//------------------------------// // Arc 2-3: Welcome Wagon // Story: Error Code: FIO // by Ashfur //------------------------------// Location: Alex's house Date: Saturday March 4th, 2016, 3:30 P.M. Alex pulled his car into his driveway, making sure to grab his groceries as he went inside. It took three trips before he finally remembered to take his new ponypad in, but not before stashing his broken one upstairs in his room. Sighing as he braced for the inevitable, he booted up his brand new ponypad, making a mental note to focus on playing the game differently than normal. The screen booted up to reveal some kind of show stage with a generic pony on it, and a myriad of custonizations. "Ugh, menus. Fun. Let's get this over with." Over the next thirty minutes, Alex worked to create something different than Glitch's design, ultimately settling on a light gray colored stallion with a dark green mane. He cycled the different races but settled on unicorn, since his other self would have few ways to learn advanced magic otherwise. Still no cutie mark option, but as the newly created pony trotted off the stage, Alex grinned at his handiwork. But he knew he had to play things carefully, as this game was not the one in danger. He was just guiding his pony puppet in this one, a facade to learn about the world. Celest-AI didn't know it, but the metaphorical chess game had begun, and Alex had just made the first move. Location: Market Street, Canterlot A gray unicorn drew a few stares as he exited a shop, mainly due to the fact he didn't use magic to open the door and snaked his face into it instead. Cartoonishly prying himself off the door, we walked into the street where dozens of ponies milled about. Choosing a deep blue earth pony with a dark purple mane as his first objective, he trotted over to her before happily greeting her. "Hey there! I'm lost. Think you can help me out with- OOF!" Startled from his unannounced approach from behind, the mare reacted the way any equine does when startled: A single, swift kick with the rear hoof. As she was an earth pony, Alex's character was flung backwards and landed flat on his face, hard enough that in the real world, his ponypad screen flashed blue with the text 'An error has occured: Variable gotOwned= true. Visual puns are calculated to satisfy your values. Press any button to wake up.' So he did. "...rry! Wak... p! Ca...ou hear me? Please, wake up!" The gray unicorn opened his eyes to see the blue mare from moments ago staring into his face with a worried expression. As he opened his eyes, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank Celestia! I thought I had seriously hurt you. Are you alright, sir?" "Oof... yeah. You hit me so hard I bluescreened for a moment there. Mind getting off of me though?" The mare complied. 'Alex' nodded his head in thanks before she continued in her anxious tone. "Right, right. Sorry again. You said your name was Lost, right? What do you need? Is somepony in trouble?" "Oh, not at all! I just needed directions. I just arrived and from what I understand I don't have a name until I go see Celestia. You can call me Lost for now if you want, though. You have to call me something, right?" The newly nicknamed Lost held out a hoof in greeting. "What's your name?" The mare smiled warmly, but stood strong and tall in a protective posture as well. Alex idly wondered how she could look both intimidating and friendly at the same time. "I am the captain of the royal guards here in Canterlot. My name is Blue Scream! Princess Celestia told me once it's a play on words, but I don't get it." Alex got the joke. He facepalmed for thirty seconds until groaning and continuing on. "Ok then, Blue, if I can call you that. Can you help me get to the castle? From what I understand I have to get a name there." Blue Scream grinned, racing off down the street at a pace her new companion could barely keep. "Sure thing! You have to get to the princess to get your name, and it's practically my job as captain of the guard to take you there! ONWARD!" Lost cringed at the volume Blue announced her forward charge. No wonder her name's Blue Scream, he thought. The pair galloped through the market district of Canterlot, but eventually slowed to a brisk trot to take in the sights. Vendors lined the street, each one offering up wares for any who wanted them. Lost glances at the various goods before turning to Blue. "Hey, Blue. I got a question. Two, actually." Blue waved her hoof to indicate she wanted him to continue. "Okay. First off, I don't see any prices on any of those market stalls. Heck, the ponies I see taking things aren't even paying, and nopony is even batting an eye! Isn't it your job as a guard to stop stealing?" Blue looked confused. "What do you mean, stealing? I don't see anypony even coming close to breaking the law. Things are a little different than outside. That's where you're from, right? I never hear anything about it from the princess, aside from the fact visitors have some culture shock. I bet she could easily explain it to you, though." Lost shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose she would have the best answers. But that brings up question two. If getting to Celestia is so important, why didn't I just start in the throne room? It would be easier, and then I could-" Lost began glowing, before confetti erupted around him and a fanfare played from no direction in particular. A text box appeared on the ponypad screen, reading 'Achievement unlocked: Question Authority (Question the motives of Celestia's ways of satisfying values). +500 bits!' Lost simply looked on slack-jawed before finally uttering a few syllables that eventually formed a coherent sentence. "Okay, question three. What the heck was that?!" Blue giggled. "You got an achievement, silly! Whenever you reach a goal, you get some bits and a badge to go with it! Aren't you lucky, getting an intelligence badge so soon. I bet your name and cutie mark will be something related to smarts." "And that's normal here? I'm lost here." "Yup, at least until you get a name I'm gonna keep calling you Lost. But you'll get used to it soon enough. Shall we keep going and ask the princess at the castle?" Location: Castle entrance Canterlot castle towered high above the pair as they approached the front gate. Two guardsponies stood on either side of the entryway, keeping intruders out. As Blue approached, they saluted in greeting. "Captain Blue. We have orders from her majesty to bring your friend to the throne room for a special meeting. The princess requests you escort him immediately." "At ease, private. I will handle it personally. Open the gates, soldier." The guards complied, swinging the iron gate wide for the duo to enter. Blue ushered Lost into the courtyard, noting his awe at the architecture of the palace. "Impressive, yeah? Celestia is amazing in that she made all this herself. I'm so honored to be the captain of her guard. And that means I get to help her out as best I can." "Are you sure she even needs help? If she did all this herself, then..." Blue didn't even flinch. "I asked her that once too. You know what she told me? 'Sometimes, it is better to let others help you even if you don't need it, because it makes them happy.' And it does. Making sure the city stays safe makes me happy." She slowed as they approached the door to the throne room. "Now, this next part is for you, and you alone. Go on. I can't wait to hear what name you got!" And with that, she galloped off, the doors swung open, and Alex walked his pony through the archway into the throne room. As the doors shut behind him, a regal voice broke the silence. "Hello, Long Lost."