Where am I? Hmm...no idea, I haven't seen a single soul since I got here wherever "here" is. Im only writing this down to give my mind something to focus on. Its been a full day since I woke up in this forest with only my clothes I was wearing and the stuff in my pockets. Also I guess I should clarify, im not "writing" per se. Im using the dictation app on my phone, not because its easier, its just nice to hear something besides the trees creaking as they move in the wind. I have no food and the only water I could find was a small stream a few miles back.
Im also lost...did I mention that? I am definitely lost. Its annoying as Im usually good with directions. I can only assume that im in another country or maybe an isolated island. My phone has no service, the compass app just spins and the stars I saw last night made no sense. One small bit of good news is that the solar charge case that everyone said was a waste of money is doing a good job of keeping my battery charged. I was able to use some thin vines to tie it onto my shoulder with the panel facing up. I don't have to worry about dropping it and I can leave the dictation app running. Neat.
I may not know where I am but I at least have some idea of how I got here even if it doesn't make much sense. My day started normally enough. I got off work in the afternoon from my job as a hotel desk clerk, a brisk spring in my step. Today was going to be a good day. How could it not be? This evening I was going to a very special event that I had been looking forward to for some time now.
It was the finals in a video game tournament for MLP: Them's Fightin' Herds. it's a video game whose progress I've been following closely for some time. They had a bunch of legal trouble when they first started due to a copyright but now that it's been sorted out the game can be mass-produced.
I turned down a familiar street and it wasn't long before I saw the familiar red and black styled logo on my favorite gaming shop. the shape of the logo was meant to evoke a very familiar comic book character; one with a penchant for katanas and rather foul language. I found my usual spot empty despite the packed parking lot and took this as a good omen. I parked and then grabbed the small duffel bag that was sitting in the passenger seat.
I made sure before going to work that morning that I had my gear, after all, how would I play without it? As I locked up my car I took a deep breath of the cool Autumn air and steadied my nerves. One last check of my gear and I was ready to go. A comfy pair of headphones, my lucky controller and my entry badge we're all present and accounted for.
I confidently stepped into the shop, hearing the familiar jingle of the store bell above the door. "Hey Mike!" A voice called out off to my left. I turned to see Gage the shop's owner wrapping up a transaction with a customer before coming over. "You ready for the tournament?" he nodded in the direction of the back room where the game consoles were set up on a big screen TV. "As ready as I'll ever be" I said enthusiastically as I made my way to the back room.
My opponent was already there, seated and ready to go. Her name was Alexis or Lex for short as she preferred to be called. Her normally long flowing red hair was restrained by a brand new Turtle Beach headset and I saw she was also holding a very sleek-looking controller, no doubt also new.
I smirked before addressing her, "Looks like someone splurged. Trying to spend the winnings before you even have them?" I sighed still not understanding her obsession with always having to have the newest of everything. She let out a sarcastic chuckle. "We'll look at it this way if I do lose, which is highly unlikely, at least I won't be able to blame it on my equipment... unlike someone I know."
She gave me a sidelong glance causing me to blush in annoyance. "I wasn't blaming anyone I merely stated the fact that one of the buttons on my controller froze up and caused me to lose that round. Although it didn't make much difference as I was already ahead 2 to 1, besides who likes to win on a technicality?"
She remain silent at my retort. I began to set up my gear, glancing at her controller despite myself. It wasn't a model I was familiar with and a lack of logos led me to believe that was a custom design. I smiled as I noticed something most others probably would have missed. At the very edge of the left hand side of the controller, normally hidden by how you hold an Xbox One controller, was a tiny but unmistakable Rarity cutie mark sticker. It was the same sticker, the same spot even that it had been on her previous one. Apparently she's not as strict about her all new policy as she would like us to believe.
A smug grin spread across my face as I looked at my own gear. A blue headset, the paint chipped and fading along with a clear blue Rock Candy controller with worn buttons from overuse. I settled the headphones snugly over my ears and picked up my controller, the familiarity of them was relaxing, like a comfy pair of jeans.
The lights in the room flicked off as Gage came around and powered on the console. We readied our controllers as the familiar logo of the game scrolled across the screen. We selected our characters and waited for the match to begin. As I stated before the legal disputes regarding the game had been settled so the roster had been extended for this version.
I selected my favorite character Twilight Sparkle and Lex went with her go-too Paprika. We tensed for a moment before the announcer yelled "Stampede!" I have to say despite our rivalry I do admire Lex's skills. Halfway through round one I had only managed to whittle her health down to half while mine was barely a third. She skillfully pulled off Cartwheel after Cartwheel, backing me into a corner... Or so she thought. After being on the receiving end of yet another combo I switched up my style and started blocking as much as possible. Confused about my sudden defensive manner she glanced at me before she noticed the power meter on my side of the screen filling up far more rapidly than hers. Her confident expression sank as she realized I was about to pull off one of the most powerful moves in the game.
The developers were very fair about how they balanced the powers of the various characters. Twilight being an alicorn princess was extremely powerful but her attacks took excruciatingly long to charge. Alexa had gotten so caught up in her combo streak that she had forgotten. On the screen Paprika leapt backwards attempting to dodge what was coming. Too little, too late. I pressed the appropriate button combination to have Twilight leap to match Paprika's current altitude. Before Lex could react a purple glow surrounded Twilight's horn as a bright beam of energy shot across the screen.
In an instant her health bar plummeted from half full to zero. "No no no noooo!" Lex shouted. "Dammit!! I didn't even see that coming!' She crossed her arms and sent me an angry glare to which I simply shrugged. This was only round one so she still had a chance to come back. After a moment she composed herself and readied for the next round. Instead of Paprika she chose Arizona this time. [Interesting, she's not choosing her favorite. Huh.] I thought a moment and decided [why not? I'll switch up my character too.] I highlighted the icon for Rarity and waited for the round to start. The match went downhill pretty quickly with Lex powering up Arizona's meter within a few moves.
After pulling off an EX Stomp and a few lassos, she charges up for a level 2 Trample. [Oh crap!] I block and try to maneuver out of the way to minimize damage, but it's no use. I'm left with only a sliver of health while she still has a good fourth of hers. I realize I've only got one shot to win. Arizona may be a good close combat brawler, but her mid too long range sucks. I get Lex to back off with several Petite Strikes unlocking a level two of my own. "Diamond Storm!" the game shouts before a barrage of gemstones rain from the sky around Arizona... as she dodges the attack area [Really!?]. Lex has Arizona rush in for a Headbuck to finish me off, but fails to notice the smirk on my face.
A look of confusion crosses her face as she sees me enter a very complex button combination, a combination unique to only three characters in the game. "Counter!" The game shouts. Lexus fingers freeze on her controller as she sees a small heart-shaped gemstone appear in front of Rarity. An instant later Spike in his greed form appears behind rarity, lashing out at Arizona with a huge clawed hand, dropping her health to zero. I let out the breath that I hadn't realized I was holding and set my controller down before turning to look at Lex. instead of more glaring surprisingly she smiled at me. "Good game"she said and extended her hand toward me.
A bit surprised, I hesitated before accepting and shaking it. "You too. For a second there I thought you had me." Her smile drooped a bit as the lights turned on. "Congratulations Mike!" Gage announced as he walked over to the front of the table with the championship trophy in hand. He set it down in front of me and it was spectacular. A gold-plated trophy with four pillars supporting a display at the top with a Power Ranger esqe tribal coin featuring all the characters in the game.
Gauge cleared his throat a few times before he was able to peel my attention away from the trophy. "In addition to the trophy and a gift certificate for the store there is another prize... one that was to be kept secret until the winner was announced." Lex and I shared a look as our eyebrows raised. [What could the secret prize be?] "The prize ... To be mailed to the winner in one week...is... Them's Fightin Herds X2Virtual!! A first-person virtual port for the Oculus Rift."
I didn't even have a chance to respond before my headset was pushed back in such a way that the top was now resting on the back of my neck and then being jerked forwards. I was eye to eye with Lex, who had and almost feral expression curling her lips. "You, me, one week, rematch!" She growled at me. "Ok sure, no problem" I managed as I pulled away, fearing she might bite me. We gather our stuff and headed out.
That was last week, to the day. Today at 2 o clock a delivery notification popped up on my phone. I had been purposely staying home
On the pretext of doing chores in order to be here when the game was delivered. I opened the front door and checked the mailbox, finding a thick manila envelope waiting for me. I brought the package inside and opened it quickly but carefully. I slid the jewel case out and gasped in awe at the cover art. it depicted all the main characters with two new ones being hidden in shadow. [Too cool. New character art and two new characters. This keeps getting better and better!]
I rushed to get the game setup and put the Oculus rift on over my glasses and waited. The startup screen came on with a load icon marking its progress. After a moment I see Twilight rushing down the path toward her castle with a scroll clenched in her teeth and Spike clinging to her back for dear life. The image widens and it shows that she's being pursued by several Timberwolves. A quick Time event pops up
for her to activate her shield spell as one of the Timberwolves lunges at her. [Piece of cake!] I hit the control and her shield flares to life causing the timberwolf to bounce off the screen [Interesting animation].
As she nears the castle another prompt appears: Head to Castle or Head to Town, with the town option showing a small path leading off to the right. I select Castle and she races up to the doors, casting a quick spell to open them. As the doors close, in the distance, you can see a shadowy figure standing at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Unsettlingly, a large form rises up behind them... an Ursa Major. The figure points toward the castle, their hand glowing as the Ursa Major begins to move forward.
The Castle doors slam shut and the camera pans to follow twilight entering the Cutie Map room. Spike hops off her back as she approaches the map. she lays out the scroll that she was carrying and begins to cast a spell. it doesn't appear to be a spell that you're familiar with even though you've seen the show numerous times. I squint and strain try to make out the characters on the screen. Just as im about to give up and move on in the game I realize the image is getting larger.
My face is getting closer to the screen, my nose pushing against the support bridge. I fumble a bit with the straps of the Rift, thinking they might have tightened by accident. No luck. Soon my glasses are pressed right up against the screen and I wince, expecting an eyefull of glass. A moment goes by and then another. You don't feel your face being smushed into the Rift anymore so you risk a glance. You see what appears to be a peaceful forest.
I breathe a sigh of relief and reach up to flick the the switch on the Rift to off...and my hand brushes by my ear instead. [What?!] My fingers frantically race around my head trying in vain to find the Rift before reaching my glasses. Out of habit more than anything I take them off and clean them, my rattled mind somehow thinking that might help. I close my eyes and take a breath to calm down. [Ok...STOP! Your not going crazy...i hope] with my eyes closed I realized my other senses are picking up things that they shouldn't be. I can feel a breeze on my face and can detect the faint smells of the outdoors.
Opening my eyes again I take in my surroundings. I appear to be in a small clearing surrounded by trees on all sides. The sky looks overcast and the air feels heavy, like it's about to rain. I feel around my head one more time, being more careful than before. [Ok... the Rift is definitely gone, but how? How did I get outside? Am I hallucinating or is this some sort of special effect of the new game?] As I'm trying to sort things out I hear a soft growl behind me. I freeze, not wanting to provoke whatever creature might be behind me.
I slowly turn and come face-to-face with something that shouldn't be possible. It has glowing green eyes, sharp teeth made of rocks and a body made from branches and vines. It's a Timberwolf. "This isn't impossible!" I shout, causing the timberwolf to tilt its head before growling again and taking a step forward. "You can't be real!" It takes another step, gnashing it's stone teeth together as if to prove me wrong.