//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: First Day // Story: Twilight Sparkle...The Gamer? // by Moonlight_Mist //------------------------------// Celestia had been overseeing a trial of grand larceny, the defendant being a silver-tongued rat of a stallion by the name Gladmane. Luckily everything was settled before the news of a baby Alicorn came her way. She didn't want to have to miss such an occasion because of the latest Corporal Sticky Fingers'. Celestia couldn't help smiling at the origin of that little title, despite the current connotation. When she saw the foal, and heard its babbling, she felt a warmth spread across her cheeks as her smile widened. 'This child could thaw the cursed cold of days long past with her mere presence.' That was Celestia's first thought. Twilight didn't notice at first, having been focused on keeping herself in check, but everyone she looked at had a display above their heads. She knew this was a part of her status as 'The Gamer', and surprised herself in her ability to take it in stride. She looked at each pony's information, and quickly digested what she was given.. Twilight Velvet Unicorn ? Level 12 ??? Night Light Unicorn ? Level 15 ??? Berry Bobbin Unicorn ? Level 10 ??? Lemon Drop Unicorn ? Level 13 ??? Stable Hoof Unicorn ? Level 25 ??? Tower Shield Unicorn ? Level 30 ??? Celestia Alicorn ? Level 250 ???] '250?!' Twilight remembered that Button Mash said once or twice that level caps were usually no higher than 100. Thinking about it, she supposed it's make sense that caps wouldn't exist if it's just real life acting like a game. 'Even so, that's high. Well, she is over a thousand years old.' In the end, she decided she shouldn't be surprised. She did wonder what the question marks were, though. Suddenly, one of those windows appeared in front of her. Her eyes darted around, but nopony else seems to have noticed it. Her parents were still vocally doting over their new filly, the nurses and doctor had started their initial medical check of her, and Celestia surprisingly seemed to be off in some kind of la la land. It's not like it would require much focus, so she took the opportunity her own inaction provided her and read it. [Continued observation of a subject has fulfilled parameters. Skill 'Scan' unlocked.] [Scan: Reveals a subject's hidden data during observation. Works only on subjects you have a bond with. Revealed data remains revealed even after 'Scan' has resolved.] 'Hidden data? Is that what those are?' "Interesting. Scan." Her eyes glowed slightly, not that she could see it, and through her vision the ponies around her, as well as a few nondescript objects for some reason, had a glowing outline. A grayish-brown jar in the corner with a stylized triangle pattern painted across it in white, a thick green book with a rough, aged-looking spine with the book's title written in a very flowery script, and a desk lamp. She focused on her mother, and the data window became was fleshed out. Name: Twilight Velvet Race: Unicorn Class: Spell Slinger Job Title: Astrologist Level: 12 HP: 1120 MP: 2400 ATK: 70 DEF: 84 STR: 28 END: 42 SPD: 38 AGI: 44 INT: 100 WIS: 80 CLV: 40 RES: 60 COMBAT MG: 56 CRYSTAL MG: 84 TIME MG: 76 ILLUSION MG: 88 ARCANE MG: 200 HEART MG: 160 SOUL MG: 80 DARK MG: 120 Your mother. A thrill seeker when she can indulge, her greatest fears and dreams are for her children. 'Spell Slinger? Is that an advanced class?' She disregarded that and focused on her father. Name: Night Light Race: Unicorn Class: High Mage Job Title: Researcher Level: 15 HP: 1180 MP: 2600 ATK: 74 DEF: 88 STR: 30 END: 44 SPD: 34 AGI: 41 INT: 99 WIS: 87 CLV: 32 RES: 74 COMBAT MG: 60 CRYSTAL MG: 88 TIME MG: 68 ILLUSION MG: 82 ARCANE MG: 198 HEART MG: 174 SOUL MG: 64 DARK MG: 148 Your father. Highly values order and organization. As the head of magical research in Canterlot, he has a heavy role in the future of Equestria. 'Is that what he does? Wait...High Mage? Assuming there are three tiers of classes, my parents must be 2nd tier. Hmm.' She shifted her gaze again. Berry Bobbin Unicorn ? Level 10 ??? Note: You do not have a bond with this subject. 'I guess blood relation is enough of a bond for it to work. Let's see.' She looked at Celestia. Celestia Alicorn ? Level 250 ??? Note: You do not have a bond with this subject. 'That settles that. I don't know any of these ponies, and what I knew in my past life doesn't count. I guess it has to go both ways. Now let's see...' She decided to look at the objects that were glowing. There shouldn't be anything of note to them, but she checked since there was nothing else to do. Object: Jar Wouldn't it just be so satisfying to pick up and smash? Twilight stared, her face devoid of emotion. 'Okaaayyy... Next.' Object. Book There's a story to be had here. Do you want to experience it? Yes/No Again Twilight stared. She decided yes, and there was a glow only she could see. Investigation can be rewarding. Not all rewards will be so obvious. +50 EXP Twilight Sparkle Level 1 50 EXP 50 TNL 'TNL? Probably 'To Next Level' given the context. Moving on.' Object: Lamp You must be feeling quite enlightened. Yes/No 'What? How is that grounds for a yes or no question? Whatever, I'll humor it.' She thought yes. Suddenly the bulb in the lamp flashed red, and Twilight felt a stinging feeling rush through her body. 'Ow! What?' Carelessness can be dangerous. 10 damage to Twilight Sparkle. Not all traps will be so obvious...stupid. 'Hey! What else could I-' Twilight cut herself off when another window opened. There were two words written in a big font. LOOK AWAY Twilight pouted at that in a way very befitting a foal, despite her mental age. 'I'll just return to the not-game-like stuff. Looking around, she noticed that not much time had passed. Celestia had clearly seen her react to something unseen, based on her befuddled expression, but that will fall to the wayside. So much time had passed with checks and rechecks, and the nurses repeatedly advising her parents to ask Celestia if they needed help with her, given her status as an Alicorn. That line of repetitious thought was ceased in good time by Celestia's admission that she knows nothing of caring for an Alicorn foal, or how their magic surges would manifest. That was the big point of worry, but it was all taking forever. Twilight had been sitting in her mother's hooves doing nothing for 15 minutes! 15 whole minutes! She was bored. She was about to fall asleep, but she didn't want to, so she flapped her wings a few times to get lift off, a few more to start a stable flight, and then started flying around the room. She made several circuits, babbling the whole time as an excited foal would. Really she was trying to imitate Flurry Heart, but it seemed to be working at least. At the third circuit around the room, her horn flared with magic and she started firing Magic Missiles in random directions, babbling and giggling foalishly the whole time. This got the attention and participation of the ponies around her, who started working their flanks off to ensure all of Twilight's beams were neutralized. Celestia appeared to be enjoying herself, apparently making a game of discerning how much power was in each beam and matching it exactly with one of her own. She looked livelier than almost any time Twilight had seen her in her first life. That was an exciting prospect. With a first impression like this, and not having to worry about crippling anxiety, maybe Twilight could genuinely become Celestia's friend like the white Alicorn always wished for before. This went on for a few minutes, but then Celestia brought it to an end with a light cough. "Well my little ponies, this has been unexpected and quite entertaining, but I must return to the palace. Velvet. Night Light. You two have a shining star of a child, and I know you'll raise her well. Unfortunately, as remiss as I am to tell you this, I need to inform you both that there is no way your daughter's status as a natural-born Alicorn will be secret for long. There will be questions. There will be paparazzi. However, I would not be the ruler I am if I didn't offer to have a platoon of guards stationed around your property and ready to escort you and your children around Canterlot; incognito of course. " Twilight's parents looked at each other, smiled, and Velvet told Celestia, "We'd appreciate all the help we can get, Princess." The princess nodded in response, and then, almost as if as an afterthought, asked what the foal's name was. Again, Velvet responded. "Her name is Twilight Sparkle, your highness." Celestia's smile widened ever so slightly. "Sparkle. Yes, a powerful Unicorn name. A promising Unicorn name. Destiny has great things in store for your daughter, for her to have that name." A slight not of her head, and she promptly left with the pop and buzz of teleportation. Immediately after, Twilight knew something she could do. Flurry Heart did something similar after all. She cooed with childish wonder, and scrunched up her face in a dramatic show of false exertion. Her horn lit up slowly, adding to the show that it was harder than it was. For good measure, she cast a simple cantrip that made a ball of light shoot off of the caster's horn, but overcast it deliberately so it looked more like a spark than a ball, taking a starburst shape. Then, while all of this was happening, simulating a strained casting, she teleported and simultaneously cut the light ball cantrip. It looked, to all around her, like a strained casting that succeeded despite the difficulty. Velvet gasped in awe and grabbed Twilight in her magic, pulling her back to her mother before hugging her tight and exclaiming, "My daughter can already teleport! Did she learn to do it from watching just the two exits and one re-entry she saw? Oh, she's such a smart cookie!" While Velvet was busy whooping and otherwise being excited about her daughter's accomplishment, Night Light coordinated with the hospital staff to get Velvet and Sparkle checked out of the hospital. One thing Twilight wondered was 'where's Shining Armor?' They went home and, staying true to the plan of acting like a baby, Twilight immediately flew off and tested everything. She made it a game of hide and seek while she was at it, and by the time she was found standing on the ceiling in a small cubby between three walls, with the cookie jar in hoof she'd emptied the vessel of sugary offerings and placed them one by one on the sacred dais that was her tongue and allowed it to be accepted by her stomach by way of her throat. They were all gone, and Twilight had a smile on her little face that screamed 'ain't I a stinker?' for just a moment, before it changed to the innocent, albeit content smile of a happy baby. 'Even if I have to act like a baby, I'm still gonna milk this.' Twilight thought as she waved her arms about, cookie jar still in hoof, and babbled before she 'accidentally' dropped the jar. She adopted a shocked face to completely sell it, and when Night Light caught it in his magic, the sudden need to act causing him to overcast and crack the porcelain jar with the force, Twilight felt she had taken it far enough...for now. She responded in the way she felt a baby would in this situation. She cried and looked into her mother's eyes, begging with them for comfort. Velvet silently held her hooves out to receive her crying child, and they hugged. Night Light looked downtrodden, until Twilight batted at him with a hoof and he looked over to see the adorable expression on his child's face, and the silent beckoning to make it a group hug. The father accepted, and they just hugged like a happy family would. They fell asleep in their collective embrace, the toll of the day having finally caught up to them. A voice called to Velvet and Night Light while they were deep in sleep, calling them 'Mom' and 'Dad'. It roused them a little, but it took another couple of calls like that for them to return to awareness. Shaking off the sleepiness, they looked to the source of the voice. Their son, Shining Armor had just returned home from his day at school. Twilight looked at her brother from the cover of Night Light's leg. Shining Armor Unicorn ? Level 3 ??? "Hey, son!" Night Light called to him. "Meet your sister!" The father presented the son with the daughter, who smiled at her big brother. The brother smiled back and gave the tyke a light noogie. He asked what her name was, and while he was getting his answer, Twilight used Scan. Name: Shining Armor Race: Unicorn Class: Brawler Job Title: - Level: 3 HP: 350 MP: 830 ATK: 21 DEF: 28 STR: 7 END: 14 SPD: 10 AGI: 15 INT: 32 WIS: 16 CLV: 15 RES: 35 COMBAT MG: 14 CRYSTAL MG: 28 TIME MG: 20 ILLUSION MG:30 ARCANE MG: 64 HEART MG: 32 SOUL MG: 30 DARK MG: 70 Your brother. Very shy, enjoys role playing because he can be not himself which makes him not shy. His most secret of dreams is to become a guardian, living to protect someone precious to him. ‘I guess the ‘job’ field is literal. I remember Shining Armor saying that Job is Synonymous with Class in games, and that some use one while others use the others. I’ve never heard him talk about a game that had both, so I guess it makes about as much sense as anything.’ She looked at her brother, who was smiling."Twilight Sparkle? Okay. Hey Twily, I got homework to do, but we can hang out later. I know you were just born today, but you seem like a pretty fine edge, if you catch my meaning." Internally, Twilight rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Good old Shining Armor. Always a table top nerd. Oh well, it was because of him that she knew what to do with the stat points. Funny how that works out. She kept listening, Shiny was about to keep talking. "Anyway, you look like a pretty smart cookie, so there must be something the two of us could do to have some fun together, right?" Twilight smiled, then Velvet waved him off, telling him to do his homework first. Shining playfully raspberried in response, then said, "I know, mom!" He waved at his sister and she waved back, then Shining took his books and papers to his room to work. Later on, Shining took Twilight outside to play, and while their parents were hesitant to let their newborn daughter outside given the pedigree of her race and what that might mean if she was to be seen so soon, but they ultimately acquiesced to two pairs of weapons-grade puppy-dog eyes, each partnered with a level 4 pout. It was a scenario that threatened cuteness fallout, and so the order that would have caused it was rescinded, for the greater good. The young siblings played for a couple hours, though about an hour in Twilight got a strange 'Gamer' message. Shining Armor is growing closer to you. +1 Bond with Shining Armor. 'There are bonds now? Huh.' Twilight could work with that. It would make it easier to figure out what she meant to who. She wanted to be friendly this time, without the period of recluse that defined her before becoming the Element of Magic. This was perfect. The siblings played for a couple more hours after Twilight got the notice, and in that time their bond went up by 1 again. They would have played more; who knew hide and seek could be so engaging, but their mother called them inside. "Twilight! Shining! We have a guest! Come introduce yourself and your sister, Shining! And get ready for dinner! Twilight! It's been a few hours, come get your next meal!" The pair hurried inside, finding Velvet together, where the mare introduced them to a younger Princess Cadance. “Kids. This is Princess Cadance. Her full name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but she says she doesn't like the narcissistic sound of it so she sticks to Cadance. She's a princess in training under Celestia, but when she heard about Twilight she wanted to offer herself as a sitter. She'll be joining us for dinner, isn't that great kids?" Shining looked bashful but nodded, while Twilight just babbled at Cadance. "Ooh. Hi Twilight! My name's Cadance! You're such a cutie!" Twilight beamed and babbled happily. She was really getting into her act, but her immersion was disrupted when she got a 'Gamer' notice. Bond Quest: First Impressions with Cadance Cadance got with your brother because she babysat you. If you want that to happen again, you might want to make a good first impression for your prospective sitter. Success: +500 EXP, +1 Bond with Cadance, more chances to become close to Cadance Failure: +50 EXP, temporary awkward status when interacting with Cadance, fewer chances to become close to Cadance Twilight considered this. How could she make a good first impression? ‘Oh! I know!’ She dropped to her hooves facing Cadance, and started going through motions that were odd on their own, the strangeness only accentuated by the babble speak that went with it. First, she hopped and landed on her front and back left hoof, then hopped again and landed on her right hooves. She hopped two more times, again to her left then right hooves. These motions were accompanied by her 'saying' "Bum-bye bum-bye" She then put all four hooves back on the floor and lowered her front half to the floor, leaving her rear legs straight in a way that resulted in a position that would have been worthy of shielding Shining's eyes and screaming at a mare about their lack of morality if it wasn't a foal doing it. She used her front hooves to make the motions of the peek-a-boo game, and it was accompanied by her 'saying' "A boo bay" The purple foal made pattycake motions while 'saying' "Bah pah boo", then turned away from Cadance and shook her tail while 'saying' "Oo li-say!". Then she returned to a normal standing posture looking at Cadance, who was just confused. "...Velvet what was that?" Cadance asked, maintaining her look of being totally lost. Velvet shrugged her shoulders. Twilight hadn't been around long enough to have been taught anything, especially whatever that was. Bond Quest: First Impressions with Cadance Cadance got with your brother because she babysat you. If you want that to happen again, you might want to make a good first impression for your prospective sitter. Failure What in Tartarus was that? Way too strong. Way too soon. Who knows what she thinks of you now? +50 EXP Awkward +5 status when interacting with Cadance. Duration: 6 months You blew it with Cadance being your sitter. It'll be hard to interact with her now, given her studies. Twilight gaped. She screwed up that badly? Oh boy...