The Road to Royalty
Chapter 1 - Let’s Load up a Lag-less Game
The dawn of virtual reality had finally arrived. Every stallion, mare, colt, and filly had attended to hear the grand opening speech. It was given not by Princess Celestia, but her sister, Princess Luna. What a glorious speech it was.
“We welcome thee, my little ponies, to the grand opening of new gaming technology. ‘Unicorn Co.’ has worked diligently and given us a new world of gaming to explore. May we present to you, ‘The Road to Royalty’.”
Cheering rang out from the crowd that rocked the plaza as many hooves hit the ground in applause.
Now you might be wondering, why Luna, a royal princess, was announcing a game… surely you jest.
Gamer Luna, who has beaten ‘Forward Unto Dawn’ in record time, topped the rankings in ‘Haylo’, is a champion racer in ‘MareioKart’, beaten ‘Touhou’ on lunatic without dying once, and beaten every ‘I Wanna Be the Mare’, out there!
How could you not-
The crowd settled down as she held up a hoof to continue.
“Now as thou hath heard, the game’s day is three times longer than our own and your body will receive a full rest while you partake in this thrilling adventure.” The crowd let out a few shouts of happiness as Luna continued, “With this thou has time to partake in many things in your natural eight hours of rest, let my nights bring joy and comfort to spur your new days along with a well rested body.”
The crowd was about to rile back up and-
“But, as it is a game, remember to play in moderation.” Princess Luna warned.
Parents in the crowd looked at their foals with a knowing eye.
Yeah, that right there, I’m definitely not following that one.
Princess Luna’s smile edged up slightly as she scaned over my section of the silent crowd… did she just?
Her regal eyes locked in on my location, like an eagle and its’ prey, one thousand miles away.
...
…
…
…
Her smile transformed into a smug grin.
Well folks, see you on the moon.
She then looked away, as if to let me stew in my fate.
A small drop of liquid pride formed on my left eye and I'm happy to report, there are no yellow puddles outside today.
After that moment of silence she speaks up again.
"Now, ‘Unicorn Co.’ has a special surprise for everypony." Luna proceeded to motion her hoof over the crowd. "Anypony, who is able to ascend to royalty, as there may only be one, will receive ten-percent of the company royalties from the game."
The whole crowd gasped. Just think of all the bits! As the announcement sunk in, a few worried faces appeared when they thought of a certain competitor.
"Not to worry, my little ponies, for this fun competition is for you to enjoy and prosper in, thus, let the game begin."
The cheering from the crowd was deafening.
Ugh, I think I need new ears.
Even the filly next to me was shrieking in excitement. Every pony was moving in mass to get started. The race was on and I was ready... right?
☼ Three years later ☼
Ugh,I wasn't ready at all.
Knock, Knock, Knock.
"Hello? I have a delivery for a Mr. Arctic Wind, is there anypony home?" Announced a cute muffled voice from the other side of my door.
"Hold on a sec." I replied, as I went to open the door.
"Okay." returned a cheery reply.
When I opened the door a bubbly gray pegasus mail mare greeted me.
"Are you Mr. Arctic?" She said looking at her clip board, with one steady eye.
"Yes, that is correct."
"Sign here please," she hoofed me the board "To receive your package and complementary muffin."
I quickly signed my name with a wing. "I’ve been waiting three years for this."
The mare just smiles at me and checks her clipboard. With that done, she points to a pony sized package beside her.
"I hope you enjoy your package, Mr. Arctic."
"I sure will," I smirked, "thanks for bringing it out here."
The mare saluted with a goofy grin, "All in a days work for ‘Derpy Mare Mail Express Delivery’!"
She then proceeded to ruffle around her bag and produced a muffin. She placed the muffin in my hooves and gave me one more goofy smile.
"Have a nice day and enjoy the, ‘Triple Supreme Splice Banana Slice Split Sundae Muffin’!!"
As she turned around to leave, I made a quick deceive decision.
"Hey!"
I took out four bits, no, three bits, and tossed them.
She turned and managed to catch two. The other bit... it bounced off her muzzle.
"Thanks again."
She scooped up the lost bit. Then she smiled and waved as she flew away.
"That was an investment that I can afford." I thought, turning to retrieve the package.
Hmmm, this package is big, good thing I already prepared my game room. As I started dragging the package inside, I thought about my situation.
It was three years to this day, October tenth, two thousand thirteen, that this game came out. I happened to be there, but couldn't buy it at the time. After the announcement the whole area was hectic. Like avoiding soccer moms on Hearth's Warming Eve. I don't ever wanna re-live that... ever!
I stopped in my game room and ripped off the packaging. Standing before me, was the Crescent Moon. A sphere shaped machine that utilized illusion and dream walker magic. It was powered by ‘Wub Thunder’ technology. A combination of unicorn and pegasi work. It was an amazing piece of equipment.
“Heh, time to set her up.”
I took out the instruction manual and got to work. The set up is a bit complex, enough to make me waste thirty minutes at least. That was extremely annoying.
I took a look at the finished product. It was a big sphere, but flat on the bottom. In the middle there was a door to walk into. On the ground around it were a few metallic boxes. They had wires that connected the thunder lines to power the machine. The inside was hollow and only contained a buttons panel.
Really now… everypony I know has one of these. It took me three years to get one of them. Namely, I had to save up some bits to buy it. Ten-thousand five-hundred and sixty-nine bits! How did everypony have enough money for this thing?!
I know I'm poor, but that’s just too much for a spur of the moment purchase. It’s a life time investment, is what it is. I may be late to the starting line, but I will get those ten-percent royalties.
I resolutely step for- “gahh” My wing shoots out to steady me and bangs into the Crescent Moon, which I just setup. Did I really just trip on that?
“Gahhhaa,” I dropped to the floor with a thump. I cradled my wing and blew on it. “Bucken Nightmare Moo-”
I suddenly stop rolling in pain, as something I missed catches my eye. There, in my discarded packaging, sits a letter with a royal seal.
“How did I miss that?” I asked nopony in particular.
I limped my way over to the letter and ripped it open. Ahh, stress relief, I think I’m feeling better already. The letter, which was wide open, only had one line of text.
“Play in moderation”... all color drained from my muzzle. Yeah that’s right, I’m feeling real gray right now...
I raced around my house like a mad stallion and closed all windows. I exhausted every single annoying light and dashed into my Crescent Moon.
“Heh, that’s right,” I said into the dark, “you can’t stop me.”
A loud clanging noise sounded from right outside, my left window. I grinned madly and pressed the top button on the panel. The Crescent Moon door closed. “Show me the BITS!!” I shouted as the machine hummed to life.
I lost feeling in my hooves, as my senses were sucked outta me. I sat like that for a few seconds, until a female voice rang out.
“Your ires and vane scan confirms you are a unregistered user. Would you like to create an account?”
“I’ve waited three years lady, why would I ever say no?”
Out of no-where, a regal alicorn I’ve never seen steps into my vision.“You may call me Selena.”
“Sure.” I replied… Feels weird talking without a body.
“Now please name your avatar.”
“Aang.” I reply smartly
“Sex of-”
“Course I’d love some.” I quickly interjected…
The room got colder all of the sudden… What, when did I get feeling back?
“Select your gender, stallion, mare, or other.” she continued, seemingly unfazed.
“Do I even dare to ask why they have ‘other’ as a selection? Hmm, may as well pick mare and extort as many stallions as possible. “It’s all about the bits!” I declare. From this day forth, no bit left behind… especially the naughty bits.
-Cough-
Oh yeah, “Male, Bi-petal hairless creature.” I joked
“Okay."
“Wait, wha-- WHAT THE BUCK is THAT!?“ I kid you not, a hairless two-legged creature from foals nightmares appeared before me.
“Are you sure of your--”
“NO, can you even imagine, something that, that ugly? Ugh, no no NOOO.“
“Thank you and enjoy your time in ‘The Road to Roy--”
“Cancel, rest, back, return, abort, delete, crush, kill , destroy, swag”
“Heh.” The alicorn’s sly grin gleamed menacingly in the room.
Really, she just, ugh. I have the worst luck.
.
“Lets just get this over with.”
“As you wish.”
That disgusting hairless thing vanished into thin air.
“Name you Avatar.” She stated once more.
...Nope “Umm, A-Arc-- Arcadia Skys.”
“Select your gender.” She sites with a re-worded statement.
Must resist female part and questioning their moral integrity of ‘Other’... It better not be a futa. “Male” I answer finally.
An array of creatures appear in-front of me, as she continues her speech.
“‘The Road to Royalty’ has twenty seven races currently. You may select your race from the primary ten races, sub races may be found later on. Do you request a summary on them?”
“Whoa thats a lot, I wonder about those playable ones though. Hit me with that list." I request.
“☾Earth Pony☽- Strong with high endurance. Ten percent resistant to physical attacks. Ground type."
“☾Pegasus☽- Very dexterous. High speed and are ten percent resistant to wind magic. Flying type.”
“☾Unicorn☽- Weak body, strong magical ability. Ten percent resistant to all magic. Magical Ground type.”
“☾Changeling ☽- Has the ability to transform and change name. Stats are taken from form copied, with penalties. Magical Flying type -changes with forms-.”
“☾Zebra☽- Alchemy and potion masters. twenty percent self-usage potion effectiveness. Ground type.”
“☾Griffin☽- Dextrous warriors. Ten percent more damage when attacking from the air. Flying type.”
“☾Minotaur☽- Overwhelming attack damage and little dexterity. Racial skill ☾Overclock☽- Twenty percent more damage for twenty seconds or until a skill is used for one-hundred thirty percent increased damage. Ground type.”
“☾Donkey☽- The savvy trader. Passive trade bonus. More bits selling and discount buying starts at ten percent. Increased carrying capacity. Ground type.”
“☾Dragon☽- Two subtypes - Flying or Ground- Four leg movement speed increase one-hundred percent. Both fire immune- Except ☾Hellfire☽-pure damage-. Fire breath and ten percent resistant to magic and physical attacks. Flying or Ground type.”
“☾Bat Pony☽- The lords of the night. Twenty percent boost to all stats at night- Twenty percent weaker during day time. Night Vision. Flying type.”
I sat there, slack jawed. “ Amazing.” Was all I could get out.
“Select your race please.”
“Ahh, too much for me to think on right now, I’m late enough as it is. I’ll be a pegasus, stick to what I know and experience it through my own eyes.”
A model of me appeared before me. Whoa it’s weird looking at your own body from this angle. My cyan coat, wild black mane and tail, all put together with my brown eyes. They stared back out at me… creepy. It’s like I’m not the real me. No mirror could ever do this.
“You may alter your appearance”
“Oh? I guess I could make myself twenty percent more handsome. I would get all the fillies. Yeah that would probably attract too much attention. Uglier? Why the hay would anypony do that?”
“No, just me.”
“Please select starting kingdom and city.“
Ohhh, I’ve got this.“Kingdom of Squee, City of Oakvail”
“Please enjoy your time in ‘The Road to Royalty’… Oh.”
“Huh?”
“Luna says ‘Hi’.”
My eyes grew wide at this. She’s watching me.
“Noooooooooooooooooooooo--”