Chapter 2: Stats
"What the hay happened!?" Applejack asked. "Where're them Elements of Harmony at?"
All of a sudden, they heard Discord's disembodied voice cackle with delight. "That's for me to know and for you to find out, little ponies. But first, let me explain what this world is all about.
"You are inside what is called a 8-bit video game. Think of it as an interactive, low quality, picture. I've locked the Elements of Harmony in six different locations. In order to get them, you must accomplish a set of goals."
"Wait...why would you be telling us all this?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Come now, Dashie. Just flat out taking over Equestria would be boring. The six of you are the only ponies who dare challenge me. Good luck..." Discord's voice trailed off until silence.
"This is dreadful!" said Rarity. "How ever will we find the Elements now!?"
Twilight put a forehoof on her shoulder. "Don't worry, girls," she said, looking at the others. "This'll be a piece of cake!"
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie popped up behind her and shouted, "Cake!? I love cake! Can we get some after we beat Discord?"
"Sure Pinkie," Twilight said. "First, let's visit Spike at the library. Maybe there's a book on video games."
Spike was eating bowl after bowl of ice cream when the Mane Six arrived. His belly was stuck out nearly a foot, and there were empty containers of ice cream all over the wooden floor of the library.
"This is awesome!" he said after eating yet another bowl. "I get points for eating ice cream before the timer runs out!" He pointed to a display above his head the showed he had accumulated nearly 560,000 points. "I mean, aside from being a...a... what exactly are we?"
"Two-dimensional digital being?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, that...Other than that, this is a perfect day!"
"Spike, we need a book about video games."
"Oh! Right!" He stopped his frantic ice cream binge and got a ladder which he moved toward the "V" section, browsing through.
"Vibes...victory...Aha! Video games!" Spike pulled a lone strange looking book off the section, but lost his balance. He fell off the ladder, landing hard on his back. Suddenly, another display had appeared, showing the number 100 shrink to 94. "Ow...my scales..." Spike moaned
"What was that number that appeared?" Rarity asked.
"If I could guess, and I can," Twilight said, "this 'video game' monitors the vitals of life forms and assigns a number based upon the totality of their health!"
"Slow down, Einstein," Rainbow said.
"If somepony's number reached zero," Twi continued, ignoring Rainbow, "They would..." she paused, shuddering.
"Die?" Pinkie Pie supplied with a grin.
"In neighman's terms, yes."
"Ahem!" Spike yelled, "A little help for the wounded baby dragon?"
Fluttershy rushed over to help him. When she picked him up, his 94 became a 100 again. She shrieked in surprise at the number and hid behind Rainbow dash. "I-I'm sorry," she said, "Is that good or bad?"
Twilight considered the events. "Fluttershy, that's great! I think I have another theory to test later, too!" She levitated the Video Game book up to her face an flipped it open.
The book glowed so bright that it blinded them all. "Hello again, ponies."