“Okay, spit it out already. How the hell were you able to recreate this?” A glassy diamond prism glowing red was tossed onto the table. Its red light partially painted itself on the interrogatee. “There’s no way that any hacker would be able to know how to lock down a player’s option to log out, so what the buck gives? You better give me answers, or there will be something nasty in stores for you.”
Master Wind eyed his little invention, and then chuckled to himself. “And what makes you think I’ll tell you, Coder?”
Sentinel made a low rumble in the back of his throat, his lower lips curling and showing teeth. He slammed his forehooves on the wooden table, and pointed the ceiling lamp’s light directly into Master’s eyes. The hacker didn’t blink. “You’ll tell me because this stunt you’ve pulled is enough to land you a lot of years in the dungeon, but if you answer honestly then you maybe be able to get out within a decade.”
Sentinel viciously threw the lamp at Master’s face, tempted to break his muzzle, but the wire it hung from was stubborn. It swung back and forth, casting light around the room. It wasn’t much, being a small room with nothing but a table, a chair, and three occupants with one of them virtually chained to the said chair. This room was specifically designed to be slightly separate from the game, something hidden right underneath the code’s surface. Only fellow Coders could enter such rooms, and were mostly lounges to hang at. But of course, small rooms like this one were perfect for questioning.
‘If only this one was easy to cooperate with,’ Sentinel thought with a scowl.
“You’re not the authorities, and therefore do not have the right to arrest me," Master said.
“No, but we can call the guards upon you. A couple of our guys have already traced you to your location.” Sentinel swept his hoof across and a list of virtual documents popped up. He grabbed one and slammed it in front of Master Wind. “So far, you’ve been stealing personal information from Luna knows how many players in the past few days. We also received a lot of complaints from them, and they said they had lost significant amounts of bits from their bank accounts just hours after you sacked them.” Sentinel shoved his face against Master’s, shooting angry glares at his eyes. “That is just very uncool, stealing thousands of bits underneath our noses. Just who the hell do you think you are?”
A thin smile spread across Master’s lips. “That would be classified, my good sir.”
“Why you little shi– ” Sentinel felt being tugged back by his shoulder. He looked back to see his partner, Roasted Brawn, slowly shaking his head at him. “What is it,” Sentinel asked, a scowl upon his muzzle.
“We need to talk,” he grunted. Roast pulled Sentinel away from the table, bringing him to the light’s edge.
Sentinel shrugged off his grip, not liking being dragged around at a time like this. “What the hay, Roast? Out of all ponies, I didn’t expect you to stop me.”
Roast looked back at Master with a frown. Looking at the criminal, he could see the venom and lies just oozing from him. The way the hacker looked pleased with himself and was relaxing on the metal chair unsettled his stomach, even when he's detained in cuffs heavily programmed to resist hacking.
“There’s something bothering me.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“I’m serious.”
“As always.”
Roast shoved Sentinel in the shoulder, his muzzle wrinkling in irritation. “Damn it all, will you let me finish?” Sentinel rolled his eyes. “Look, I’ve been looking at the list of complaints from players from the past few weeks. There are sparse, but there have been reports of strange activities happening all over Equestrian Earth. I’m talking about shady players hanging about, areas that couldn’t be entered, and complaints of accounts being compromised from time to time.”
“Hackers, I assume?” Sentinel sat down and rubbed his noggin. “This is all giving me a headache. I had thought the game would be entirely secured for players, free from hackers, but somehow they managed to break through the thousands of firewalls we have. Seriously, each of them was coded differently to protect against any attempts to break through them! And our encryption system has a system tighter and more complex than a spider web. We covered all corners!” Sentinel heaved a great sigh. “Do you think it has something to do with what happened on… that day?”
Roast nodded, scratching his grizzly beard. “I believe something in Goddess was damaged. She’s responsible for maintaining 99.999% of the defenses, as well as making new ones.”
Sentinel lowered his head even further. “It’s entirely my fault. I should have done more to stop it. Should have been quicker.”
Roast frowned and then gave Sentinel’s shoulders a couple shake. “Ey, ey, ey, pull yourself together, mate. What happened to them ain’t your fault.”
“But I should have seen something! I could have prevented it but” – Sentinel stomped against the virtual floor furiously – “I didn’t! I wasn’t able to stop it in time!”
“Don’t beat yourself up for this. What’s done was done, and we should focus on fixing it in the present, ‘kay?”
“… Okay. How’s Raynor doing by the way?”
“He’s doing alright. So far, though, he hasn’t responded to any of our signals.”
“I don’t understand. We have gotten Canterlot’s finest healers and doctors to check on him. They’re able to detect any sort of disease, natural or magic, and all they could tell us was that he is asleep! How the Tartarus can a pony sleep for weeks on end?”
“I don’t know. Like I said before– ”
“Something strange is going on,” Sentinel finished. “I know… why haven’t we contacted authorities yet? We should have this guy behind bars as soon as possible. He’s clearly a threat to anypony and anybody online.”
Roast glanced back at Master Wind. The hacker returned it with a silent, smug smile. “He isn’t working alone.”
“What makes you think that?”
“These attacks, reports of strange black gates, and this hacker who somehow was able to prevent a player from logging out… only the Goddess is able to do that, and she only does when we Coders are suppressing hackers, preventing them from escaping.” Roast heaved a sigh, lowering his head. “Why does virtual reality have to be so damn complicated? With regular games, all we have to do is sit behind a computer, get a report, and ban the hacker with just a click.”
“I don’t know. This is all fairly new to me as well.” Sentinel lightly bumped Roast’s shoulder with a small grin. “But hey, it wouldn’t be as exciting, now would it?”
Roast chuckled. “I suppose not, but that sort of action ain’t for me. I’d rather investigate.”
Sentinel chuckled along with him. “And beat up hackers for answers.” His smile faded away as he looked back at Master. “We should try to get more answers out of him. If he doesn’t answer, we’ll hand him over to the Guards.”
“Fine by me.”
The two stallions went back to the table, with Sentinel leaned on it. “Okay scum, we’ve decided to give you one more chance. If you cooperate, then I’ll put a good word for you. Maybe the guards won’t bruise you as much.” Sentinel’s confident smirk faltered as Master began uttering a dark chuckle that grew into a hollering laughter. “What’s so damn funny?”
“Oh you poor, insolent, ignorant fools, you truly have no idea what is happening, do you?”
Roast narrowed his eyes, a grimace upon his profile. “What in Celestia’s beard do you mean? What the Tartarus are you planning? Are there others like you? Answer us!”
“Oh don’t worry. You’ll be getting your answers soon enough. My friends will definitely make sure of that.” Master pretended to look at a watch on his hoof. “In fact, they should be arriving to the party any second now.”
Sentinel deepened his glare. “Just what are you trying to pull here? You think your hacker friends are going to save you? Only a Coder can enter this virtual room! You’re stuck in here with us until we get you behind ba– Roast?!”
His friend had suddenly started chocking, grasping at an invisible around his throat. His eyes bulged in shock, and his frantic breathing shortened into faint gasps. Sentinel quickly moved towards him to help, but soon was pulled back by the neck as well. He tried to fight back, but soon felt something wet forced over his muzzle. A sickly sweet smell entered his lungs. His hearing started to distort with loud, constant rings, and his head felt incredibly tipsy. His hooves quivered, unable to support his weight. Darkness infected his vision as his eyelids grew heavy, and soon so did his mind.
The two stallions fell to the floor before columns of light surrounded each of them, logging them out. Soon after their quick departure, another pillar of light appeared where they were. A player draped in a dark cloak, his face hidden, was revealed from it. His stature was large and bulky as a bolder and as he stepped near the light, a black muzzle could be seen poking from underneath the lax hood. It wasn’t smiling.
But Master Wind was. “Oh hello there! So glad you can make it. Took you boys long enough.” Master could feel his virtual bonds sliced away, no doubt caused by the newcomer. With a wave of his hoof, Master conjured a pot of steaming tea and a couple cups. He poured a drink for himself and his friend. “Care for one?”
“No.” The cloaked being’s voice was low and smooth like honey, but his tone didn’t carry the same sweetness.
Master clicked his tongue. “Tsk, tsk. There’s no need to be all grumbly and ho-hum, Club.”
“Our mistress is not happy with your work. She would want to see you right away.”
“Oh what could she want from me? I’m but an old stallion.” Master Wind propped his hind legs onto the table without a care in the world.
Club rested his hooves on the table, leaning his face closer. Master could see his scowl deepening. “Stallion? Have you gone native?”
“No I have not.” Master gargled his drink in the back of his throat before draining it down his pipe. He hummed with satisfaction. “Ahhh, hot liquids are always a great way to clear the body’s system, almost as hot as a good dose of lovemaking.”
“You are one of the best illusionists in your generation, and in all of our clan in general. Your age is no excuse,” Club continued, spitting the last word with a heavy hint of disgust. “And you better have a better one as to why you’re performing with carelessness, or she’ll have your head. Is your horn flaccid?”
“Let’s not bring my horn into this. Incredibly rude you are,” Master frowned.
“Try telling that to the boss.”
Master kept the frown on his muzzle, even as he drank the rest of his cup’s tea. Finished, he traded the cup for the illegal item on the table, peering deeply into its crimson glow. With a deep sigh, he said, “Well, I can easily say that this will not be one of my best nights.”
I love your OC so much.
3855611
And now he's out of the picture, which means the hackers can continue their operations.
denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw8773-applebloom_justasplaned.gif
But who are these hackers, you may be asking? Oooh I'm not telling.
*you to
3855716
Thank ye.
3855768 You're welcome. Since I can't turn off my Grammar Nazi powers, I might as well use them for good, right?
2 things
Sword Art Online
Accel World
3855794
I should have you as my editor, should I?
I mean, the other two are barely when I need them.
3855804
For me, main sources of VRMMO series would be 1/2 Prince, Sword Art Online, and a tiny bit of .hack.
..This is reminding me WAAAAAAAY too much of .Hack
3855925
Lol. I only watched one set of episodes.
I think the story was about this kid who died while still playing the game, and had a stick that was able to do anything. And there was this huge golem at the end, with a beating heart, and a fucking large cannon that can pierce the heavens, and creepy-ass beetles.
3855651 Changelings. I think you gave a little too much away with the "Not pony, but has a horn". I know that isn't really specific, but there are only two species in MLP that can have unicorn horns. One is a unicorn and the other is a changeling.
3855982
I think the queen comment would have given it away as well.
But it'll eventually be fully revealed.
Did it ruin the story though?
EDIT: Wait a second, I never said that they had horns in the chapter. Master Wind conjured the tea set with his hooves.
Goddammit. They'se on to me.
3856020
You damn Alicorns are ruining the game with your expertise in hacking!
Volumes intriguing. Who in Equestria even let them *register* for EE?
3856060
While other fics have Royal Guards performing disguise breaking spells, I see no evidence of those Changeling-Detecting spells in the canon show.
static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110609163509/gyropedia/images/e/e8/PinkieShrug.png
3856072
Twilight did so without having met a Changeling in her life, so it can't be too hard
3856023 YOU WILL NEVER CATCH ME!!!
*Knock on door*
ROYAL GUARD! OPEN UP!!!
Shit...
3856081
Oh... right.
3856072 Sword Art Online had mirrors that made them look like who they truly are,and this is a video game.
3855991 There was a comment on Master Wind's horn being flaccid, ergo he has a horn
3856363
Oooh.
Why did I forget something that I just wrote?
3856241
I've never even watched up to that part.
I have a question, I've never seen this story before, but it had the first three chapters read, care to explain? Was this a different story then renamed thast I may have liked at one time but never favourited? I'm confused here.
3856611
I revised a few of the chapters.
Maybe that's why.
And yes I have renamed this from Equestrian Earth the MMORPG for reasons.
3856738
*Huggles*
And I'm glad I met you too! Did you like the rest of the chapters?
Also, that huge bunny base thing in Goodra's video creeps me out.
3855932 ........ .Hack is mainly a game series, with a series of OVAs based off of it's universe.
3856832
I only came into contact with the anime.
3856866 Hrm, you might like the games..It doesn't have the same premise, but it does have some..startling similarities. Like an all-powerful AI.
I still read this, and love it. I do have a question though: where'd you get inspiration for this? I think i detect bits of Sword Art Online (only anime I've had recommended to me that i actually found to my liking), but there are other things I hear people talking about in the comments that are over my head. Might I ask this just to satisfy my curiosity? Also, keep writing awesome stuff.
-C.Storm
3856889
Isn't it only Japan?
3856941
Truthfully, I only wanted to write a story about the Mane Six playing a game together. But then this story got huge and then I made a fully-fledged plot for the story.
I draw most of my inspiration from anything relating to video games and the concept of virtual reality. This includes things like SAO, .hack, 1/2 Prince, etc.
3856960 Nope, english releases for most of the games exist..Although i won't lie, they are rare..at least, around my area..The OVAs are in japanese, but are subtitled for english distribution with the games.
3856974
Ah.
Is there a free mmorpg download though?
3856651 And that rename caused me to never see this story again for two years. o-o So now I have to start from the beginning, I had only read three chapters before never seeing it again. cdn.alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/png/sad-challenge-failed.png
3856960
Well, i think you're doing a great job with this story.
Thanks for the speedy reply, and interesting things to now look into.
-C.Storm
I'm fairly certain "on" should be "out"
3857001 ..That would contradict the whole point of the series. It tries to be a single-player MMO-like experience..which, of course, it cannot do. However, it tells an amazing storyline that i think you would be interested in. Almost every part of the franchise, the OVAs, the manga, and the games integrate themselves quite seamlessly with eachother...although the occasional character design gets mixed up..But yea, i think you would like it. In addition, it has a slight mindless-addiction quality to it's gameplay..
3857175
Lol.
Also
3857125
Damn. But I've only changed the name of the fic a few weeks ago.
3857216
Thanks!
3857272
Thanks for catching that.
3857385 I have bad luck.
3857384
Oh. Kk.
3857395
Certainly. Although I've rarely updated it in a loooong while. Like, it was a dry spell during last summer.
3857563
That will be very advance tech, seeing how we still need a way to provide the energy to the brain that sleep provides. Most likely when VR tech is available, we'll have to be conscious. (The VR tech in this fic is also usable when awake.)
bad guy was hinted :v
also, i watch a bit of hack//sign which is 29 ep, so you been in a long watch if you ever watch it and i'm guessing you watched a bit of SAO because the mirror thing happens in ep1 lol
i also suggest log horizon. its a sao clone. didn't like it ut you might like.
Changelings
i re-read the discription and i was thinking that this sounds a lot like the mini series TOME
Oh for motherFU-!!!
The god damn bitch-ass shitty-dick-sucking changelings >-<
Neu! NEU! Fockin' 'ell mate, why wou'd ye... Focking... Ääeh fuck it.
And then to something else:
...
HOW FUCKING LONG HAVE THOSE FIGGITS BEEN PLAYING THIS GAME WITHOUT TAKING A BREAK?!?!?! Seriously, I have yet to see a part where they're like "yo bitches I'm afk" or "brb gonna take a shit"... I know they can game while they sleep but this fairytale ain't havin' a fucking prince to kiss them awake!
Note that I'm being extra-silly just for you. But the main answer still remains. How? When? Fuck!
3859990
hella references
3859493
Really? Episode 1?
3860470
I... well... I don't know?
I haven't really given any thoughts about that, which is ironic.
3860702 ....
....
....
I...
....
....
Are you fucking serious?! Because I'm dying right now xDDD
It's been like a week or even more in real time and they are still playing the game like it's no biggie.
Eh, good way to explain that is that during the night time in game, they can deal with IRL-shit, and between the "acts", they are also taking breaks.
Or then they just YOLO it 24/7, eating snacks all day and gettin' fat.
But a nice intermission-chapter about how they deal that would be nice... ;)
3860842
Wait no. They did take a break. Well sorta. After chapter 4, chapter 7, and chapter 10-11 was just them playing a full night (while sleeping) at Luna's place.
I'll probably do an intermission chapter though.
3860868 Yea, but it was never really explained in any way how they take care of other stuff.
I both can't, and won't, bring myself to think that they all are greasy-maned, starving gaming-lemmings.
And yes, gaming-lemming is now a word... AND an animal... all you need is a hint of imagination.
3860914
Well, the body doesn't piss or shit itself while you're asleep. Not unless a limb of yours is placed in a bowl of warm water. So far, they've been playing the game while asleep. And they wake up when they're done.