//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Playing games // Story: Souls Apart // by GnollReader //------------------------------// Celestia used her magic to place a pawn a field forward, "Tell me, was all this really necessary?" He pushed one of his own pawns towards her, "The tower? Absolutely! I simply couldn't live in a house that colorful. And look around..." he waved his hand over the room, "It's absolutely beautiful, isn't it?" "It does hold a certain flair now that it is furnished with our belongings..." "You're not angry about that, are you? I figured you had enough wealth to spare a few things." he replied with a smile. "Angry is perhaps the wrong term..." she sighed, "It was an unpleasant surprise though. My sister though, yes... she was very upset. Especially after that incident with the hand." "But wasn't it fun?" "To a certain part... maybe. Luna would likely disagree though." she moved another figurine forward, "Speaking of Luna, what challenge have you set up for my sister?" she gave him an accusing glare, "You're not going to anger her even more, are you?" "I wouldn't dream of it!" he laughed, "We could have a look though... I'm curious to see how far they've gotten." he started to chant a few words, a ball of light appearing in front of them. "Now..." the lights inside the sphere started to turn, "Let's see what the paladin is up to first..." An image started to form inside the sphere, but before it even had a chance to give them a clear view the paladin's voice could be heard thundering through the room, "Blasted flabberfuckin' necromancer!" "Ahh..." the necromancer's lips spread with a warm smile, "It seems she has reached the challenge of the kraken..." As if on cue, the image became clear and the paladin could be seen being flung about wildly by a set of huge tentacles, all the time screaming profanities that made a flush grow on Celestia's cheeks. The necromancer made a motion with his hand, and the image disappeared from view, "Well... she seems to be enjoying herself... Let's check on Twilight Sparkle next..." "You didn't set her up against a monster too, did you?" Celestia's eyes narrowed. He shook his head with a guilt-stricken face, "I wouldn't dream of it... The only monster she'll be facing..." he made a dramatic pause as the sphere started to swirl again, "Is the monster of bureaucracy!" Inside the sphere, Twilight Sparkle could be seen standing at a counter, an endless stack of papers by her side. "What do you mean I've brought the wrong forms?! Look!" she showed the imp behind the counter a blue piece of paper, "I got protocol three-point-two-B!" "Yes, you have." the imp relied with an unmoving face, "But you forgot to fill in your surname on appendix B-three-one." the imp pointed a finger at the section. "But it's not required for protocol three-point-two-B!" she wailed. "It isn't for the deposition of form three-point-two-B, but the outgoing protocol requires sheet six-two-four-C and filled-out copies of appendix B-three-one to C-three-four." "What?!" "You need to pick up form four-four-point-one for the acquisition of appendix B-three-one to C-three-four at counter C7 on level thirty-two, have it filled out at counter thirty-one on level one, and approved of back at the main counter. Then, go to level twenty-four, pick up form..." Twilight gave of a scream of desperation. "She's not playing it very smart now, is she?" he chuckled, Celestia gave him a glare, "No offense meant, but the challenge is to beat the system with its own rules, not become a slave of them." She didn't seem to be amused in the slightest, "I do not enjoy how you play with my subjects." He spread his hands, "They can leave anytime they want to. I'm not forcing anything on anyone..." her glare continued, "Don't worry, I'm sure she'll figure it out..." "Show me the challenge for my sister." her voice was even. He paled slightly, "I'm sure she is enjoying her challenge and assure you that your worries are..." "Now." He sighed, "Oh well... let's have a look what Luna is up to..." he started to move his hands again. The shadows started to swirl and take shape, but before the image became clear, a deep and throaty moan escaped the sphere of light, making the both of them flinch backwards in surprise. "What the..." he started to mumble as the image became clear. When it did, both he and Celestia found themselves staring at the image in utter disbelief. "Noooo, don't stop! A bit deeper... Ooooohhh... Don't stop! This is incredible!" The necromancer clapped his hands and the imagine disappeared, "That... that certainly wasn't what I expected... That image is going to haunt me for the rest of my life!" Celestia was quiet for a moment, obviously just as shocked as himself at what she had just witnessed. Her eyes narrowed further, "You put my sister in a room full of hands?" He cringed, "Sorry, I simply couldn't resist... at least she seems to be enjoying herself... though she can keep the bed after... after that." "Are all your challenges like this?" He shook his head, "Certainly not, their meant to be challenging and enjoyable, though some seem to find them more challenging or just... enjoyable." A frown appeared on her face, "Prove it." He thought for a moment, "Let's see... what do we have..." the images in the sphere started to whirl around, "Ahh... perfect." --- "Cutie Mark Pirates to the sea!" Applebloom shouted excitedly, a large eye clap over her left eye, "Enemy ship spotted to the west! Prepare for battle!" "ARRrrr..." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle replied in unison, both of them in perfect pirate costumes. The small ship sailed through the water, the waves cracking as they hit the hull, sending white foam and water raining over the fillies. The other ship shot off a full side of canons, the projectiles flying over the water and towards the little pirate ship. "Pwepare foe impffat!" Applebloom shouted with a wooden sword lodged between her teeth. "What? I don't understand what you're saying!" Scootaloo replied, failing to dodge a projectile as it hit her in the face and threw her over. "Scoots! Are you alright?" Sweetie Belle called out with worry from her position at the helm. "They're shooting with pillows!" Scootaloo laughed as she got up, "This is so cool!" "Prepare to return fire!" Applebloom called out from above, "Cutie Mark Pirates, into battle!" --- The image disappeared again, "So..." he had a big grin on his face as he watched her face, "Say it... you love it." "It was nice." she replied with a small smile, "Now... let us continue our game, shall we?" "And your sister?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, "I'm scared she might run down the carpet if she let's the hands continue at this rate..." Celestia shook her head at his insinuation, "She's a grown mare and capable of making her own decisions. I'm sure she'll come to her senses soon." "I sure hope so or she won't have any feeling left in her legs afterwards..." he chuckled as they continued their own game, "Seriously though, I'm going to have to burn that bed." She chuckled, "Better the bed than you, don't you think?"