User Name: Sweetie.Belle

by SleepingPegasus

Welcome To The World of Ever Free Online

“Ever Free Online. The latest in virtual reality games will be hitting the shelves in the next few hours, and it seems excitement travels fast. Right behind me, several hundred ponies have already gathered late tonight, all hoping to get a copy.” The reporter stepped to the side, allowing the news camera to catch a full view of the bustling line. She fixed her mane, stepping back in front of the camera. “Created by Alistair Moonshadow, head designer at ‘Alicorn Gaming,’ as a final farewell gift before his passing. Though he passed a few months before the game’s completion, Alistair put his heart and soul into the game. Due to the company’s desire to maintain suspense, not much detail about the game has been released to the public. What we’ve been able to acquire, Ever Free Online is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game based around a fantasy theme. Ponies playing are given the choice of different classes, ranging from warrior to mage. And according to the current head-of-development, the game is said to have a hidden special feature that is meant to separate the game from the rest. It's no wonder these ponies are so excited to stand in line for it.” The reporter started walking down the line of ponies, the camera pony following intently. “Now, let's go talk to some of these ponies to find out their opinions on the game.” She advanced towards a small brown colt, a propeller hat resting on his head. “Young colt. Look into the camera and tell everypony listening in your name and why you've come here today.”

The young colt turned, staring blankly at the camera. The fact he was on TV took a moment to hit him. When it did, his face lit up, and a large smile grew on his face. “Hello, everypony. My name is Button Mash. I’m here for the same reason everypony else is here. I want my own copy of Ever Free Online. I’ve been waiting since... I don't even know how long for it to come out. And I promise on the soul of Alistair Moonshadow, that I will get the most out of this game!” Button raised his hoof to the sky, sparking many others to do the same.

The microphone was brought back to the reporter. “That's quite the determined statement coming from such a young colt. Tell me, son, is there anypony in particular out there that you'd like to say 'hi' to?”

“Well, my mother’s right behind me, so I can't quite think of anypony…” His ears shot up, and he looked into the camera again. “Hello, Sweetie Belle. If you're watching this, I'm sorry I'm not going to be spending as much time as you wanted together, but you know I've been talking about this game for a while. So… Yeah. Sorry again.” Button Mash was many things, even at his young age, an awkward social, a wonderful friend, and, most of all, a one-track gamer, to name a few. It came to no surprise to Sweetie Belle, who was watching the news feed from her home, that Button would be too preoccupied with his new game to hang out with her. That fact didn't, however, help soothe the pain in her chest. He chose to play a game over hanging out with a physical friend. One of the only physical friends he had.

Sweetie shut off the TV, tossing the remote in anger. She huffed, hopping off the couch. “Who needs him, anyway? I've still got my other friends to hang out with.” There was only one problem, one that hit Sweetie as soon as she went for the door. “Oh yeah… Scootaloo is in Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash for some sort of Wonderbolt Summer Camp, and Applebloom is on her family vacation.” She tried to figure out what to do. Her main friends were out enjoying their summertime. The only reason she didn't go with Applebloom was that Sweetie insisted that she’d be okay. She WAS going to spend summer with Button Mash, but that wasn't going to happen. Not with that game out. “What was so special about some dumb game?! Button couldn't stop talking about it the moment he found out it was coming out. A whole four months of listening to the same colt ramble on about some game is enough to drive anypony crazy. Did I think I was going to spend time with him, despite the game coming out? Yes! But can you blame me for wishful thinking?” Sweetie’s own rambling went on, making her unaware that she had left her house and was trotting aimlessly. Even more, somepony had found her and was nodding in agreement with her rambling.

A voice shook Sweetie from her focus, causing her to almost trip over her forehooves. “Thou seem very adamant with rambling.” A midnight blue silhouette floated down from above Sweetie.

“Princess Luna. I'm sorry if I disturbed you with my…” Her words fell short as Luna softly raised her hoof.

“There’s no need to apologize, young filly. I simply came along and found you wandering alone at night. Even though I can figure out much from your rambling, I would still like to know why thou is out at such an hour.”

“Oh yeah. I must have wandered out during my rant. Sorry for making you worry.” Sweetie huffed, plopping down on the ground. “It's my one colt friend you see, princess. We normally hang out a lot, but ever since that new game became public knowledge, that's all he could talk about. And now he's in line to get himself a copy to play. And I'm left to find something to do by myself.” She glanced up at Luna, giving a worried smile. “It must be great being you. Your entire day is preset. You don't have time to play stupid video games and ignore your friends.” Her comment sparked the princess to look away and blush.

“Thou must be speaking of Ever Free Online. It was quite the headliner so sometime now. There were a lot of Equestria whose dreams were centered around the game. I can understand your friend's enthusiasm. To a point at least. The game is supposed to reign over the rest.” Luna spoke fairly high of the game. A little too high, and Sweetie Belle picked up on that humble admiration for gaming.

“You happen to know a lot about the game for a princess. You wouldn't happen to have been out at this time because you just got out the line for the game?” Hearing her deduction, Luna’s head snapped back to Sweetie.

“Why I would never. I am a royal alicorn princess. I have duties to uphold. I have no time for such frivolous gaming.” The look on her face gave it away, but she wasn't going to give in like that.

“Then what would that be sticking out of your shoulder bag, dear princess?” Sweetie’s horn glowed as she pulled the game out with her magic. The look of detective victory was outmatched only by the look of absolute embarrassment on Luna’s face. If she didn't already have her cutie mark, detective work would have been a close second guess for Sweetie Belle’s talent.

“Okay. Okay. Thou hast caught me. But thou can't tell my sister. She already thinks I'm skimping on my nightly job.” Luna quickly snatched the game from Sweetie with her magic, placing it in entirely in her bag.

“Fine. Whatever. I’ll keep my lips sealed. Don't see the big deal and all.” A small nagging feeling now nudged at the front of Sweetie’s head. She wouldn't have been able to get the game due to its high price, and she really wanted to hang out with Button Mash. Sweetie gulped, the idea hitting her hard. She looked up at Luna once more. “Umm… Princess… May I ask you something?”

“Yes, dear. Ask away.”

“Is… Is the game as good as everypony says it is?”

“If you listen to all the enthusiasm. It was designed to become the top game in Equestria.” Luna paused, putting the details together and smirking. “Why do you ask?”

“Do you think I could give it a try. I just want to see for myself what's so great about the virtual games my friend plays.” Sweetie’s sophisticated pride melted under her filly curiosity.

“Well, I do happen to have an extra copy. Wanted to come clean with my sister and invite her to play… Wishful thinking.” Luna wore the same frustrated look on her face that Sweetie had earlier. “Anyway. I don't think it'd be much of a problem for thou to use my spare equipment. Thou would have to wait a day for me to fetch it.” She nodded, reluctantly at Luna’s comment. “Sweet dreams to you. See that thou gets home before it gets any later.” With at said, she flapped her wings and took off, leaving Sweetie Belle alone again.

The rest of the night went by swiftly, and just as the sun was rising over the trees, a small package arrived at the foot of Sweetie’s bed. “Did she have to leave it in my room? How did she even get in? Nevermind. I don't want to know.” She scootched to the end of her bed, opening the box. Inside was the game, as well as the same weird headpiece that Button had shown her a while ago. It was supposed to sync a ponies brainwaves so it could be read by the game or something like that. Next to all of that was a note.

“I'm surrounded by nerds. Let that fact be known.” Sweetie laughed, setting everything up, paying careful attention to the manual. Soon she found herself holding the headset in her hooves. She looked over at the vanity mirror in her room. “I'm just taking a look at the game. Nothing more. Nothing less. I’ll be back to reality before dinner time. Yeah. I should be sick of it by then.” After a worried smile in the mirror, she placed the headset on her head and laid down. It started up with a whirl, and as soon as Sweetie closed her eyes and relaxed, she found herself diving in.

Darkness. That’s what welcomed her. Oh, good. I broke it. Just as she thought that her vision cleared.

The voice echoed around Sweetie, startling her. That was loud. And a bit sudden. You'd think they'd at least warn you there was going to be a loud disembodied voice. Think of the filly gamer ears.

Just then, three icons appeared in front of her; a wing, a horn, and a hoof. Taking her detective skills for a quick run, she figured the first two were for pegasi and unicorns. Which left the last one for earth ponies. Deciding to stick with her birth race, Sweetie chose the horn. Why change what's still good?

A list of various manes replaced the icons. Sweetie almost picked her natural hair when she reconsidered. This is a fantasy world. There is no need for my character to be exactly like me. With that mindset, she decided on a shorter mane, and a tail more like Scootaloo’s. Next, that came up was a color wheel and color pallet. Sweetie Belle pondered for a moment. How about red mane? Yeah. That's good. And I guess my tail will match. She took a moment to admire her selection.

A new set of options appeared, and for some reason, Sweetie Belle was starting to enjoy designing her character. Let's see here. I can be either a warrior, rogue, mage, cleric, or archer. Hmm. Warriors seem like they'd be more up Button Mash’s alley. Too brawny for me. Don't feel edgy enough for a rogue class. There was an involuntary sneeze from the in-game avatar of Princess Luna. The mage class seems nice. I'm already a unicorn, so why not be the magic class? Sweetie made her selection, and the following prompt made her stop.

Her name is something she never thought of until this moment. If she wanted to keep the fact she was playing this game from Button Mash, she couldn't just use her name. But what was she going to name her character? She thought for what felt like hours before she came up with something.

Ruby Aurora? It sounds quite lovely. Yes! From this moment on, I shall be known as Ruby Aurora, the great unicorn mage! Sweetie Belle couldn't help but laugh at her own silly antics. With her name in place, everything went black again.

Bright light consumed Sweetie Belle’s vision. When she could see again, she found she was standing in what looked like a town square. “Okay. So far, so good. Everything here does look remarkably realistic. It was when she tried to look at herself that things lost its realism. First off, she wasn't on all fours like a normal pony. Instead, she was standing on her ‘back hooves.’ Secondly, her hooves were replaced by hands and feet. “Okay. Scratch that. This world is not very realistic. I am standing in the middle of a fantasy town, in a nonpony form, and I'm trying to compare it to reality. What is wrong with me?” Once again, her rambling caught the attention of somepony else. Sweetie Belle felt something poke her shoulder, causing her to abruptly turn on her heels. In front of her confused, startled, and annoyed her all at once. The ‘pony’ standing there was a fairly muscular figure, with both Button Mash’s mane style and color. A small sword rested on his side. She stared blankly at him, facepalming hard in her head. Please don't recognize me.

“Umm.” Button Mash glanced slightly above Sweetie’s head. “Ruby Aurora? Hmm. Interesting name.” The figure definitely looked like Button, but it did not sound like him. The voice coming from him was deep and almost entrancing. “I take it you're new here?”

Sweetie shook the ‘entrancing’ away, smiling gingerly. “Yes. I just created my character a few moments ago. I’m Ruby Aurora, but I guess you can call me Ruby. And you are?”

Button Mash’s avatar flexed his muscles, definitely happy to know he had strength in this world. “I am Sir Alistair William.” He took a pose, just realizing just how silly he looked at the female in front of him stared back, obviously holding in the laughter boiling up to the surface. Button fixed himself, clearing his throat. “But you can just call me Alistair. Welcome to the starter town.” He held out his hand in greeting.

Sweetie Belle looked down at Button’s hand, letting her eyes slowly fall to her own. She extended her hand, fidgeting with her fingers. She grasped his hand with a firm handshake. “Tell me, Alistair. Just what are we right now? I mean, we definitely aren't ponies. Right?”

Astonishment filled his eyes as he chuckled. “From what I've been able to get from other players, we are what the developers called anthros. A sort of bipedal version of ponies. It's cool, right?”

“Cool wouldn't be the word I'd use. More like weird. How did they even program these things?” Sweetie was starting to get too interested in how this world worked, quickly remembering that she thought all of this pointless. “Not that I'm all that interested in finding out or anything.”

“Indecisive, I see. Anyway. Seeing as you’re new and all, and it's not just because you're a girl or anything.” The last part was spoken under his breath. “Would you like to team up? I’m a level or two ahead of you, and I wouldn't mind helping you level up.”

The offer was too tempting. Sweetie went into this stupid game so she could hang out with Button Mash. And seeing as he doesn't know it's her, it wouldn't hurt to tag along. “Sure. I guess it wouldn't hurt.” Her desire to keep herself hidden from him puzzled herself. There was a small part of her that wanted to know a truth. The truth. About what ‘he’ thought of her.

“Right-o. Follow me then, Ruby. There’s a lot of adventuring to be done.”