Equestria Online
Chapter 3: Rare and the Champ
It had been around about a month since the game had begun, at first everyone was ecstatic, and everything was great. All of those involved enjoyed the MMO, while others panicked. Many of the players were confident that someone would find a way out of the game. Celestia herself hadn't come out to address the humans, after her letter had been sent. Leading too many suspicions revolving around the return of the humans, but the Royal Court denied the accusations. The Princess had good intentions for what she had done.
There had been of many players who were quite smart when it came to playing RPG's, geniuses in fact. But this kid, he referred to himself as the best!
He walked down the road iron armor dull and damaged, clinging to his green shirt damaged. His black hair was dirty and skin dirt ridden. This kid had no worries about keeping up. His only objective was to escape this place, but he couldn't do it alone. A lot of the players were losing their minds. The world was getting more dangerous each day and countless players were oblivious to the fact.
Equestria as a country itself was safe, but this game was something different.
Over the course of the last month there was a rough estimate of around 15,000 players who entered Equestria. The number had dwindled down. It was by stupidity. At least that's what this kid thought.
This was the first RPG he had played. The kid was used to what his brother had shown him, Call of Duty, Battlefield. Leveling up in there was the closest he had gotten to an RPG, but when he heard there was an MMO about his favorite show coming out. He nearly lost it. But all of those memories seemed hazy now. It seemed like every day he was forgetting things. It was like all the important things about the game in the outside world were vanishing from his thoughts. It greatly bothered him, but he had no one to tell. He was in this world alone.
He balled his fist. It wouldn't be like that for long. He would have a guild of his own…
The rules of this place were different from any game he had played before. The dungeons could be integrated into the land. There wasn't a cave or castle you had to enter. Enemies couldn't always be seen. If you didn't know the land well enough it could be your end. The boy knew this well enough. After his fiasco with the dragons back in the Broken Hoof Peak he learned he had to be careful or he would end up just like the other deleted players. He stayed on his toes as best as he could, depending on one guide. He had gone to the searching for a book, the beginner's guide, an easy quest that a lot of players ignored because of the lack of XP, but he did everything he could get stronger.
The kid's strength was something he didn't joke about their. He didn't need a weapon he just let his fists do the talking for him. He looked above his head and grimaced, level 24. He cursed the hardcore gamers were probably reaching their forties now by he guessed. But those were the guild leaders. The blokes he went out and got the special edition earned a free 10 ten level boost at the start of the game.
Even for the gap he was still recognized, by few who witnessed his power. He had received countless offers to join guilds, but he denied left and right. If he was going to be in a guild, it would be under his name and he would be the leader. Only those worthy to bask in his greatness would be allowed to join.
So until he came across such a group of people he would remain solo…
That even applied to having a partner. The kid cursed himself at that. He was stubborn, but he had yet to come across that spark yet. Somebody! Or at least somepony who was also worthy to bask in his glory. He smirked surely this partner had to be of an equal standing.
Returning back to his guide book he checked his location. The boy was heading to Canterlot. He had recently run a dungeon by himself, one that several players had refused to run alone. Surely they thought he was going to get himself killed. The drop was a rare Dragon's Claw. He was just going to cash in. First he had to find a blacksmith to mold it for him. He checked the map; he had just left the town Ponyville. He was heading north, but made sure that he wasn't going to far north.
Up to the north was the Badlands, the most dangerous land in this world. Everyone was so focused on scouring Equestria for the clues of escaping the game. But, if it was up to him and he was the developer, he would guess it was outside the country. Had it crossed anyone else's mind that this game could go beyond the borders of Equestria? He guessed this was only a testing ground. Or perhaps he was getting ahead of himself.
He guessed Equestria itself was child's play compared to what he and other players would have to face in the coming months. The last couple of days he had been thinking a lot. When he got together a guild that is when the game would truly begin for him. While others were scrounging for in fear he would assemble the most powerful force this game had ever seen.
"But first things first." The boy came to a stop staring at the town in front of him. "I have to find a partner. If I plan on being the most powerful player in this world, it is imperative I have the most powerful hoofed partner by my side. What a better place to find one than at Canterlot?"
He sighed and looked down at his watch. It was getting late. Having recently left a dungeon he was rather beat. He sighed as he traveled along the road. His feet hurt with each step he took. He had been going on like this for a few days rarely taking breaks. He didn't like stopping to rest because that took bits, bits that could be used on better gear. So he stuck to using his sleeping bag.
Caravans continued to pass him by. His feet ached. He hated to admit it, but he had to give the game the developer some credit. The system was amazing. He felt all of his senses. Each as vivid as they were in the real world. Each flawless, he could smell the holly floating in the wind as he passed by and heard the creek flowing under the bridge. Sometimes felt like this was the real world.
Shaking the thoughts out of his head he set his sights on a nearby town. Shaking the bits in his pocket he murmured. "I guess a little rest wouldn't hurt." He approached the small town and saw it wasn't as nearly bustling as the others were. When he was last in Canterlot he thought he was going to get lost in a sea of people and ponies, but this place. It was quite different. This was the town of Foalsom.
The kid walked along the streets and soon found it was a ghost town.
He stopped in the middle of the road and watched a tumble wheat bounce by. This was place creeping him out a little. The streets were quite nice though. The bricks in the earth embroiled in a golden yellow. The buildings looked brand new each garnering its own unique fashion. He spotted the nearest inn and headed inside. Surely wasn't a dungeon, it was an actual town.
To his relief the inn wasn't empty at all. The barkeep was present rubbing a glass dry a cloth. He looked at pity to a young blue mare sitting at the bar downing a couple cold ones. Her eyes glazed over as she downed the bottle and rested her head on her hooves. Looking over to the kid she murmured. "So I guess this town really isn't dead than."
The kid took a seat next not too far from her and ignored the pony's notion. "Barkeep, do you have any rooms open."
The keeper gave a sarcastic chuckle. Placing his hooves on the stand he gave a smirk. "Why of course we do sonny. I suspect that you two will be our only guests tonight. I have barely seen anyone, or anypony come to this town. I imagine after they came, your kind would be too scared to return."
"I'm not scared of anything." He laughed taking one of the mare's half full bottles and drinking in. He gave a smirk, but soon spat the drink out over the ground. "What the hell is this crap!"
"That's my ale you just drank brat!" The mare yelled.
He gave a bleak stare. "You mean it's not Apple Cider… I tasted… apple…"
She rolled her eyes. "It's for adults little boy. Now scram before you face my Great and Powerful might!"
He frowned turning back to the barkeep. "Oh, I will show you Great and Powerful. The great and powerful back of my-"
"Anyway." The barkeep interrupted the two. "Just what have you come here to Foalsom for stranger? The town is not a safe place right now. Not with those misfits running amuck here. They are making too much trouble. It's almost impossible to get help from the Princess; she just has too much on her plate too worried about little folk like us."
"No one can stop them…" She murmured. "So what makes you think the Princess can?"
"Well remember that mare that came by a couple of days ago." The barkeep countered. Trixie winced at the thought and turned her head away. "She stopped you didn't she? She said that she would put an end to all of it."
Trixie narrowed her eyes. "Sparkle… she's been gone for days. Compared to what those humans can do... They're not like the others…"
The kid took sips of the ale and smiled. "Guild you say. I guess you're talking about one of those Rogue Guilds huh?" Yes, he remember correctly that there were groups known as Rogue Guilds that went out and claimed territory for themselves, they found anything they could to extort the game to get more money, better gear, and XP.
"Well than I suppose I will just have to take care of all of them. Taking down one of those Guilds can only increase my reputation. However powerful they are they are still ants under my shoes. I am the Great and Powerful one!" He let out a maniacal laugh. Standing up he cracked his knuckles and looked to the bar keep. "First thing is first, I could use a blacksmith."
"If you're looking for something like that you're going to want to see Rarity. She will get you suited up. She and I are the last ponyfolk left in this town. She is quite the brave young mare. She refused to leave her Boutique to the likes of that guild." The Barkeep moved towards the window and pointed his hoof towards the heavily decorated Boutique.
He moved towards the window his eyes widening. The boy's jaw dropped. "You're joking right? You expect me to go there and get supped up for battle! That place looks totally girly!"
Trixie laughed. "If this square is more worried about looking girly than dying I say let him go!"
The boy smirked glaring at Trixie. "You understand my logic completely! Oh great and powerful Trixie!"
Trixie face turned a bright red. "Why you?"
The boy placed bits on the table and next to the unicorn's drinks as well. "Thanks for the drink and room barkeep. I will be back later, probably would be a good thing if you guys remain on the down low a little bit." As he headed out the boy raised up his hand waving. "See you around Trixie."
"Just wait… wait till he sees. That guild is nothing to be joking about." She muttered taking another swig of her drink! "I would know better than anyone else."
Outside the in the boy let out a yawn. He was eager to see some action; he hadn't really gotten much since battling the dragon. He yearned for another heart racing experience. He looked back at the door and smirk. That Trixie though interested him. He had a feeling there was more to her story than met the eye. "A candidate to bask in my glory and rich's? Perhaps, but first things first."
He headed over to the Carousel Boutique his inner man telling him to stay away as he stopped at the door. He wouldn't mind getting his gear repaired by a good tailor as some of it was still damaged. The sign on the outside of the door read open. He grabbed the knob and felt a sudden shock shoot down the back of his spine. Did he hesitate? He never hesitated? But the sensation that just shook him was something else. It was something he had been yearning more of, power.
He opened the door to find the shop was not one he had expected it to be. The barkeep had explained the mare in here worked on gear, but this was something else. It seemed more like a clothing store. Countless dresses were on sale, nearly all of them to be exact. Though he noticed marvelous dresses, masterpieces still had their original price tags.
Surely ponies would fight to get their hooves on these.
The bell ringed over his head and he heard a loud gasp from upstairs.
"A customer, a customer! Oh my get yourself together dear! Got to be quick before they leave."
He crossed his arms his eyebrow rising. Judging by the voice he could only assume she had to be from Canterlot. There was no way a pony like this would be staying in such a hick town.
The clopping of hooves grew louder as near the staircase a stunning white unicorn appeared. The boy nearly opened his mouth. Her mane was a luxurious shade of purple and wrapped gracefully around the nape of her neck in a large curl. She carried herself and such confidence and grace. Her poise was perfect her cutie mark nearly radiated. The gems shone brightly dazzling him. The pony was absolutely stunning.
His lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Well she could be a possible candidate."
The mare quickly jotted down the stairs. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique, I am Rarity. How may I assist you today uhm-"
"Leo." He replied looking around. He admired the place, but he still wondered if she could really help him out. It was time to test her, if he set his sights on this gem it was time to really decide if she was worthy to bask in his greatness. He felt the spark that was something to not ignore. "I got a tip from the barkeep that you could help me out with something. I have some gear that could use a bit of repair."
Rarity jumped at the sight of his clothes. She stumbled back nearly fainted. "L-L-Leo, darling what are those rags you are wearing. There is no way in Celestia that I will let you leave this Boutique in that drab, bland outfit. Come, come follow me." The unicorn trotted behind the boy pushing him with her forward to her stand.
Using her magic the unicorn gripped countless items. "Here be and dear and hold onto this will you?" The measuring tape wrapped around his waist. Rarity trotted in front of him. "A boy your age needs something that will make the heads turn. I know exactly what you need. Some green. It matches your eyes perfectly."
"Uh huh." Leo bit his tongue as she used her magic to snip the fabric. He could say he was quite impressed at her telekinesis, he had never seen a unicorn keep busy at so many things at once. There were at least two dozen items floating around him. "Amazing…"
"Hmm, what was that?" She trotted up to him and looked at her dresses. "Yes these assembles are quite something. Its shame though that they will never see the light of day. I worked so hard on them, for one of my most treasured clients. I'm afraid I won't be able to sell them now since everypony is too afraid to set hoof in this town." Rarity frowned lowering the measuring tape. "It's a shame to; it's such a nice gown. I have even have a matching outfit for a human to. I might as well put it on sale."
Leo stared at the dress, his eyes shifting to Rarity. Something was bothering her, besides the dresses. "Almost all of your clothing is on sale? Why's that?"
"Well you see-"The unicorn stopped herself looking nervous. "Never mind that, it's nothing you should trouble yourself with." She trotted over to a book she had lying near her desk. "Let's see you said that you wanted your armor repaired. I could take care of that in a jiffy if you like and then send you on your way. I won't swindle you, 15 bits should suffice."
The boy took the iron plating that covered his shoulder and waist off and placed it onto the table. Next to it he dropped his whole bag of bits next to the armor. "That's a bit over 1,000 bits. Everything I have." He muttered crossing his arms. "Now will you answer my question?"
Rarity gasped at the sight her eyes widening. "Well I cannot accept this; it is too much for such a simple task."
"It's not for the armor it's for the information." Leo added staring at her. "I heard from the barkeep that you and him are the only ones who didn't high tail it out of the town when the guild took over. Why would you still be here, trying to make bits? Why not leave like everyone else? Nopony in their right mind would stay here."
"I would!" She interrupted him. She scraped her hooves nervously on the table. "I'm not going anywhere. Not until I have enough bits. I need enough to get them back there is no other way."
Leo raised an eyebrow in interest as Rarity continued.
"It all happened when that showoff Trixie appeared. Dazzling everyone with her magic, she was such a showoff, she was here for quite some time and continued to draw in crowds. Even I at first was quite dazzled with her magic, but that's when I caught on. She was using a spell. Some sort of spell to manipulate everypony. It was a scam, her magic wasn't as great as she proclaimed and she was hardly great and powerful." Rarity rolled her eyes at the words. "But then that's when she came."
"Who?" Leo asked with interest.
Rarity wrinkled her nose staring out the window every few minutes.
Leo guessed she was nervous, or either on her guard. Yeah, he like the second thought better.
"This unicorn, Twilight Sparkle. Now that mare had some real magic. She was looking for something and I suppose Trixie was connected to it. She embarrassed Trixie by revealing she was a fraud and the whole town drove her out. I nearly felt sorry for the mare, that must have been embarrassing, but that's when Trixie returned with that guild and those awful, horrible humans!" Rarity eyes burned with anger at the thought. Leo could feel the intensity burning in her eyes. "They were looking for Twilight, but I hid her. I wasn't going to let them take that mare. The darling had done nothing wrong, but they found her. Trixie found her and they captured her. As for me, my family was kidnapped. All the family's had to pay them to leave the town alive or got captured and sold into slavery."
As Rarity described what had happened Leo balled his fists. His anger grew. He defiantly wanted to defeat this guild now. Not even defeat he wanted to destroy them! They were giving humans a bad name; they were giving him a bad name. And no one trampled on the Leo's glory.
"I was given the option to try and buy them back. So that's why I am here. Working for enough money to buy my family back from those monsters." Rarity gritted her teeth staring at the bits. Her eyebrows knitted. "I'm sorry I can't accept it. I didn't earn this."
The unicorn pushed the money back towards the boy and he frowned.
Leo starred at the bits than back to Rarity. He turned around stretching his arms wide. "Well I guess that settles in than." Leo gave her a big grin and cracked his knuckles. "I'm going to go beat the crud out of those guys and get your family back."
Rarity's eyes widen as the young boy set out towards the door. She cut him off quickly. The unicorn looked at him with concerned eyes. "No you cannot go out there darling. They will kill you, this is no joke. I will raise enough money and that is that. Now than…"Rarity grasped the boy's iron armor with her magic. With a quick flash it was strong once more. "That will be fifteen bits."
Leo smirked at the large pile of bits. Quickly reequipping his armor he turned to Rarity. "Now I defiantly know they won't get a scratch on me!" The boy headed out the door and Rarity intercepted him once more. Bending down he narrowed his eyes and began to wiggle her horn. "Get outta the way pony."
"Cut that out." She swiped his hands away. "Did you not understand me before? They will kill you."
Leo shrugged. "I'm not afraid of getting killed. I plan on dying on my own terms. And you're obviously aren't afraid as well if you're sticking around."
Rarity looked away. "I'm not doing this for myself. I won't let those ruffians get the better of me."
Leo shook his head glaring out the window. "Giving them what they want is getting the better of you." Leo pushed past Rarity out of the door and looked at the large trail of smoke. To the Far East lay a bed of hills. "I guess that their camping out in the farms for now." Looking back he gave a thumb up. "I will be back by morning. You might want to hide until then."
The boy set off down the road, but the mare was hot on his heels. Galloping next to him she looked up sternly. "I won't let you go in there alone. If they would capture you…"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about me I will be fine."
"Well either way you could still use my assistance." She looked out towards the hill. "They have fortress behind those hills. You won't be able to fight through all of them that is a fact. By the look of your level they could easily take you down with 3 or 4 of their men."
The boy's face turned red. "Hey I'm a pretty high level!"
"Please." Rarity rolled her eyes and pointed forward with her hoof. "We'll need some help. You remember the mare I told you about, Twilight Sparkle? If we can somehow reach their dungeons, we might be able to rescue her. She seemed to have a special interest with that guild. So she might be able to assist us with freeing the others."
The boy gave a wide grin ruffling her mane. "Sounds easy enough! Your smart aren't you!"
"Hey! My mane!" She swatted his hand away. "Don't touch it…"
'Feisty to…' Leo gave her one last smile. A fire burning in his eyes the boy set off to the sunset the unicorn hesitantly by trotting by his side. He looked down into her eyes; he saw a twinge of fear, but something else as well. Hope, hope that maybe they could succeed. Leo narrowed his eyes breaking into a run. 'Yeah, she was the one.'
While the two set off to reach the guild's base of operations, deep underground Twilight trotting back and forth searching. Looking for any nook or cranny, or weakness in the cell that she was in. Twilight had to escape and she had to find Spike. "How could I have been so careless…?" Twilight came to a halt staring wrapping her hooves around the bars of her cell.
She had learned much from the library. Perhaps more than the Princess had intended for her to find, but it all lead her here. She was ecstatic finally finding a clue about Applejack and the mysterious thief. She had to pursue them. Everything pointed to an illusion. Surely it had to be Trixie. Twilight dealt with showoff, but she wasn't expecting to be captured to be placed in a cell. There was nothing she could do. The whole cell was enchanted with a strange magic. It was a barrier, immune to her spells.
Twilight cursed herself once more.
Stomach growling she looked to the guard dogs who laughed ignoring her. They only fed them once a day. They told her that their Master had something in store for the mare. Twilight didn't like the sound of that. "I wonder if Spike is doing any better…" She murmured looking across the cell at the baby dragon that lay unconscious lost in his sleep. She had to think of something.
Her teleportation wouldn't work, the guards would only ignore her, and she had no way to communicate the outside world…
Twilight's eyes widened. "A way to communicate!" She squealed hopping up and down.
"Hey!" One of the dogs hit the barrier hard. "Keep it down in there or we'll eat your rations!"
Twilight remained silent. Turning around she headed towards the mattress they had laid out for her. If her plan was to surely work than she couldn't take any risks. She waited until nightfall and till the dogs had fallen into a deep slumber. It was then that she enacted her plan. Sighing she envisioned in front of herself a menu and sure enough it appeared.
Twilight desperately searched flipping over the inventory, equipment, and magic's until she came across an icon that said community. Her hoof pressed against it and a screen popped up reading down list friends, blocked, and guild. She entered the friends section and only one name struck her. It was the only name on the list. Twilight took a deep breath and pressed against the name, Alex47.