" Anyway... One of us is going to have to become the dungeoneer."

" Who did you have in mind?" Twilight asked. Rainbow then folded her arms behind her neck and grinned slyly before looking in my direction. Pinkie Pie and Twilight then looked in the same direction, their eyes opened wide in shock over what she was planning.

In the meantime, I looked on with sweat dripping down my brow. Whenever Rainbow had that smile on her face, you knew that she was up to something. Despite getting into a petty argument over an old television show, I still valued her as a good friend whose loyalty remained impeccable. She annoyed me at times with her ego, but she had come a long way since the early days where it ballooned out of control to the point of sheer ignorance. I resumed reading the adventurer's code, my mind focused on both the rules and wondering what Rainbow was planning. I should have stopped reading there and then, and confronted my friends over what Rainbow's plan was. Had I done that, I wouldn't be where I was now.

Eventually, my friends finally came out from their corner and approached Treguard, who had been acting very patiently up to that point. I thought he was going to lose control of his composure and come down on us for wasting his time, but he simply stood there and waited for something to happen. I couldn't say the same thing about Majida, however. She had lost interest the moment Rainbow lead Pinkie and Twilight aside to discuss things, yet she kept herself busy by practicing some magic on her own.

" Have you all managed to come up with something?" Treguard asked.

" We have!" Rainbow Dash answered.

" And what would that be?"

" We've decided to take on a quest for one of the four items you seek. I know Sunset agrees with me despite not having discussed it with us, but she knows that the only was for us to return home is by playing the game and either succeed or fail." Rainbow Dash answered. In most situations like that, I would have protested against such a ridiculous notion, but I knew that Rainbow was right. There was no other choice. We had to play this game of Knightmare.

Still, I should have said something before Rainbow Dash announced her big unveiling.

" Excellent! I knew you four would be the kind of team who wishes to play not just for the glory, but for the chance to fight in the name of truth and justice. Now then, before we can get you started on the journey that lies ahead, have you decided on your dungeoneer?" Treguard asked.

" We have."

" So, who has been designated as the dungeoneer?"

" Sunset Shimmer!"

I immediately did a double-take upon hearing Rainbow's sudden announcement. I had just been volunteered to become a dungeoneer--I still didn't understand what that was. Had my friends suddenly chosen me without asking my opinion? Why would they do something without consulting me? I felt like I had been singled out all because of my lack of enthusiasm towards something that Rainbow was passionate towards.

" An excellent choice." Treguard said, his expression clearly showing excitement. The feeling wasn't mutual from my perspective.

" The three of us will act as her advisors."

" Hold on!" I shouted, getting up from the bench, dropping the adventurer's code book, and walking over to my friends. " Don't I get a say in this? I think it's unfair that you decided to thrust something on me without asking if I actually wanted to. You know full well that I'm not interested in this game, and simply want to go back home where we belong. If anyone should be playing this game, shouldn't that someone be you, Rainbow Dash?"

I had a valid point. Rainbow had been going on and on about how awesome this show was to the point where I couldn't take much more of it. She wasn't so much as being passionate as she was trying to repeatedly drill her knowledge of Knightmare into my skull. Since she knew everything there was to know, making her the dungeoneer would have been the obvious decision. I actually thought she wanted me to become the dungeoneer as a way of getting back at me for my sudden outburst. However, there was a logical reason behind why she convinced Pinkie and Twilight to agree with her decision--I still thought it was cruel.

" While that's true, I'm not the one who can do it."

" And why not?"

" Just being in this castle is enough for me to feel content."

" That's not a good reason, Rainbow Dash!"

" I know that, so let me give you one. Sunset, you're the only one who's seen an actual fantasy world with her own eyes. Heck! You lived in one for the first fifteen years of your life according to what you wrote down in that secret journal." Rainbow Dash said. She was using my personal experiences as an excuse to get me to go through with being the dungeoneer, a clever tactic, and certainly something I wasn't expecting from her. There had to be more to it than that, and sure enough, there was. " Pinkie Pie wouldn't be a good choice because of how random she can be. Can you imagine how she'd react to the fantasy world?"

" Hey!" Pinkie Pie shouted, feeling offended.

" I doubt the characters down there could handle her. Twilight wouldn't be a good choice either, as her smarts would be better as an advisor. Plus, I think she'd be more focused on documenting every last experience without actually trying to progress through the quest. Me? I'd love to be the dungeoneer, but I'm gonna have to pass in favour of you. There! You wanted me to give you a 'good reason', and I just did." Rainbow Dash said.

" What about you, Pinkie? Twilight?" I asked.

" Rainbow Dash is right about how I'm likely to want to spend my time learning everything I can about this place." Twilight answered. Stars then appeared in her eyes, and I knew that she was envisioning herself winning some kind of award for her research.

" I'd have way too much fun in the dungeon! I'd throw party after party for everyone who lives down there!" Pinkie Pie said.

" So what I'm saying is, you're it, Sunset." Rainbow Dash said.

" But--" I said, unable to finish my sentence.

" We could argue about this all day, but we really need to get things going here. I doubt Treguard and Majida want to see us arguing over who should be the dungeoneer. We've chosen you to be the one, so you've gotta go and do it." Rainbow Dash said.

" But, I--"

" We're ready to go!"

" But, I don't--" I said, still unable to complete a coherent thought.

I really wanted to protest this decision my friends had made, but my mouth simply refused to cooperate with my brain. Instead, I just stood there, eyes opened in disbelief, my mouth struggling with saying even simple words. I didn't want to do it! I just wanted to go back home! However, Rainbow quickly walked up to me and whispered something they had also discussed. I didn't like what she said. The only way we could go home was by winning Knightmare, or dying somewhere in the dungeon. The latter wasn't an option. If this was indeed real, and not the fantasy world the show portrayed before its audience, simply failing wasn't going to work.

That meant only one thing... I was going to be the dungeoneer, and I was completely against it. My friends forced the decision on me because I was a pony. They used my own experiences against me. I felt violated.

Treguard, who finally started moving after Rainbow whispered in my ear, laughed heartily and walked over to his throne. He rummaged behind it before coming back over with what appeared to be an old-school backpack--it was the kind you sling over your shoulder--and a shield that had a red eyeball on the front. It gave off an eerie stare that made me uneasy, but Rainbow slapped me in the back, her geeking out now becoming annoying rather than charming. I wanted my brain to tell my arms to reject these two items Treguard presented me, but my brain refused to listen to my thoughts.

" Then it's time for Sunset Shimmer to be properly equipped for the journey that lies ahead." Treguard said.

" Hmph! It's about time these four finally came to a decision." Majida said in a huff.

" Not now, Majida! We need to get this quest underway before something goes wrong."

" Do you really think this Sunset Shimmer wants to go through with it?"

" It's not like she has any choice in the matter now, does she?" Treguard asked. That was his way of saying that I had a chance to back down before he gave me the items he brought from behind his throne. Had I taken it, we'd be back where we started, arguing over what to do to get ourselves out of our predicament. Instead, I just kept quiet and stared off into the distance, my mouth still trying to say something. " You are most fortunate, Sunset Shimmer. You won't be going into the dungeon completely without aid. Here is the knapsack for food, and remember that only food may go into it. Don't put in any clue objects otherwise they will be consumed, and can't be used." Treguard then slung it over my shoulder. While it did look rather tacky, I supposed it was better than going in without anything.

" This. Is. So. Awesome!" Rainbow Dash said, her excitement becoming harder for her to contain.

" And this, is the famous Eyeshield. You cannot see with this yourself, but it will show us the path you take." Treguard said. He grabbed my arm and slung the shield onto it before turning to face Majida. " The helmet... Where is the Helmet of Justice?"

" You mean, it's not present?" Majida asked.

" Well of course it's not present! We need it otherwise Sunset Shimmer won't be getting very far in the dungeon now, will she?"

" So, I should get it?"

" Yes!" Treguard answered. If I didn't know any better, I swore that he and Majida didn't always get along. She then walked off to another corner of the room without looking back at him, and he turned his attention back to me. " I apologize for the unexpected delay. I thought the helmet was with the other essential items of dungeoneering. Strange, as usually it would materialize along with the rest whenever a previous quest has ended--be it a good or bad ending."

Majida could be heard cursing to herself as she rummaged a large pile of helmets that had been stacked up in the corner she walked towards moments ago. Why Treguard had a pile like that in this important room of his castle was something I didn't know, but I was content with not knowing. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, wanted to go over there and check out the helmets, but was refrained from doing so by Treguard. A couple of minutes later, and Majida returned with a helmet. It didn't look very impressive. Aside from the oversized horns that flanked each side of the helmet, it looked really uncomfortable to wear. Not only that, but there was no visor to see through. How was anyone supposed to see where they were going using a helmet like that?

" Here we are, Treguard!" Majida said, handing the helmet over to him.

" This is the original Helmet of Justice."

" Are you surprised?"

" As a matter of fact, yes." Treguard answered, turning towards me and my friends. " You see team, Majida was the one who introduced a new Helmet of Justice because she claimed that the old one had started to become well known to those who dwell in the dungeon depths. Apparently, she decided that Sunset Shimmer would be better off wearing the original helmet, and I can't say that I don't disagree with her choice. Still, the old one works just as well even if certain sight spells can't be used."

" Maybe Sunset should have the new helmet?" Twilight asked.

" Are you kidding, Twilight!? This is the classic helmet that most of the great dungeoneers who ever played the game wore!" Rainbow Dash said.

" I can't deny that piece of information, but if you say so, Rainbow Dash, then I guess it will do."

" Perhaps Hordriss may be willing to impart the appropriate sight spell upon Sunset Shimmer should she survive long enough to meet him." Treguard said. He raised his arms above my head, light shining off the helmet from several torches on the wall, and slowly placed it onto my head. My vision instantly vanished--I felt claustrophobic--but then I noticed that I still had some vision. It's just that it was restricted to the immediate area where my feet were. On the outside, all one could see was the lower half of my face, and the back of my hair protruding out from the helmet. " Our rules compel you to walk in danger without sight of anything but the nearest objects in front of you." Treguard said.

" I'm not sure if this is a good idea." Twilight whispered.

" She has to wear it! It's part of the rules." Rainbow Dash whispered.

" I want to wear it!" Pinkie Pie whispered.

" Advisors, you may take your places over there on the bench provided. You will also discover writing materials and the means to write down any information that Sunset Shimmer will learn throughout the course of her journey." Treguard said.

I couldn't see my friends walking over to the very bench I sat on to read the adventurer's code, but I did hear them walk over to it. Each footstep they took echoed inside of the helmet, my eyes ringing out in slight pain, but that was minor considering my vision was reduced to what was beneath me. Despite it looking like a knight's helmet on the outside, it was actually rather comfy on the inside what with appropriate padding. Was this in an effort to prevent a dungeoneer from suffering some kind of trauma to the head were they to be struck by a blunt object? I hoped that was something I never discover.

" You ready, Sunset?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" I... I... I'm not sure if I should be doing this." I answered, finally managing to finish a sentence.

" You could always refuse the quest." Treguard said.

" But I thought you said that I didn't have a choice when you got me this equipment."

" That was just for an added effect to improve morale for the team. Now, remember, Sunset Shimmer, that your advisors will be both your eyes and ears throughout your journey, so be sure to listen to their advice. Their voices can and will reach you through the helmet so never assume otherwise." Treguard said.

" What about the quest object?" Majida asked.

" Ah, yes! I failed to ask what you will attempt to reclaim, so now we shall rectify that problem. There are four classic quests that you can take part in, team, but you can only choose one of the objects: the Sword, the Shield, the Crown, or the Cup. Make your choice now." Treguard answered.

" Can I still quit?" I asked.

" It's too late for that, I'm afraid."

" Fine! I guess I've got no other choice but to go through with this. Well, Rainbow Dash? You're the one who has the most knowledge among us regarding this game, so why don't you choose what object we go after." I said.

Unlike the previous decision where Rainbow convinced Pinkie Pie and Twilight to agree with her over sending me into the dungeon as the dungeoneer, she knew exactly what quest object we were to pursue. Fortunately, I knew what she was going to say. I might have ignored much of the ramblings she spewed forth about Knightmare, but I paid close attention to what she said about the objects, especially the one no team had ever won before. Unlike most people who want an easy challenge, Rainbow was compelled to go for the challenges that were almost impossible to overcome.

" We'll go for the cup." Rainbow Dash announced.

" But, Treguard... No team has ever won the cup before." Majida said.

" Maybe so, but perhaps this team will finally break that streak of unfortunate luck surrounding it." Treguard said. He then walked behind me, placed his hands on my back, and began pushing me forward in the direction of what I assumed was the entrance to the dungeon. " Let me guide you for the first, and last time, Sunset Shimmer. There is a portal before you, but which path it will put you on we cannot say, for these things act randomly. Your journey will be long and perilous. Advance now, and be ever cautious." Treguard said. Without saying another word to him, I began to walk forward in the direction of the dungeon entrance.

In my mind, I was panicking not because of what I would encounter, but because I was unable to see anything. What had Rainbow Dash gotten me into?

Chapter 3: Spying 101

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It's Only a Game... Isn't It?
By Ganondorf8
June 24, 2016
Chapter 3: Spying 101.

" Don't sit down, I won't be with you shortly. " ~Merlin~ Series 4, speaking in opposites.

So there I was, about to walk head-long into some kind of dark dungeon, and my vision was limited only to what I could see at my feet. I wasn't buying the fact that I had to wear something that blinded my vision. I suspected there was something else at play, but if I chose to complain, no progress would be made, and our chances of getting back home would be snuffed out in an instant. It wasn't just the helmet that I found ridiculous. I also didn't like having a shield--the eyeball design was hideous--slung to my shoulder. You'd think I was some kind of knight being tasked to go somewhere with only the basic means of surviving whatever lied in wait.

I didn't want to go through with this. I wanted to protest my friends' decision of making me the dungeoneer, but my words would have been in vain. They had all conspired to throw me into whatever awaited me on the other side of the portal Treguard mentioned. While I had no qualms over my life as a pony--up until my falling out with Princess Celestia--why was I chosen because of that? Rainbow Dash had far more knowledge about Knightmare, and wouldn't stop talking about it. She should have been the dungeoneer, not me! I could imagine seeing her smug look, snickering away at my expensive. I had no intention of staying mad at her, but for the time being, I wasn't happy with her deception. There was also the fact that this game was apparently real according to Treguard.

What many assumed was nothing but an illusion was anything but that. I still didn't understand how this game could be real. I mean, I watched those episodes--I didn't have much of a choice given that Rainbow had the remote--and what happened to the dungeoneers was definitely fake. The special effects were pretty cheesy, but you could tell that the technology of the time was advanced. If it was real as Treguard claimed, then how did they manage to prevent the dungeoneers from truly dying? It was a question that I had no answer for, and I doubted my friends would be able to get one from our "gracious" host. If Treguard were truly a noble knight, he wouldn't need others to do something he was more than capable of doing.

Knowing that I couldn't stall any longer, I began to walk forward slowly--being blinded by a helmet made every step I took treacherous--and soon entered the portal. I assumed I would just zip from one room to the next like they did in those science fiction shows, but what I went through was something else entirely. My body felt like it was going to be pulled apart in all kinds of directions. Whatever magic was used to create this portal was clearly unstable if it did that. What made it even worse was knowing that there were other portals I'd have to use to get from one place to the next. If the trials ahead of me weren't going to do me in, it would be the constant strain my body took from the portals.

Upon coming out on the other end of the portal, my body immediately felt cold. Had I stumbled into some kind of cold storage? No, I didn't think so. If I had, then I'd have frozen on the spot instead of felt a cold wind blowing about. The light had grown dim around my feet, so that told me I was in a room that lacked proper lighting. I could also smell something in this room. It was faint but I sensed its presence surrounding me. It was the smell of death and decay. Whatever had been here before me lingered about in a morbid fashion. Then again, it might not have necessarily been before me. It could have been there for years or even decades, and I was the latest to experience being amongst death itself.

Since my friends weren't telling me to do anything--they were told before I left they could communicate with me through the helmet--I decided to take the initiative and walked forward a couple of steps. I stopped when my foot collided with a pile of old bones strewn about the floor, and my suspicion had been proven correct. Death and decay were prevalent, indicating that this room had long been abandoned by whoever used it. Upon a second glance, given how narrow everything felt, this had to have been some kind of ancient hallway.

" Sunset? Can you hear me?" Twilight asked.

" Oh, so you can talk to me." I answered.

" We were just deliberating amongst ourselves over what you should do, but I guess you made that decision yourself."

" I'm not planning on staying in this cold hallway for very long."

" It's cold?"

" Yes, and there are bones down here."

" Treguard and Majida just told about the area you're in, Sunset. Long ago, dwarves roamed this area and build tunnels that enabled them to travel from place to place without having to worry about their enemies discovering them. They've since abandoned the tunnels, so now who knows what could be lurking around the next corner." Twilight said.

" Not exactly the best thing to say to someone who has a helmet covering her eyes."

" Don't worry. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and I will be guiding you every step of the way. You may not be able to see where you're going, but we do."

" I still can't believe you guys forced me to do this."

" Why are you complaining, Sunset?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" Because I didn't want to be a dungeoneer. Heck! I didn't even want to go through that door!"

" But you did, right?"

" Only to make sure nothing happened to you guys." I answered. When it came to magic, my friends lacked the kind of experiences that I spent years getting used to. They were capable of taking care of themselves, yes, but sometimes the impulsive sides of their personalities came through, and that only caused further problems to develop. " If only you hadn't rushed off so haphazardly, Rainbow Dash, then we'd still be at your place watching this show instead of being a part of it!" My temper was reaching a boiling point, and I desire to kick those bones by my foot to express how infuriated I was. Then I remembered the breathing exercises Her Highness showed me when she visited after the Friendship Games. Getting mad wouldn't do any of us a world of good, so I began to breathe in and out slowly to calm myself down.

" Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

" Let's just get this over with so we can go back home."

" Then I suppose we should tell you more about where you are. Like I said, you're in dwarf tunnels, but you shouldn't linger around for too long. Goblins are known to be on patrol down there, so if you run into any, we'll guide you back to an alternate path." Twilight said.

" The Goblins are pretty stupid, Sunset, so they aren't too difficult to avoid, but you should be careful of their master." Rainbow Dash added.

" Master? Who would that be?" I asked.

" It used to be a guy named Skarkill, but the Goblins never really liked him, and secretly plotted to get rid of him. The current master is a pirate named Raptor, but he's proven himself just as ineffective. You'll know if he's nearby if you hear his voice. Raptor may act tough, but he's pretty dumb. Okay, you need to walk forward until you reach a corner that's about a few metres ahead." Rainbow Dash answered.

Despite still being annoyed at how she got me into this mess, I had no choice but to listen to her instructions. Deep down, I felt Rainbow enjoyed the idea of giving me orders on just about every action I perform. I felt completely powerless and it was because of the helmet. I had every mind to just take it off, toss it aside, and go back and demand Treguard send us back home immediately. My conscience wouldn't allow me to do that, however. I knew playing this game meant an awful lot to Rainbow Dash. The thought of seeing her upset was too much for me to bear. I didn't want to see her in tears or anything, so I had no choice but to suck it up--arguing with her on the other way was something I intended on doing.

I walked forward a few steps until Twilight told me to stop due to almost walking into a wall. I was then asked to turn to my left, and continue walking forward until I either came upon a junction or another corner. Since I couldn't see anything ahead of me, I took to looking at my feet to give me an idea of what was around me. So far, all I saw were bones of creatures I hadn't the foggiest as to what they were, but then I came across a barrel that appeared lucrative.

" There's something on this barrel."

" What is it?" Twilight asked.

" It looks like a piece of paper rolled up."

" You've found a scroll." Rainbow Dash said.

" What do I do with it?"

" Unfurl it and read it out loud to us. We'll write it down in case we need to use it later on." Rainbow Dash answered. How could I possibly read anything with this helmet that limited my vision? I had no time to argue over something trivial given Twilight's warning about Goblins patrolling the tunnels. I picked up the scroll, unfurled it, and to my surprise, the words were large and bolded. That meant I should be able to read what it says given the lack of light around me.

" It says 'Today's password is the nickname of Lissard, but only the foolish know it'.'"

" A most interesting clue you've been given, team, and so very early in the quest." Treguard said from his throne next to the fireplace. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie had since written down what was on the scroll, but they began talking amongst themselves as to its meaning.

" So we need a password?" Twilight asked.

" It's part of the overall experience. Passwords are needed to get past certain obstacles, but they aren't just given to teams like that!" Rainbow Dash answered, snapping her fingers to her last word. " You have to earn such information by doing something else. It varies from quest to quest so that they can be unique and not repetitive."

" You don't know the nickname?"

" I never got to those episodes."

" Guess your knowledge about Knightmare isn't quite up to snuff as you claim."

" Ooh! Sick burn!" Pinkie Pie said. Rainbow then looked at her, a glum expression spread across her face. " What!? Twilight was just telling the truth, Dashie. I know you really love this game, but not knowing everything does make things more difficult for us and for Sunset. But then, where's the fun in knowing everything? If you knew the ins and outs then this wouldn't be fun for anyone! I'm glad to know that we can all be surprised together." Pinkie Pie said, jumping up and down on the bench.

" Treguard! This clue, it makes no sense." Majida said.

" Hmmm, yes." Treguard said.

" How are they supposed to find this password if they don't even know who might have it."

" Team... Think about the clue written on the scroll." Treguard said, looking at my friends, hands firmly on the arm rests of his throne. " It said that only the foolish know the password, so what would that indicate?"

" Let me think." Twilight answered. She began knocking her pencil against her hair and dove into deep thought to come up with an answer. For someone like Twilight, this was a normal occurrence, wanting to find the solution to a problem. However, this game was far beyond her usual scope, so it took much deeper thinking than what she was used to. Rainbow Dash just stood and watched while Pinkie continued bouncing up and down. " I think I have an answer, but I need to do some quick research. Good thing I made sure to bring some book with me before we left your place, Rainbow Dash." Twilight then reached for her backpack only to discover that it had disappeared.

" I'm sorry, team, but you cannot use outside assistance from your world." Treguard said.

" I see." Twilight said, looking rather dejected in her response. It made sense that she wasn't able to rely on looking up information in books. Doing so only made the challenge behind Knightmare minimal to the point of it not even existing. Twilight had to rely on her mind to come up with the answer she needed. " If that's the case then I don't want to be seen as violating the rules."

" You must think quickly, team. Sunset Shimmer's life force is already draining away." Treguard said.

I had been listening to the conversation, and that was the first time Treguard mentioned anything about my life force being drained. All he ever said was that I needed to feed it constantly to retain my health. If that was the case then this game had suddenly gotten much harder than previously suspected. I suspected Rainbow Dash knew about the health system of this game, but either forgot to mention it or wanted me to figure it out on my own. If I didn't find food then I would drop down dead without warning. I said that I wanted to get this over with, yet now that couldn't be further from the truth. Every step I took could end up being my last if I didn't consume whatever constituted as food in this dungeon.

" Sunset, we'll figure out the clue's meaning later." Twilight said.

" If only someone had warned me about needing food." I said.

" Look! I forgot, okay!" Rainbow Dash said.

" You need to start walking forward again." Twilight said.

I rolled my eyes over Rainbow's response. How could she not know!? I didn't believe her for an instant. The anger I had towards her began to flare up again, so I resumed my breathing while walking forward in hopes of calming down before I said something I'd regret later. I decided to take the scroll just in case I needed it later, but Treguard quickly told me that it wasn't necessary since my advisors had written down what was on it. Carrying a used scroll was pointless, so I walked backwards towards the barrel, and placed the scroll back before continuing onward again.

As I walked to the next corner, I began to think about the whole needing food to stay alive. My stomach wasn't rumbling or anything, so it's not like I was hungry and needed something to eat. Why make such a big deal when it was obvious that I wouldn't be getting famished any time soon? Also, why use something that only served to hurry teams along out of fear that wasting time was detrimental to the cause? Those two questions and more plagued my mind, but I suddenly had to stop thinking about them when someone, or something stepped out from the shadows. How could I tell without being able to see? The tunnels echoed everything and that included footsteps other than my own.

" Greetings traveller." A stern voice called out in front of me.

Without being able to see who it was, I had to rely on what little I could see as provided by the helmet--it was obvious that the voice was male. I saw what appeared to be the bottom of a staff or weapon, yet I quickly assumed it was the latter given the feet of this person was wearing sandals. A knight or other warrior would wear something more befitting of a fighter, namely boots or even armoured shoes.

Since the hallway was too narrow for me to try to go around this person, I had no other choice but to see what he had to say. If he meant to do me harm, I had nothing that I could use to properly defend myself unless the helmet provided some ample protection. Hopefully, I wasn't in a situation with no means of getting out of it.

" Hello." I said.

" Judging from the helmet that you wear, you are a dungeoneer who travels the unseen path. I am Brother Strange, but know that I mean you no harm. I often travel about these tunnels giving warnings to those who wind up traversing them. I am also a sort of proverbial monk who seeks out new proverbs to add to my ever growing collection." My heart began relaxing knowing that this man had no intention of hurting me, but then why would anyone want to walk about these tunnels? Whoever this man truly was, he certainly was brave for wanting to walk amongst old bones from long ago. " I have given you the pleasure of my name, so may I ask what they call you?" Brother Strange asked.

" My name is Sunset Shimmer."

" A most unusual name, but please do not think of my words as an insult."

" You're not the only one who said something to that effect."

" So, what brings you here to the dungeon depths?"

" Um, Twilight? What am I supposed to say?" I asked. Even though I knew despite my hesitation, I wanted to be sure which was why I asked Twilight. I would've asked Pinkie, but I had a feeling she was distracted by something to give me solid advice. And Rainbow Dash? I didn't want her telling me anything.

" You should tell him the truth." Twilight answered.

" Treguard? Who is this man who has presented himself before Sunset Shimmer?" Majida asked.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is Brother Strange, an unusual monk who wanders the dungeon path aiding those who he believes needs it. He serves the Powers That Be although he doesn't directly get involved in the affairs of the Opposition. As a proverbial monk, he collects all manner of proverbs for reasons no one is quite sure why. What I can tell you, team, is that he gives out advice to anyone who can give him a proverb he's yet to add to his book." Treguard answered.

" That sounds pretty lame." Rainbow Dash said.

" Better not question it considering Sunset needs all the help she can get." Twilight said.

" I mean, seriously!? Who collects proverbs?"

" This monk does apparently."

" My opinion still stands in that it's lame." Rainbow Dash said. She then noticed that Brother Strange was holding something in his hand. He was holding a magnifying glass but showed no signs of looking into it. " What's he got there in his hand? It looks like a Spy Glass."

" What's that?"

" Something they introduced to allow teams to spy on the Opposition. If this guy is holding it, Sunset needs to get her hands on it pronto. Now, we need to give him a proverb that he doesn't have, so we've gotta come up with a good one almost no one ever uses." Rainbow Dash answered. She then began writing something down on her notepad before she realized I was still standing there waiting for instructions. " Sunset? Tell him that you're on a quest for the Cup, and that you'd like him to give you the Spy Glass he's holding."

" Can Twilight tell me that?" I asked.

" What!? I just told you what you need to do."

" I want to hear it from her."

" Why are you being like that all of a sudden?" Rainbow Dash asked. I refused to answer her question and that offended her. " Fine! I'll let you talk to Twilight, but you need to cut it with the attitude." I knew my manner towards her was going to make her mad, but she deserved it for dragging me into something that we should've ignored. I also knew my temper was dictating my actions, yet nothing prepared me for the eventual conservation we had. Why did I allow my arrogance to blind me? Had I explained myself to Rainbow instead of ignoring her, we could've resolved the problem without it blowing up in our faces.

" Sunset? Is there something we should know?" Twilight asked.

" I'm fine, Twilight."

" Alright, if you say so. Anyway, you should tell Brother Strange that you're on a quest for the Cup, and you want the magnifying glass he's holding. We've just learned that you will need to give him a new proverb in order to get some information, and I'm being to believe that glass will count as information." Twilight said.

" I'll give it a try." I said, turning my head slightly upward to let Brother Strange know that I was ready to answer. He had been standing there for quite some time, and no doubt had listened to my little spat with Rainbow Dash. Hopefully, he didn't think of me as selfish and not wanting help from my advisor--assuming he even knew that. " I'm on a quest for the Cup, and I was hoping you could help me."

" The Cup? That is a worthy challenge indeed. I can help you by giving you this spying device, but it won't be so easy to get it. Like I said, I am a sort of proverbial monk who seeks out new proverbs to add to my collection. Do you happen to know of any proverbs? If you can give me a new one, I'll hand over this Spy Glass." Brother Strange said.

" Any ideas?"

" Know any proverbs?" Twilight asked.

" I know a few good ones. 'Too many cooks spoil the broth'? I asked. Brother Strange didn't answer and that told me he must already have that one. " What about this one? 'Look before you leap'?" He said nothing so I had to try another one. " How about 'There's no use crying over spilt milk'?" Again, Brother Strange refused to say anything. I was starting to get desperate, as the proverbs I gave him were ones I had learned during my time living as a human. I decided to try one more proverb and hoped it would work. "'The pen is mightier than the sword'?" Once more, no response came from Brother Strange. It appeared he had most proverbs and what I was saying to him didn't resonate. " This isn't working, Twilight."

" Let me think of something."

" Sunset! Say to him 'A party isn't a party without a cannon firing confetti'." Pinkie Pie said.

" You're not serious, are you?" I asked.

" He needs a proverb he doesn't know, and that's a personal Pinkie Pie proverb right there."

" Are you sure, Pinkie?"

" He'll love it."

" Alright. I trust your judgement, Pinkie." I said, turning my attention to Brother Strange. " Do you have this one? 'A party isn't a party without a cannon firing confetti'?" At first, he didn't answer and my gut was telling me that he must have heard it, but how could he know about a Pinkie Pie proverb without knowing she exists?

" I've never heard of that one before." Brother Strange said.

" Does that mean?"

" You have given me a new proverb for my collection, and one that is certainly unusual. It will take me some time to fully understand the meaning behind it, but you have given me what I wanted, so now I shall give you what you want." Brother Strange answered. He handed the Spy Glass over and I almost dropped it. Fortunately, I managed to get a firm grip on the handle. It looked like an ordinary magnifying glass, yet when I tried to touch the lens, I discovered that there wasn't one. Was it to prevent anyone from breaking it? " When you use this, you will be able to spy on the Opposition and find out what he is doing. Please do not use it until I am at a far enough distance away from you. I do not want to end up with an unfortunate mishap should you linger too long."

" How do I use it?"

" I am certain the dungeon master or someone close to you shall provide that answer." Brother Strange answered. He then started to walk forward and my instincts told me to step to the side and allow him to walk past.

I had no idea how far away he needed to be before I could use this Spy Glass, so I waited about thirty seconds before addressing it. Other than the missing lens, it was just a regular magnifying glass, but one that could let me see the Opposition. I tried raising it to my face but that didn't work as the helmet blocked my vision. I then tried waving it around hoping that doing so would trigger some kind of magic, yet that idea didn't work either. My next idea involved putting it down by my feet and looking at it that way, but all that did was give me a crick in my neck. Then I smacked it against a wall hoping to receive a signal, but that idea quickly failed due to the echoes vibrating in the helmet.

" What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" Trying to figure out how to use this thing."

" You're kidding, right?"

" Not in the mood, Rainbow Dash."

I knew that she knew what I was supposed to do, but I refused to listen to what she had to say. My stubbornness towards Rainbow had proven disastrous not to mention humiliating considering that I tried slamming the Spy Glass into the wall. I then tried placing it under the helmet in the hopes that I could see something, but the darkness within quickly quashed that notion.

It soon got to the point where my frustration wanted me to just throw it away and completely ignore it, but the Rainbow Dash offered a suggestion that I didn't consider.

" Why not place it up to the Eye Shield?"

" Huh?"

" The Eye Shield lets you use the Spy Glass to see what Lord Fear's up to."

" Oh."

" You might want to leave the dwarf tunnels before you try using that. You don't want to be caught by Goblins as you eavesdrop." Rainbow Dash said. Despite my brain wanting me to ignore her advice, my heart decided to trust in her judgement.

Twilight told me to continue walking forward and I did so with the Spy Glass firmly in my hand. The next corner came up and this time it turned to the right, but I made sure to check my surroundings in case there was another scroll or something similar for me to pick up. I walked down this new hallway--new as in a different direction as they were all pretty much similar to each other--and soon saw light shining by my feet. That meant I had finally gotten out of the tunnels and into some fresh air--or whatever the dungeon constitutes it as.

As I walked into the next room, I felt immediate relief over how much room I had compared to the cramped spacing of the tunnels.

" Where am I?"

" You're in a courtyard." Pinkie Pie answered.

" Anything special about it?"

" Nope! Just an ordinary courtyard where you're surrounded on all sides by castle walls."

" You sound too eager about this."

" I've never seen the inside of a castle let alone one that looks to be falling apart. I envy you, Sunset, as you've gotten to see a magnificent castle according to the stories of your early childhood you told us about when you read your journal." Pinkie Pie said. I then heard the sound of gurgling water, and it reverberated throughout the helmet. It sounded like I was going to drown even though I was no way near any body of water, but it quickly dawned on me that Pinkie was behind the shenanigans. " Sorry about that. I needed a drink of water to take care of my dry throat. You wouldn't believe how fast that genie, Majida, can quickly conjure up what you want just by asking."

" Uh-huh... Anyway, I'm out of the tunnels, so it should be safe for me to use this thing, right?"

" Probably."

" What do you mean 'probably'?"

" Rainbow Dash understands it better than I do, so you might want to ask her how to use it. Although, you two are currently having a fight over us being dragged into this because of how impulsive she was, but she's always acted like that whenever something gets her blood pumping." Pinkie Pie answered. I knew she was trying to get me and Rainbow to make amends before our quarrel got out of hand. I should've taken the initiative straight away instead of allowing it to linger on any longer. " Well, since you two aren't really on good terms right now, I'll act as a mediator and get back to you in just a second." Pinkie's voice then trailed off within the helmet, and I immediately felt guilty that she had to act as a scion. Why did I have to be so thick-headed to allow my displeasure to get between two friends? " I'm back, Sunset!" Pinkie Pie said.

" WAAAAH!"

" No need to scream, silly. You're in an ancient castle and I doubt anyone heard that."

" Don't surprise me like that!"

" If I didn't then you wouldn't know that it was me talking to you. Anyway, Rainbow Dash said that you need to raise the Spy Glass to the Eye Shield. That should allow all of us to see what's going on." Pinkie Pie answered. I could see it too? That was a pleasant surprise considering my lack of vision. Unfortunately, Pinkie didn't say where on the shield I had to raise the Spy Glass to, so I began fiddling about in hopes of figuring it out on my own.

My results spoke for themselves. I doubted that anyone in my current position had so much trouble using something that was so simple in its premise. I tried placing the shield on top of the Spy Glass, but that didn't work out of fear I'd break the latter. I then tried it the other way around with the Spy Glass out on top, but that didn't fare any better. I then thought about sticking one into the ground and reflect the other, but I quickly gave up on that idea when it became too obscure even for me.

" Gah! This isn't working!"

" Um... What are you doing?"

" Trying to make this work, Pinkie."

" I've got to be honest with you, Sunset. When it comes to a comedy routine, you don't exactly know your timing very well. I think you should leave that to the professionals, like myself, and simply raise the Spy Glass to the eye of the shield." Pinkie Pie said.

That's what I had to do!? I slapped my forehead only for my hand to collide with the helmet, resulting in a loud thud. How could I have been a bonehead for not figuring out the obvious straight away? Without another word, I placed the Spy Glass in front of the Eye Shield, and peered into the empty space where something appeared.

I saw what looked like another castle, but the walls looked like they had been created using computer effects, and not stones and mortar. There were several windows on the walls and each one had a fiery background on the other side. Wherever this castle was, it was surrounded by fire on all sides. I could also sense a great evil power emanating from what I was looking at. That's when I took notice of a man who was standing in the middle of the floor. He appeared to be fiddling about with a remote control of some sort, but showed signs of anger due to wanting to throw it at a wall.

Could this be the Opposition? If so, he didn't exactly look all that threatening. In fact, he looked rather comical with his choice of get-up. He wore dark robes and had a breast plate on his chest--the kind knights wear. He also wore a helmet that was literally a skull, and his complexion gave the impression that he was either dead or had been lacking in sleep. I had no idea if he could see me spying on him through the Spy Glass, so I opted to remain quiet until I was certain that this was a good idea.

" Blast this infernal communicator! I've got every mind to pick one of my minions at random and throw it at them! That would definitely relieve me of some stress over trying to get this thing to work properly." The man clearly appeared annoyed that his device hadn't lived up to his expectations, but why would he treat those who served him as nothing more than individuals he could torment at a moment's notice? Perhaps I misjudged him on how evil he truly was. " Lissard? Lissard? Get in here you sorry excuse for a tadpole."

" You beckoned me, Lordness?" A humanoid lizard asked as he walked into the room.

" It's no use, me old newt! I just can't get this communicator working at optimum capacity."

" That's a communicator, Lordness? It looks more like a brickness."

" Well of course it looks like a brick you imbecile! It was supposed to be a revolutionary device that could allow me even greater control of the greater dungeon that's currently under the control of the Opposition. And, when I say Opposition, I of course mean myself, Lord Fear, the top dog, the man, numero uno, big man on campus! But, this useless device just doesn't cut it for me, so I might as well use it for its intended purpose as you say."

" You mean, the brick, Lordness?"

" Yes, that! I doubt I'd miss given how large of a target you are, but I'd better stand close just in case I have the slightest chance of missing."

" Actually, that wouldn't be a good idea." Lissard said, cupping his hands together and appearing to take on a pleading stance.

" And what could possibly be a better one, hmmm?"

" There's a new dungeoneer who's just started out on Level 1."

" Really? I thought Treguard had finally given up on wanting to send more of that lot down into the dungeon considering how they've all bitten the dust, so to speak. Guess you just can't teach that doddering old fool the common sense to just admit defeat." Lord Fear said. He began to pace about for a few seconds before throwing his device into the wall, shattering it to pieces upon impact. Lissard appeared to cower in fear over what he just witnessed, but quickly regained his composure out of fear that he would be punished. " Fortunately, the password needed to get this new dungeoneer out of Level 1 is safely locked away."

" I don't understand, Lordness."

" Open up what constitutes as ears and listen! That idiotic jester, Motley, overheard that repulsive cesspool, Sylvester Hands, mention the password had to do with the nickname that I call you whenever you speak to me up close. You know the one, right?" Lord Fear asked. Lissard nodded his head several times in response. " Because of Hands, Motley learned something he shouldn't, so I've had Raptor capture him and lock him up in a chest somewhere on the first level."

" Brilliant, Lordness!"

" I know, and I also know that the key to freeing that fool is in the hands of Honesty Bartram. You know, that shifty salesman who always tries to con anyone he does business with into buying something they don't need. I'm actually surprised he kept it and not just sell it off to some random stranger." Lord Fear said. He paused for a moment and placed his hand on his chin, and began to think.

As I continued to watch the conversation, I couldn't believe that they would lock someone just because they knew something important. It sounded to me that this Lord Fear was very paranoid over anyone discovering even the smallest weakness in his defences.

" Lordness?"

" No... I don't trust that Bartram to do anything right. He's likely to sell the key to the dungeoneer just to earn a profit. Better get someone else down there to pick up the key before they end up getting it and freeing that jester." Lord Fear answered.

" Speaking of the dungeoneer, Lordness. There is something unusual about her."

" They're all pre-pubescent youths, Lissard. They all have something unusual about them because of hormones."

" This one is older than the rest."

" Really? So Treguard has stooped to using older teenagers has he? He must really be desperate."

" Also, this one possesses the magicness."

" Of course they can use magic, me old newt. They're all capable of using magic whenever they earn it from doing something heroic."

" Well... About this dungeoneer, Lordness--" Lissard said, speaking in a nervous tone. Lord Fear had since turned his back to his servant, and began chuckling to himself most likely over viewing me as not being a threat to his self-made dominance. I was personally concerned at how this lizard man knew that I was capable of using magic. I hadn't used any ever since my friends and I came through that door in the park. " You see, she... she... she can use magic of her own free will." Lissard said. The moment he uttered those words, Lord Fear immediately stopped before turning around, his face looked like it was about to explode.

" WHAT!?"

Chapter 4: Elven Witless

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It's Only a Game... Isn't It?
By Ganondorf8
June 28, 2016
Chapter 4: Elven Witless.

" Well, come in, come in my little friends. You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to these Friday sessions." ~Lord Fear~ Opening prior to the title sequence of episode one of Series Eight.

" What did you just say, Lissard?" Lord Fear asked, unable to contain his rage.

" Um, I said this dungeoneer can use magic of her own free will." Lissard answered. He had since cowered in fear before his master, and slowly backed away in hopes of finding a way out before things got worse. Sadly for him, Lord Fear stared at him with a piercing gaze that was enough to scare a child to death. " I know it sounds unusual that a kidsie can use the magicness without one of those spells, but that is what the Frightknights have been sensing."

Frightknight? I had no idea what that was, but I suspected it wasn't going to be something that would benefit me. I thought to ask Rainbow Dash what it was--she probably knew given how much she watched Knightmare in the days leading up to this moment--but I was still angry with her over dragging us into this world to begin with. Then I thought, what if those two could hear me were I to suddenly say something? So far, I had the element of surprise by watching their movements, but if they caught me, making an excuse would be the last thing on my mind. Would my use of magic become a detriment to my quest? If so, it meant things were only going to get worse.

" Really? So then you're saying that this dungeoneer is a full-fledged wizard?"

" I'm not sure if she is that, Lordness, but she does possess a magicness that rivals the likes of you and Hordriss."

" WHAT!?" Lord Fear shouted. He then conjured a fireball and flung it at his henchman--who barely managed to avoid being roasted alive--but it wasn't enough to calm his anger over knowing that I was now truly a threat to his dominion. " Great Goblins! All those previous dungeoneers were full of vim for wanting to take on the challenge, yet none of them were exactly brimming with power. Now you're telling me this new one possesses power that rivals mine!? Am I hearing you right?" Lord Fear asked, his anger growing more and more powerful by the second.

" Please don't cast me aside, Lordness, for telling you the truth."

" There's no point in sending you away, me old newt. Besides, you'd probably like it anyway so that wouldn't really be beneficial to me. You know, that or you end up being just like that walking cesspool of a man, Hands. No, I have to accept the fact that this dungeoneer is different from the others. Still, I'm surprised that magic even exists in the world she comes from. I always thought they used technology and spurned magic as nothing but cheap fantasy and theatrics." Lord Fear said.

" What should we do about this one, Lordness?"

" Do!? What do you think we're going to do, you half-wit? We're going to put an end to this quest before this dungeoneer can get out of Level 1. That idiotic jester is her only means of knowing the password to get by the Blocker, but I'm not going to chance it especially with that conniving Bartram holding the key. No, I need something truly sinister that can eliminate this pest." Lord Fear answered.

" You said you'd send someone."

" Hmmm? Ah, yes, of course. I just need the right person for the job. Hands? No, he's so dirty that Bartram is likely to chase him away with a broom or something. Raptor? No, as those Miremen of his are useless in anything except when in water." Lord Fear said.

" What about Maldame?"

" Are you being serious with me!? Why would I want to rely on her for anything? She took over Linghorn without a wimper from my troops, and now struts about like she owns the place which she doesn't! No, I'm not going to use another wizard. You can't trust them as all they do is stab you in the back and take advantage of the situation." Lord Fear answered.

" But, don't you do that, Lordness?"

" That's because I can get away with it, Lissard. Those other sorcerers just don't have the gib that I possess. No wonder so many of them choose to wind up pursuing lives of solitude just to gain unlimited power. They lack that true magical grit that has allowed me to remain on top as the big man among wizards." Lord Fear answered. He started pacing about and muttered things under his breath while the lizard man looked on. From what I had seen by using the Spy Glass, this Lord Fear was a combination of sadistic madman and comedian what with his gibberish whenever he went off topic. " Ah-ha! I've got it, Lissard! Why not just go with something from the classics." He snapped his finger, a book materialized out of thin air, and he grabbed it before opening it up. " I'm surprised that old fool, Mogdred, never took these when he left before I came along."

" Do you think one of his incantations will work?"

" Of course it will work, you imbecile! A simple 'Sword' spell shall get rid of our dungeoneer problem, and I doubt those who guide her will be able to figure out how to dis-spell something even a novice could do." Lord Fear answered.

" Brilliant, Lordness! You are so much the craftyness!"

" I know, I know. I truly do amaze myself sometimes."

" There is one more thing to mention."

" What's that?"

" This dungeoneer is named Sunset Shimmer."

" What? What kind of name is that?" Lord Fear asked, his face changed from smug to confusion. " I've heard some strange names before that those youths have, but this one has got to be the strangest hands down. Parents can be so cruel at times, Lissard, and I feel bad that this dungeoneer was given a name like that." Lord Fear looked like he was about to cry, but quickly started laughing upon coming to the realization that my name was different. " It's hard to take her seriously if she's called Sunset Shimmer, but that will quickly pass. She has already proven to be a threat by being capable of magic."

" Do you think she will reach Level 2?"

" Only if Bartram sells the key to her. That idiot loves gold more than anything else, and is willing to sell anything for the right price." Lord Fear said. I then noticed a fireball slowing forming in the distance, and I was confused as to why it suddenly appeared without warning. " Now, I'm going to get back to making his communicator work even if I have to throw it at someone to get any kinks out of it. Speaking of kinks, I'm surprised that the security system hasn't picked up on any spying. It should have sent a fireball out by now. Perhaps it needs to be fixed as well."

It didn't take a genius to figure out that the fireball had formed in response to my spying. Had Rainbow Dash forgotten about that as well? That's what I thought, but in truth she had no idea that Lord Fear had a security system. Fortunately, my instincts told me that holding onto the Spy Glass at that point was suicidal. I placed it onto the table just as the fireball finished forming and was about to launch itself in my direction. Despite feeling dirty that I had to resort to such underhanded tactics, it had proven beneficial. I knew that I needed to find a jester locked up in a chest somewhere, and needed a key from what could be best described as a merchant.

How to find a means of paying said merchant, on the other hand, proved to be difficult. I had no money with me--living on my own in the library combined with the work I did for various clubs around Canterlot High didn't exactly pay out that much--so that meant finding gold or something that was worth the same amount.

When I put the Spy Glass down, I immediately stood still out of fear that someone had been watching me. I knew my friends were watching--they had to in order to tell me what to do next--but a part of me felt that someone else was paying close attention to my movements. That was one of the things about wearing a helmet that truly annoyed me. I had no idea if anyone was coming my way unless they made a loud enough sound that the helmet could echo through my ears. Why wear something that blinds you? Treguard said that this helmet was necessary and that meant I had to wear it, but there was another reason behind it. I wished that he had told me sooner, as that would've avoided a lot of grief.

" A most useful piece of spying you made, team, and it appears Lord Fear has definitely caught Sunset Shimmer's attention." Treguard said.

" This Motley... Isn't he the one who likes to entertain others?" Majida asked.

" Well, if you can call what he does entertainment. Still, it seems he's the one you need to find in order to get out of Level 1 successfully, team. I should warn you that Motley doesn't like to take things seriously, and isn't above throwing the occasional insult. Aside from that, he will definitely prove himself worthy of helping Sunset Shimmer assuming he doesn't make a fool out of her." Treguard answered.

" And what of this Bartram character?"

" Ah, yes. He is a newcomer to the dungeon depths. He calls himself 'Honesty' Bartram and claims he is an honest merchant who sells what you need, but unfortunately, many often wind up with something they don't need. He can be difficult to deal with, but if he does have the key needed to free Motley, it seems bartering with him is an eventuality. Now, already your dungeoneer was wise to put down the Spy Glass before Lord Fear's security system kicked in, but I suggest not linger about this chamber any longer. You've already wasted precious time trying to get the quest underway, so collecting food is now necessary." Treguard said.

" What do you guys think?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" It's obvious that the clue from the scroll refers to this Motley." Twilight answered, adjusting her glasses by pushing them back up her nose. " We need him to tell us what the password is to progress, but we need to buy that key from the merchant wherever he is."

" That'll take gold."

" Gold!?"

" In this game, gold and silver act as forms of currency teams use to buy items, use as bribes, or exchange for something else. They're usually found in clue rooms or somewhere convenient that happens to coincide with our direction." Rainbow Dash answered.

" Guess we should direct Sunset to move forward."

" Maybe you oughta do that."

" Why is she acting like a jerk towards you all of a sudden?"

" I don't know, but she needs to stop whining and get adventuring." Rainbow Dash answered. At that moment, a loud noise echoed throughout the ante-chamber--the name of Treguard's chamber-- and my friends were caught off guard. It sounded like a horn had been played and was quickly followed by a repeating of it. " What was that?"

" Warning team! That was a Goblin Horn and that means a hunting party has already detected Sunset Shimmer's scent. You must guide her quickly before they can catch up to her, but don't act too fast otherwise you may end up getting her into further trouble." Treguard answered.

The sound of the horn echoed throughout the helmet and I wanted to cover my ears in response. Whoever had just played that was terrible, but then the same noise happened again only louder this time around. It was obvious that someone or something was coming up behind me, so I needed my friends to get me out. I mean, I could've moved on my own without needing them, but then I was likely to walk into a wall.

" Sunset? Can you hear me?"

" What's with that horn?" I asked.

" It's a Goblin Horn. A raiding party is coming up from behind you, so I'm going to guide you out of this room."

" And Rainbow Dash?"

" She insisted that I be the one to help you. You know, you two really need to sort out whatever it is that's gotten you two fighting with each other. Your life is on the line right now down there, and if you two can't get over this petty argument, we'll lose our friend." Twilight answered. I knew she was right about me needing to get over the pointless bickering I was having with Rainbow, but my head was just too stubborn to allow me to drop the subject. My heart wanted to patch things up, yet it was being suppressed in favour of maintaining my temper over being dragged into this game and forced into being the dungeoneer. " Okay, take a few sidesteps right." Twilight said. I followed her instructions without question, but then the horn blared out again, and was even louder than ever.

" They're catching up."

" Walk forward as fast as you can!"

" Don't have to tell me twice." I said. I walked forward towards the far end of the courtyard, and just in time too as a pair of Goblins appeared. They acted like their vision was extremely limited, as I was at the far end of the room, yet they couldn't even see me--turned out their vision truly was bad. Before they had a chance to pursue me, I had already walked towards the door. " Are they still following me?" I asked.

" Not anymore, but now we're seeing things from a different perspective."

" What do you mean?"

" It's like we're seeing you but not seeing you." Pinkie Pie answered.

" That makes no sense."

" Oh, then let me say it like this. The Eye Shield is currently allowing us to see things from your perspective, but in actuality we're seeing what's most likely recorded footage that was later converted into the program used to make this dungeon the special effect place that it is." Pinkie Pie said. What was truly scary, was that that was how the Eye Shield actually worked during those sequences. Did it ruin the magic due to Pinkie saying that? Not really. It was its own kind of magic that embraced technology. I always marvelled over what humans had done to further technology for the benefit of humankind. Not all advancements were good and there were those who abused it, but much of it was truly fascinating.

" I could've said that." Rainbow Dash said.

" I know but I wanted to."

" Can we focus?" Twilight asked.

" Sunset? What we're seeing is the Eye Shield leading you down a path." Pinkie Pie answered.

Even though I couldn't see what my friends were seeing, I had to take their word for it and simply continue walking until I entered a new room. I had to admit that this ancient castle I was walking through certainly had a rustic feel. Her Highness told me one time that she attempted to fix up the castle that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna used to inhabit before the former moved to Canterlot after banishing her sister to the moon. That castle was truly archaic in that it needed a complete overhaul to be considered liveable. Since Her Highness now had her own castle, the old place was abandoned as no one was going to be using it.

This place reminded me a lot of Equestria, but it obviously lacked the charm that came from unicorn--and alicorn--magic. Sure, I couldn't see any of it other than what was by my feet, but my friends described in full detail what was all around me. I would've liked to have seen it for myself, but again I had to keep the helmet on.

As I walked up a flight of stairs, my friends said I was walking along a narrow catwalk toward a doorway on the upper level of the courtyard. The Goblins were no longer chasing me, so that was a sigh of relief, yet I couldn't stop in case they decided to continue following me. I suspected Lord Fear had ordered them to pursue me in an effort to kill me. I couldn't fall victim to any of his traps. My only incentive was to complete this quest and go back home where my friends and I belonged. On the other side of the doorway was a pathway shrouded in darkness, and that was because there were no lit torches. Still, I had no other direction to go in, so I had to continue.

I eventually reached another flight of stairs that went back down again, so I slowly walked forward--I had no intention of tripping and falling down the stairs in complete darkness while wearing a horned helmet--making sure to check each step to ensure that there was one ahead of me. Rainbow Dash complained that I was taking too long, but I ignored her and focused on getting to the ground at my own pace. Twilight agreed with my decision saying that running head-long into the unknown only lead to danger, but Rainbow simply scoffed at how cautious I was. If she had been doing this instead of me, she would have said the same thing. No sane person would ever run around in the darkness without the means to protect themselves from anything lurking about.

Once I reached the bottom of the stairs, I felt compelled to continue walking forward. I had no idea where I was going at that point, but my friends said that there was a faint light ahead of me in the form of a door that had been left open. Had someone come here before me? Maybe, or was it a trap engineered by Lord Fear? Whatever it was, I had to keep going as there was no other direction to take. I thought about going back the way I came, but Rainbow said I had to keep moving forward because of one of the rules in the adventurer's code.

Walking through the door, my nose immediately smelt the lush greens of a forest. At my feet lay a path of stones and dirt with the occasional tufts of grass and weeds that gave off a natural forest feel. Crickets chirped in unison, wolves howled from a distance, and the croaking of frogs all combined together to form a pleasant, if somewhat disturbing harmony. It made sense that the castle connected to a forest. To a pony, walking through this was like second-nature only without any magic or unusual creatures.

" Where am I?" I asked.

" You're in a forest surrounded by trees on both sides of you. Ahead of you is a pathway that appears to be the only direction you can go in. Every now and then, howling sounds echo throughout the area, so I think you should continue onward in case the wolves catch up to you." Twilight answered.

" Is that Eye Shield letting you see this place?"

" Yes, and despite how there is lack of detail, there's just enough for us to know where you're going."

" It seems team that Sunset Shimmer has stumbled into Dunkley Wood, a forest that I have not seen for many years." Treguard said.

" Wasn't this forest the home of elves?" Majida asked.

" At one time that was true, but then they have long since moved on leaving behind the elf paths. Now listen carefully, team. Sunset Shimmer must remain on the path if she is to find her way through this forest. There are many branching paths that can lead to either safe or dangerous results, but I suggest avoiding the temptation." Treguard answered.

" Isn't this where your former assistant lived?"

" You mean, Pickle? At one time he called this place home, but he moved to the safety of the forest just outside this castle."

" It is sounding like you are missing him, yes?"

" Miss him!? He chose to go back to the forest despite the conflict between the Powers that Be and the Opposition. If I knew where he went in the forest, I'd personally drag him back here to face an appropriate punishment for leaving without permission." Treguard answered.

" You know, you never did say much about him."

" Pickle's purpose was to prep dungeoneers with the tools needed for survival, and to occasionally provide small amounts of advice to the advisors. He decided to go beyond his limits and intentionally interfered with the quest, and I always had to reprimand him. He told teams what quest objects to go for, wanting his opinion recognized when it was clearly unnecessary, pretending to be an advisor, getting on my last nerves, and so on." Treguard said.

" No wonder he wanted to leave."

" Despite our problems, Pickle was very loyal and despised Lord Fear like everyone else of the Powers that Be. He was also an expert at keeping track of quests for the watchers who often were curious as to the current status of a quest. Still, I refuse to believe that he wanted actual payment for his services." Treguard said.

" That's why he didn't want to be here."

" I take it you feel the same?"

" You and I have had our rough start, Treguard, but we've gotten better at it over time. Besides, you still have some work to do with your manners, but I know that this is a work in progress that will take a very long time before it shows results." Majida answered.

My friends, in the meantime, had overheard the conversation between Treguard and Majida. They had a free moment since I was just walking down the forest path, and all they saw was what the Eye Shield was showing them. Rainbow Dash was geeking out--as usual--over the bantering between the hosts with Twilight choosing to focus on getting me through to the next room safely. Pinkie Pie, in the meantime, had taken the arguing personally and was clearly distraught over what she had heard.

" I can't believe those two have so much trouble getting along!" Pinkie Pie said.

" It's what makes them both great characters." Rainbow Dash said.

" What do you mean?"

" Treguard originally was the only one helping the teams, but he didn't really have anyone to play off of. He needed someone who could keep him in check! He needed to banter with someone and express his dominance, so Pickle was introduced as an assistant." Rainbow Dash answered.

" He does sound like a bully."

" Being alone for so long gave him a gruff outlook on life."

" Maybe I ought to thrown him a party?"

" Somehow, I think that'll make him worse."

" Really? But, Dashie, he looks like he could do with some cheering up."

" Trust me on this, Pinkie Pie. If you throw him a party, he is likely to throw us out of here without a second thought. Just because we're the current team trekking through the dungeon doesn't mean we can get away with anything we want. However, if we get the Cup and win the quest, then he'd love a party." Rainbow Dash said.

" Oh, so we need to win and he'll be happy for it?"

" Something like that."

" Then we need to do everything we can to get Sunset through this. I'm going to stake my reputation as the 'ultimate party planner in all of Canterlot', so that means winning just became priority one." Pinkie Pie answered, punching her fists together. Treguard and Majida noticed what she did and immediately stopped arguing knowing the quest needed their full attention. While it was obvious that wasn't the intention Pinkie had in mind, it was still enough to get the two to stop arguing, at least, for the time being.

In the meantime, I had spent the entire time walking down the forest path unsure of where I was going to end up. Despite not liking the prospect of being attacked by wolves or some other wild animal, it was a pleasant walk as it gave me some time to think. Perhaps I had this game all wrong and should have embraced it. I still felt annoyed that my friends chose me to be the dungeoneer without my consultation, but I thought about forgiving them for their actions. That was my intention, but then someone just had to ruin it by wanting to assist in a way that was anything but helpful.

Eventually, after walking for what felt like forever, I arrived in a clearing--I knew it was because the bushes down the path stopped brushing against my body--and stopped to wait for my next instructions. The howling of the wolves had also stopped, but that didn't meant I could relax. This might have been a section of the forest that they normally didn't traverse, and could be lying in wait in another section.

" Where am I?"

" You've reached a clearing in the forest." Twilight answered.

" Figured as such."

" Aside from an old tree stump ahead of you to the right, there's nothing else of importance other than a black rectangle at the far end of the clearing. I'm going to assume that's a portal that will take you to the next area." Twilight said.

" Should I see if anything is on the stump?"

" You might as well in case there's any food on it. Can you sidestep twice to your right and then walk forward?" Twilight asked. I did as she asked and quickly found myself staring down at the tree stump. It had certainly seen better days given how it was rotted from within, but there was something on top of it that looked edible. " Sunset? Is there any food on top of it?" Twilight asked.

" There's a loaf of bread."

" Really?"

" I'm quite serious."

" Why would anyone leave a perfectly good loaf of bread in the middle of a forest?"

" Don't know, but I should take it anyway to feed my Life Force if what Treguard said--and neglected to mention it along with Rainbow Dash--about me needing food. By the way, how am I supposed to eat this? The helmet isn't exactly stopping me from putting it in my mouth, but it was still awkward just the same." I answered. I picked up the loaf of bread and began to comb over it. Upon a closer inspection, it looked healthy, yet who really knew how long it had been there prior to my arrival. After spending a few second poking it about with my finger, I decided that eating the bread was a good idea, but then Rainbow Dash spoke up after seeing my display.

" You don't actually eat the food." Rainbow Dash said.

" Then why even have it out for someone like me to pick it up?"

" A lot of the food are just props they use to give off the impression that you're actually finding it. If you eat that, Sunset, you'll likely throw up later. Look, just place the bread into your knapsack and it will be like you ate it." Rainbow Dash answered. My brain was telling me to ignore her, but fortunately my heart was smart enough to convince me to follow her suggestion. I placed the loaf of bread into the knapsack and it disappeared without a trace. Had I just witnessed this game's magic at work? It lacked creativity, but I supposed it was better than holding a piece of food and looking like an idiot. " See? Simple, wasn't it? No need to make things more difficult than they really are."

" If you think you're all that, why not be the dungeoneer instead of me?"

" You were the better choice."

" That's a poor excuse and you know it!"

" We all agreed."

" But that's--" I began before being cut off by the sound of a Goblin Horn echoing in the distance.

I thought they weren't able to catch up to me after I eluded them back in the castle, but it appeared I underestimated their ability to track down anyone. Then again, I suspected this game was already against me by pulling such a stunt. Twilight suggested I run forward towards the portal, but no sooner had I walked a couple of pace was I suddenly surrounded by additional Goblins who entered the clearing from the east and west directions.

How did I know that? My hearing did get stronger due to the helmet restricting my vision. Also, it became apparent to me that Goblins stumbled about with loud, brutish steps that made it impossible for them to sneak up on anyone without them hearing their approach.

The Goblins slowly surrounded me, the sounds of weapons being sharpened along the cold sent a chill down my spine. I wanted to pony up and use my magic to get rid of them, but I didn't have my guitar to play. I doubted that I could pony up anyway. This world prevented my magic from being used. It was something I figured out moments after starting, and it proved to be inconvenient. For a moment, I honestly thought my death was imminent, but then the sound of a trumpet coming from behind me alieved me of my fears. Unfortunately, what happened next only served to further add to the reasons why I didn't want to be the dungeoneer.

Following the trumpet were the sounds of hooves galloping in the dirt--a pony or perhaps a horse--but I didn't know if whatever it was would help me or the Goblins. The noises continued getting louder until suddenly a loud neigh sounded out, frightening everyone in the clearing.

" Ta-rump, ta-ra, pa-roo, pa-roo, tis old Sir Hugh to rescue you!"

I had no idea who it was, but already I could tell that I wasn't going to enjoy the company.

" Treguard, who is this strange man riding on the horse?" Majida asked.

" Well, it seems its not just the dungeon that appears to be bringing back old things. Team, this 'knight'--if you can call him one--is Sir Hugh de Wittless. He is very brave but unfortunately lacks common sense and is several plates short of a suit of armour. Years ago he was enchanted by Hordriss to go about and rescue anyone he deemed was in danger. The problem is that most of the time those he tries to rescue don't exactly want to be leaving them miffed." Treguard answered.

" Sounds like the kind of fellow they want to avoid, yes?"

" Sir Hugh isn't necessarily evil by any means, team, but Sunset Shimmer needs to convince him that she doesn't need further rescuing."

" Oh, so he is going to be saving her?"

" I should certainly hope so unless he thinks the Goblins need it."

" I say, Neddy? Neddy? Where are you galloping off to this time? Neddy? Oh, I say what's going on here? Excuse me, madam? Yes, you, the one wearing the helmet. May I ask your name?" Sir Hugh asked. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was surrounded by Goblins on all sides, and this man wanted my name. Why would he ask such a stupid question when obviously something had to be done about the Goblins.

" Why are you asking me a question? Can't you see I need help?" I asked.

" Of course you need help which is why I'm here to rescue you, but I would like the name of the person I'm saving."

" Oh! In that case, I'm Sunset Shimmer."

" Ah, splendid, splendid. Then allow me to take care of this little problem you have." Sir Hugh said. I could hear the sound of him brandishing a sword, swinging it around in an insane fashion, and the footsteps of Goblins scampering about in an effort to not get their limbs chopped off by this erratic man.

" Sunset? Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

" I'm fine now that this man has rescued me." I answered.

" You might want to leave while he's busy dealing with those Goblins."

" Why? Is he a threat?"

" He'll try to rescue you even further by taking you against your will until you're safe."

" What!? Better direct me to that door before he realizes I'm still here." I said. Unfortunately, it was already too late. Sir Hugh, as he called himself, had already forced the Goblins into running away into the forest depths, so now I had to deal with him.

" Huzzah! Those Goblins were no match for my sword! Oh, I say Neddy? Did you witness my display?" Sir Hugh asked. The horse neighed from a distance and I knew that it was impressed with his master. Being a pony meant I could understand what horses were saying. " Now then, I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Sir Hugh although some call me by the names 'witless wonder' and 'idiotic knight' though why they do is beyond me. Anyway, I believe that you need some further rescuing."

" Excuse me!?"

" You see there are plenty of other horrid creatures lurking about in Dunkley Wood, so I figure you need someone who can rescue and take you back to the beginning. No need to thank me for this service as I aim to ensure your safety." Sir Hugh said.

" I don't need that kind of rescuing."

" Nonsense, so allow me to pick you up and take you over to my horse. Neddy? Neddy? He's such a remarkable horse but can sometimes wander about leaving me to go after him to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble. Now then, let me just grab you and carrying you off to safety." Sir Hugh said. He then reached out and grabbed me around the waist, and I immediately punched him on top of his helmet in response. I should've realized his helmet was made of a sturdy metal, as my hand writhed in pain. " Not sure why you decided to hit me on my noggin, but no need to resort to that. I'm trying to rescue you, you see." Sir Hugh then picked me off the ground and began walking towards his horse. I was surprised the helmet didn't fall off of my head at that point, but clearly this knight was too stupid to understand that I was no longer in need of help.

Since my hand didn't convince him, I decided to head-butt him instead. My helmet collided with his and it was enough to make him drop me to the ground. I landed hard on my rear but quickly got back up on to my feet before he turned around.

" Sorry I had to do that, but I don't need any further rescuing."

" You don't?"

" No! I need to keep going forward in order to find a Cup so that I can go back home."

" Well, if you don't need me to rescue you then I guess I should leave you to it."

" Actually, I might need your help in the future. After all, you did rescue me from those Goblins, so I know I can rely on you when I need it." I said. I had to say something to makehim feel better as it sounded like he was about to leave feeling dejected. I had personal experience when it came to making people upset--and it wasn't a proud accomplishment. " If I need your help later, is there a way I can call on you without having to look all over the place?"

" Help you later on? As in, you need to be rescued later?"

" If I need it."

" Sunset? What are you planning?" Twilight asked.

" For the future."

" Well, normally, I don't do such a thing as I'm inclined to rescue someone straight away, but I'll make an exception for you, Sunset Shimmer. I'll give you this spell called 'Hero' that can summon me whenever you need it. I can only be called upon once in this manner, so make sure to use it if you're in dire straights. Now then, Neddy? Neddy? Excuse me but I need to tend to my horse. Neddy? Come on now! We must tally ho and find someone else who needs rescuing." Sir Hugh said. He then walked off, the sound of his armour clanked all around as he left, but I was relieved to know that I didn't have to deal with him for a while. If that was the kind of character I'd be encountering throughout this quest, I was in a lot of trouble. I doubted my temper could take it.

" Is that idiot gone?"

" Yeah."

" Sometimes I question why Hordriss had to enchant him in the first place."

" He was enchanted?" I asked. I quickly realized that someone else was talking to me, but I had no idea who it was. " Who are you?"

" Me? I'm just an elf who wanted to come back to Dunkley Wood for nostalgia sake. I'd have greeted you earlier and saved you from the Goblins, but that witless ninny came by and decided to do his usual act of stupidity."

" I take it you don't like Sir Hugh?"

" Rooten-fen! It's not that I don't like him, but rather I don't like how he trapeses about the dungeon thinking he can rescue anyone who isn't glued down."

" Do you have a name?"

" Call me Pickle."

Chapter 5: Old Wounds

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It's Only a Game... Isn't It?
By Ganondorf8
June 28, 2016
Chapter 5: Old Wounds.

" Oh, keep your beard on old thing. I merely wanted a sneak preview of my latest victim. Anyway, you're a fine one to lecture about spying. After all, someone keeps conveniently leaving spyglasses lying about, don't they!?" ~Lord Fear~ Conversation with Treguard before Team 5 of Series 7 began their quest.

The moment this elf revealed his name to be Pickle, I quickly covered my mouth with my hands, and tried really hard not to laugh. At first, I did my best to stifle my laugh, but it was too much for me, and I found myself bursting out in sheer delight. Who in their right mind would be named Pickle? I wasn't all that familiar with the concept of elves--I should have taken up on Lemony Gem's offer that she offered and joined the fantasy club at school--but they had fancy names such as "Redswift" and "Moonchaser". "Pickle" wasn't really a name one would associate with an elf but what you'd eat as a side dish or something.

" Why are you laughing?" Pickle asked.

" N-no reason." I answered as I attempted to regain control of my composure.

" Are you making fun of my name?"

" I-I'm sorry but I just can't help but f-find it funny that you're called Pickle." I answered. I then laughed so hard that I accidentally dropped the Eye Shield onto the ground. I thought it was going to shatter because of being a prop, but it landed with a loud thud that could be heard throughout the forest. It was another indication that this game wasn't one and was instead the real thing. " Okay, I've had my moment of laughter." I bent down, picked up the shield, dusted it off, checked to make sure it wasn't broken, and slung it back onto my arm before turning to face the elf.

" You humans just never cease to amaze me."

" How come?"

" When I interacted with you lot back at Knightmare Castle, I thought you were all a little dense what with no understanding how the fantasy world worked. It took me some time before I started thinking otherwise, and I grew to care about what happened when a quest was ended. Seeing you reminds me that humans are still inferior to elves and couldn't find their way out of a paper bag without doing something idiotic like picking fights they can't win." Pickle answered.

I could tell that he wasn't impressed with how I laughed at his name, yet I did deserve the harsh treatment he gave me in return. In his own way, he had reminded me of when I used to insult people's names when I was a bully. It didn't matter what kind of legacy or meaning existed behind such names. In my eyes, it was perfect fodder for demoralizing them so that they wouldn't stand against me. As the years went by, I got more and more hurtful with my comments until I had wedged discord between the students of Canterlot High. I've since experienced things from their perspective when they chose to insult my name. I never fought back when they did. Deep down, I knew it was something I deserved.

Being reminded of my past compelled me to immediately apologize but that's when something hit me. Did this elf say that he interacted with humans? That meant he knew something about Treguard or at least, the nature of this game. I wasn't sure if was in the mood to answer my questions after I laughed at him, but if there was anyone who could give me answers, it was this elf.

" Um... I want to apologize." I began, bowing slightly.

" You? Apologize? My, aren't you a strange human? I never would have guessed that you had the capability to say so."

" Well, you reminded me of who I used to be, and it was wrong of me to insult your name. I don't know the circumstances behind why you were given the name of a vegetable, and makes me ignorant of your character. Again, I apologize for laughing at you." I said.

" I can tell that you're sincere, so I accept your apology."

" Thank you."

" It doesn't change the fact that you are quite rude for a human." Pickle said. I started to giggle in response, but I quickly stopped myself by pinching my shoulder. He took notice of what I did and I could hear the sound of his foot stomping on the ground. " Honestly! Just like a human to pretend they're sorry when in fact they didn't even mean it! I should've known better than to trust you."

" I'm not laughing at you but rather at what you said."

" That you're a rude human?"

" Yes, except that I'm not human. I mean, I've lived as a human for the last three years, but in truth I'm a pony from a magical world." I answered. I was expecting Pickle to laugh at me in response to how I laughed at him, but he surprised me when he walked over and peered under the helmet. His face looked human but the pointy ears and wild hair were an indication that he was an elf. His expression was initially confused but quickly changed to skepticism. " I know it's difficult to believe that I'm from a world of talking ponies, but I'm being completely honest. What would I get from lying to you about what I am?" Pickle continued looking at me with disbelief, but then quickly pulled his head away. Before I could explain myself further, he started banging his fist on the helmet. " What are you doing!?"

" So, you're a pony?"

" Unicorn, if you want me to be specific."

" Elven glades! I never thought I'd live to see the day where I'd meet a unicorn face-to-face." Pickle said. Surely, he was pretending to be thrilled. I couldn't tell if he was being serious or not due to not seeing his face, but then he cozied up next to me before looking underneath the helmet again. " I know you're being honest with me, human. You possess a magic that only a unicorn can possess. No human would ever possess that kind of power unless it was gifted unto them by your kind." Now I was feeling confused like he had been. He not only believed me but also knew about my magic. " Are you surprised? We elves are highly attuned when it comes to magic. We have the ability to sense it unlike wizards who usually get their facts mixed up and wrongly mis-identify one kind of magic for another."

" I am surprised."

" Thought you would be. Now, unless my eyes are deceiving me, you're wearing the classic Helmet of Justice! I didn't think a unicorn would ever go on a quest through the dungeon--or anyone else after the string of victories Lord Fear and the Opposition have been getting--but here you are trapesing about Dunkley Wood completely blinded. Since you know my name, may I inquire as to yours?" Pickle asked.

" I'm Sunset Shimmer."

" That's an unusual name for a human, but then I've heard names that were just as strange. So, what brings you to Dunkley Wood? I doubt you came here for some sightseeing otherwise you'd be somewhere else. This forest is no longer safe for anyone these days. Even the ancient elf paths are fraught with danger ever since the elves abandoned this place long ago, and the Opposition started posting Goblins and other horrors." Pickle said.

" I'm on a quest for the Cup."

" The Cup? Rooten-fen! No team has ever won the Cup before!"

" Tell me about it!"

" If you're trying to get the Cup, you must have a death wish. All quests for the cup ended miserably from what I remember during my time as 'official record keeper', but I don't know about any future quests after I decided to go back to the forest to live in peace." Pickle said.

" You used to live in Knightmare Castle?"

" I wouldn't say that I lived there by my own volition, but rather I had no other choice in the matter. Treguard, the Dungeon Master and custodian of Dunshelm, entered the forest many years ago, and discovered my people through sheer accident. He was intrigued at how we were different from humans, but the old codger thought we were inferior. When he saw my skills when it came to writing information down, he offered me the chance to live at his castle. I accepted not realizing how naïve I was. Believe me, Sunset Shimmer! My time at the castle was really difficult. I endured mistreatment, earned little pay, and put up with Lord Fear's usual brand of insults." Pickle answered.

From what he told me about his experiences, Pickle didn't have a very good relationship with Treguard, and I was beginning to understand why. The host of the game looked warm and friendly upon first glance, but deep down he showed little to no tolerance towards anyone who tried questioning his sense of judgment. The kids thought it was just part of an act prepared by the show's writers to provide witty banter, but it was a harsh reality where one man had become obsessed with wanting complete dominance. No wonder Pickle felt miserable over having to look back on what he did before he returned home to the forest.

If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't want to live under the same roof as someone like Treguard.

Before I was able to ask him another question, a booming voice echoed through the clearing. At first, I thought it was Lord Fear, and I quickly wondered how he managed to track down my location without actually doing anything. In reality, the voice belonged to Treguard, and he was clearly unhappy to see the elf again.

" Pickle!!" Treguard shouted, his voice boomed throughout the ante-chamber causing everyone--except Pinkie Pie--to cover their ears. " There you are you absent-minded half-wit of an elf! I've been trying to find where you went after you left! Majida told me that you left behind a note saying that you returned home to the forest because of a lack of pay, but that's no excuse for abandoning the cause against the Opposition!"

Twilight and Pinkie looked on in disbelief over what he said about Pickle, yet Rainbow Dash once again looked on with her geeked-out expression. She thought it was part of the game, but it looked to be a terrible tiff between two characters who clearly had a falling out that never healed.

" Oh... Hello, Master." Pickle said, his voice showing no concern over the insult that was thrown his way.

" Is that all you have to say to me?" Treguard asked slamming both fists into the arm rests of his throne. " I gave you the chance to become so much more than a simple forest elf, and you tossed that aside all because you feel that you weren't paid properly?"

" You forgot about the poor food and dampness of the castle." Majida answered.

" Yes, as you mentioned in his message."

" I am guessing that there was some animosity between you two?"

" Not that I could see."

" Ha! That was the problem you had, Master. No, not 'master', but Treguard. You were so obsessed with beating Lord Fear that you neglected everyone else around you. No wonder so many teams ended up meeting terrible ends to their quests. Their adventure meant nothing to you as you wanted the quest objects to gloat in his face. Whenever I tried to get you to calm down and look at things differently, you scorned me for speaking up." Pickle said.

" I'll admit that I did take the quest objects too seriously."

" Rooten-fen! That has to be the understatement of the year. I'm surprised that the current team you've got hasn't decided to just forfeit the quest especially after knowing what kind of person you really are." Pickle said.

" No need to get them involved."

" And the watchers?"

" Nothing to do with them either!"

" You know what? Fair enough. I'm going to be helping Sunset Shimmer not because you want me to, Treguard, but because she is special unlike all the other dungeoneers who've come before her. Once I'm done giving her as much help as I can give, I'm going back to the forest, and I doubt you'll ever find me there again. Oh, and I do suggest not trying to come and bring me back to Knightmare Castle. The other elves won't be as merciful as I am." Pickle said.

I couldn't see it with my own eyes, but Treguard looked like he was about to lose his temper. Majida was beside herself with how to handle the situation, and my friends certainly weren't about to say something without getting it from him. It seemed Pickle had a lot of pent-up rage that he had been wanting to give Treguard for quite some time. Anger was something no one should keep inside themselves. It can twist their thoughts and turn them into heartless monsters. That was something I knew better than most.

Rainbow Dash continued geeking out over the banter between Treguard and Pickle, yet she wasn't as excited about it as she had been moments ago. Had she finally started to realize that things weren't as cheery as she made them out to be? Or, was there a deep-seeded resentment that had been cast throughout the game as a result from Lord Fear having dominated for what sounded like years? Pinkie Pie had since chosen to refrain from saying anything out of fear of making the situation worse--she had been known to unintentionally do that despite having good intentions to start with--yet Twilight saw things in a more logical light. She had been watching Treguard out of the corner of her eye, and while she was appalled at his behaviour, she knew why he had the issue in the first place.

I also knew what Treguard's problem was. It all stemmed from when he lost his family and home after it was invaded. An experience like that can easily change a person. It can make them mature into adulthood much sooner than expected, yet the price for doing so was a lost innocence and not wanting to be close to anyone again. Treguard must have become bitter after being forced to leave everything behind, and takes out any frustration he gets against those who can't fight back on their own. To Twilight, she was expecting him to pick up his sword, tell Majida that he was going after Pickle, leave her in charge of the castle, and drag him back.

He surprised her by remaining firmly glued to his throne and sighing to himself before Majida addressed her concern.

" Are you alright?" Majida asked.

" Despite trying my patience with his elvish antics, I can't deny that Pickle knew his way around keeping records of everything. If it wasn't for such a skill, the quests would have been impossible to manage. Was I wrong to have made him miserable? Perhaps, but it's too late now for me to change things. Pickle left of his own accord, and that's something I've just got to accept whether I like it or not." Treguard answered.

" No wonder you weren't wanting to talk about the elf."

" I didn't want to burden anyone with it."

" Well, girls? What do you make of that?" Twilight asked, keeping her voice down.

" That. Was. Awesome! But, it was also kinda disappointing." Rainbow Dash answered.

" If Sunset were here right now, she'd have given you quite the stern talking to about your lack of subtlety, Rainbow Dash. You may think what we just witnessed was part of the overall game's atmosphere, but have you forgotten that this isn't a game?" Twilight asked.

" Oh yeah! Something about it being real."

" I hope you're kidding!"

" Just joshing with you."

" No wonder Sunset is so annoyed with you right now."

" Huh? What does she have to do with this?"

" It's nothing. Let's just focus on getting Sunset through this quest." Twilight answered. In her heart, she knew that she had held back. If she had been more confident in her ability to understand friendship, she would've told Rainbow how she felt about her immaturity was affecting me. Instead, Twilight dropped the subject out of fear that she could cost herself a friend she had known for only a short period of time. She grabbed her notepad and prepared to write something down, but couldn't due to Rainbow suddenly looking at her. " Um, do you mind not staring at me like that, Rainbow Dash? You're making me feel uncomfortable."

" What did you mean about that crack between me and Sunset?" Rainbow Dash asked. She squinted her eyes and lurched forward slightly that made Twilight cower back. If I had been there, I'd have told Rainbow to back off, but she did have a legitimate reason for wanting to make Twilight uneasy. " If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that she's upset with me over dragging her into this quest." If I had a dollar for each time Rainbow said something like that, I'd be rich by now, but it also showed her poor judgment. " I know I shouldn't have walked through that door, but I can't refuse something like that. I just have this need for adventure and the door was calling out to me."

" There's nothing wrong with adventure, Rainbow, but you should have asked our opinions first."

" Guess I overreacted, huh?"

" Immensely."

" Maybe I should be talking to Sunset about this, huh?"

" That would be the sensible thing to do, but I'm not sure if she's willing to talk to you about this situation. You did force her into becoming the dungeoneer, and we all knew that she just wasn't interested in it. Despite having more magical knowledge than the rest of us combined, Sunset is very insecure when it comes to her old life. She still regrets leaving Equestria under the unfortunate circumstances that surround her choice." Twilight answered.

" She mentioned that when she read her journal to us."

" You were so caught up in wanting to play this game, you neglected Sunset's feelings."

" Guess I've gotta set things right."

" Not sure how you plan on doing it in our current predicament, but I hope that neither of you make the problem even worse than it already is." Twilight said. If only she knew then what we know now, she wouldn't have said those words. My patience with Rainbow Dash had reached a boiling point, and it would take just one more poke for me to completely lose control of my temper.

From where I was standing, I was quite surprised that Pickle had told off Treguard in the manner that he did. I could tell that he still had some lingering issues over how he was treated by his former master. After ending the conversation, I heard him stomping about, kicking dirt haphazardly all while speaking in a strange language. I was glad he didn't take out his aggression on me just because I had witnessed his meltdown. However, there were some additional questions that I needed him to answer, but would he give me the benefit of answering my concerns? Or, would asking only further the rage that dwelled deep within?

I had no other choice. I needed his help whether he wanted to do it or not.

" You said that you're going to help me?" I asked.

" What was that?" Pickle asked, his voice an indication of how annoyed he truly was. " Huh? Oh, yes! I did say that I would help you because of you being a unicorn. If it wasn't for that, I'd have just left you to fend for yourself in this accursed forest, but what kind of elf would I be to abandon a mythical creature?" I thought about telling him that I wasn't the only unicorn in Equestria, and that there were hundreds, but would he believe that? It was best not to confuse him just in case. " I'll be honest in saying that I won't be accompanying you for very long, Sunset Shimmer, but at least until you're back in the dungeon."

" Aren't I in the dungeon?"

" The phase shift did many strange things." Pickle answered. I had no idea what he was talking about. When he figured out that I didn't understand him, Pickle sighed and started to explain himself more clearly. " Every season, the dungeon undergoes a change in that old things disappear and new things get added in. During such a transition, it's called the phase shift, and no one knows what will happen. During those long months of inactivity, the watchers go about their business until the pathway opens again, and then you lot come to challenge the dungeon because you think you can beat it."

If he had been explaining that to Twilight, she'd have dozens upon dozens of questions out of curiosity. What I had were a few questions that weren't quite as exciting. " Only a small handful of you humans--even you--step up to the plate while the rest just watch by cramming into the castle as the watchers." Pickle said.

" Watchers?"

" Those who watch the greater game."

" From the comforts of our own homes?"

" Elven boots! You certainly haven't had much experience in the adventuring world have you? Well, never mind. Here, let me take you by the arm and I'll guide you into the next chamber to see if there's an elf path back into the dungeon. Don't worry if we run into any Goblins or whatever else lurks in this forest. I'll make sure nothing happens to either of us. Along the way, you can tell me all about your quest so far." Pickle answered.

" Guys? What should I do?"

" I'd take him up on his offer." Twilight answered.

" Pinkie? Do you have anything to add?"

She didn't answer and I suspected she was busy eating some of the castle food. I thought about asking for Rainbow's opinion, but I changed my mind. After all, she didn't ask my opinion when I was forced to become the dungeoneer, so I didn't want to know what she had to say in kind. Agreeing with Pickle, he grabbed my arm and started pulling me forward. I couldn't see where he was taking me, so I had to hope that this was the right decision. My answer came quickly when he mentioned a portal was just up ahead. That was enough to convince my legs to start walking without his need for pulling me.

Good thing we were leaving the clearing as something was coming up from behind us--the heavy footsteps were a dead giveaway. Pickle said that Goblins had somehow caught my scent, but he wasn't surprised given that humans weren't good at being clean. I didn't know how to take his insult, so I humoured him in case I were to offend him again.

Along the way, I told him what I had experienced so far in my quest. His response said it all. He broke out into laughter upon learning that I had only been through one tunnel and two rooms before arriving in the clearing. He expected me to say that I had been through at least most of Level 1 and was on the verge of heading down to Level 2, but I told him that I needed the aid of Motley to get out. Upon hearing that name, Pickle told me Motley was helpful although his random bouts of nonsense grew irksome. He also said that it was normal that someone like him would know the password to Level 1. Motley always found ways of getting such information, but had to pay the price later because of being too good at eavesdropping.

I also mentioned Lord Fear had planned something with Honesty Bartram, yet Pickle said that he didn't know anything about the latter. He did say that all merchants loved gold and would do anything to get their hands on it--even give up something they're not supposed to--and if I were to find any gold, I should take it without question. For someone who was once a record keeper under Treguard, the elf certainly was knowledgeable about how the dungeon operated. It felt like he had a lot to say and wasn't allowed to share it until he chose to return home and claim his freedom.

When we entered the portal, Pickle decided to describe the location instead of one of my friends. While I did appreciate him going to the trouble of doing so, I would have preferred Twilight, Pinkie, or Rainbow Dash--yes, even Rainbow Dash--to have given me an explanation.

" You're in luck, Sunset Shimmer." Pickle said.

" Why's that?" I asked.

" There's a portal ahead that will take you back into the dungeon, but I don't know where you'll be going from there. We're out of the most dangerous part of Dunkley Wood, so you can relax and take pleasure in the clue objects on that tree stump." Pickle answered.

" The what?"

" Clue objects. You know, what you dungeoneers encounter on every level?"

" Not following you."

" You choose two out of three or four objects that you think will help you out based on information you've gathered?"

" That makes no sense."

" Did you even bother to read the adventurer's code?"

" I was forced to read that before I even started."

" Elven boots! And here I thought all you dungeoneers know about a Clue Room. Guess I've got to explain it to you!" Pickle said. He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the tree stump before sitting down on the other side of it. " In a Clue Room, various objects have been placed for your convenience, but don't ask who puts them there. Treguard always said some mysterious force leaves behind items that are guaranteed to aid a quest or hinder it. Once you've thought about it carefully, you can take two objects with you until you choose to use them to get you out of some tough scrapes."

" I'll just take two and see what happens."

" What!? Rooten-fen! Didn't you listen to a word I said? You have to think carefully! I'm going to be standing over there and keep watch just in case I'm wrong and Goblins do come this way most likely for you." Pickle said. He then walked away yet I heard him grumble something in that strange language he used earlier. I didn't know why he was being so uptight about how I was approaching the situation. I thought he was just taking it too seriously and needed to relax a little.

" So, I'm in a clue room?"

" Looks that way." Twilight answered.

" There are several objects on this tree stump."

" Can you describe them to us?"

" One looks like a bar of gold, and we know that I need to take it in order to pay that merchant and get the key. There's also a scroll, some grapes that I can put into my knapsack, a glove, and a joy buzzer." I answered.

" What in the world is a joy buzzer doing there?"

" I don't know, but that's what I can see on the table. I'll take the grapes before anyone says that I need food to sustain my Life Force, but then that just leaves us with the other objects on the table." I answered, picking the grapes up before putting them into my knapsack. Just like it had been with the bread before, these grapes weren't exactly healthy. They looked like they had been here in this clearing for several months, but I wasn't about to question it, and focused on the objects. " Should I read the scroll? The last one provided some information regarding a password."

" Good idea."

" Let me take a look at it then." I said. I picked up the scroll, unfurled it, and combed over it a few times before reading it out loud. " It says 'One man's joy is another's anguish, yet only the serious will suffer'. I've got no idea what that even means." I then put the scroll back down on the stump but not before furling it back up again.

" An unusual clue, wouldn't you say, team?" Treguard asked.

" What does it mean?" Majida asked.

" That's what they need to figure out, but I advise you don't take too long in choosing what to take. Despite his apprehension, Pickle can easily get impatient just like anyone else in the greater game." Treguard answered.

" Okay, so we definitely need the gold." Rainbow Dash said.

" Yes. We found that out from Lord Fear when Sunset spied on him earlier, and Pickle hinted that all merchants love gold. But, what about the glove and buzzer? One of them will help us in the coming trials, and the other will only bring about a horrible fate." Twilight said.

" The glove is something a warrior would wear."

" And you know this how?"

" I've watched the show, remember?"

" Yes, but your track record has been dodgy, Rainbow."

" Maybe, but I know that gloves like that represent warriors. They also represent challenges, overcoming obstacles, and basically anything that can kick butt. Sounds like something serious, doesn't it?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" The scroll said the serious will suffer."

" Even though it sounds lame, the joy buzzer would be useful."

" But to what extent?"

" Beats me."

" Pinkie Pie? Want to say something?"

" I'd thought you never ask." Pinkie Pie answered before scarfing down a slice of cake. No one knew where she had gotten it from, but she quickly addressed that concern and said she quickly dashed off to the kitchen, baked a cake, came back, and started eating it all within the span of a minute. " I'm loving the fact that Sunset found a joy buzzer! It's not everyday you come across one of those--it's an old pranking trick."

" We know what it does, but we want to know what you think." Rainbow Dash said.

" Oh, Sunset should definitely take it."

" Any reason why?"

" Duh! It's a joy buzzer and the scroll said that one man's joy is another's anguish. The one using it is filled with joy because of how funny it is, and the other guy is in anguish over getting jolted by several watts. I also think the buzzer belongs to the jester. He's a funny man, right? Anyone who knows comedy like I do knows that props of all kinds are needed to make someone laugh or give them slight discomfort. It may look simple but a joy buzzer can be really effective especially when you surprise someone." Pinkie Pie answered.

" Um..."

" What? Too subtle?"

" I never would have guessed the joy buzzer would work like that, Pinkie Pie. Then again, I'm no expert when it comes to comedy. I never indulged in any of it when I was growing up, and certainly no one played any practical jokes at Crystal Prep. Principal Cinch would have anyone suspended for two weeks for even a tiny innocent joke." Twilight answered.

" No wonder they were never happy."

" I suppose you could say that."

" Wait!" Pinkie Pie said, performing a double take upon realizing what Twilight said. " You've never played any jokes!? Wow! I didn't think there was anyone out there who lacked any skills at having fun. Remind me to teach you some things when we get back. I'll have you become a jokester within the span of a week or my name isn't Pinkamena Diane Pie." She then lurched forward and spoke into Twilight's ear. " That really is my name!"

I overheard some things my friends were talking about, but much of it I couldn't hear. That was because they chose to talk amongst themselves instead of allowing me the chance to express my opinions on what was on the tree stump with them. While it was rather inconvenient, I chose not to complain because I knew they were trying to figure out what I should take from the objects present. I had to admit that this whole using common and uncommon items was a unique approach. In Equestria, ponies used magic and magical artefacts to solve problems, humans used technology, science, art, and much more to solve problems. Yet here, anything that constituted as an item could be used.

As my friends continued talking, I took the liberty of picking up the bar of gold. At first, I thought it was just a cheap prop, a piece of plastic that had been painted gold to give off the impression. That theory quickly got thrown out when I discovered it was actually quite heavy. The texture on the gold looked truly authentic and it sparkled under the moonlight glowing from above, but I had to be certain that it was the real thing.

First, I flicked the gold bar with my finger, and winced in pain when I felt the bone connect with the metal. Second, I knocked the gold against the tree stump to see if it would leave some kind of indentation. Finally, I placed it under my helmet before biting it with my teeth. I didn't break any of them so that meant it was real. Since only food was allowed in the knapsack--as far as I knew--I had to carry this gold around until I ran into that Bartram character.

" Sunset? Did you just bite that gold bar?" Twilight asked.

" Yeah." I answered.

" What would you possess you to do that?"

" I wanted to see if it was real. It's real and my intact teeth are proof of that."

" Next time, you should've just asked Pickle his opinion. Anyway, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and I have talked it over, and we've decided that you need to take the joy buzzer. I know you're upset over not being included, but Treguard said that we're your eyes and ears. It makes sense for us to discuss certain things amongst ourselves." Twilight said.

Her reasoning was sound but I didn't appreciate being left out. It gave off the impression that my friends didn't value my opinions. Hopefully, there would be future decisions where I could provide a contribution instead of waiting for them to come up with something. I already had the gold bar, so I picked up the joy buzzer and held it firmly in my other hand. It looked exactly as one would expect a joy buzzer to look like. It was a small rounded object that could be slipped onto one's finger like a ring--perfect for concealing. The buzzer part was a tiny button that the victim pressed without knowing the truth.

With both objects in hand, I walked forward before Pickle stopped me from walking into a tree.

" You know you can't just wander about with that helmet on, right?" Pickle asked.

" I've had some small success."

" Did you pick your objects?" Pickle asked. I showed him the bar of gold and the joy buzzer. " I knew you'd pick the gold, Sunset Shimmer, but what in elven glades do you want with someone's practical joke? Well, it is your quest after all, so you go with what you think will get you through. Anyway, I'll take you to the next chamber and hopefully, it will be the one that has an elf path back into the dungeon." He grabbed my arm carefully to make certain I didn't drop my objects--for obvious reasons--and started pulling me towards the portal before coming to a sudden stop. " Then again, it has been a while since I last used the elf path you need. It might take you back to the dungeon or it could take you to Wolfenglen, a town that's situated near the edge of Dunkley Wood, or even the Crazed Heifer."

" The what!?"

" It's a tavern located in this forest where all manner of humans go. They usually go there for a drink or two--and ending up needing someone to drag them back out--but it can be useful for someone like you, Sunset Shimmer. Whichever of the three it ends up being, it will be the last room I'll be accompanying you." Pickle said.

We resumed walking and went through the portal, coming out on the other side mere moments later. I could tell we were still in the forest given the sounds coming from the trees, but there was an additional sound that sounded like people laughing. They were either having a good time or someone had told a funny joke. I wanted to ask where we were, but Pickle decided to tell me instead of my friends.