Player's Real Name : Wade Watts. Username : Parzival. ID Tag : First to the Key #0000. Avatar Name : Z Pony.

• Present Day: 100 years after the AIs took over.

Parzival was blushing, as the rest of the High 5 was laughing at him. They were in the private chat room, of their clan server. So the public debut, of his knew Avatar, would have to wait another day... Thankfully.

"This might be worse than when I caught you over Halliday's lap," Art3mis joked... had they really gotten so close again? Could they tell causal jokes about what was the lowest point in their relationship.

While part of Wade was thrilled by this notion, he still bellowed. "Come on, Samantha!" Z blushed crimson. His fur literally changing colors.

She continued to snicker, but got it under control.

"I think he's cute," laughed Sho, in his favorite yellow-ninja-reptile Avatar.

Sho eagerly reached out, and pet Parzival's quills, making the foal's blush deepen. Parzival remembered when Sho was younger then him. And the, now pony, gamer never made fun of the tiny little Asian boy, for it.

Parzival groaned, as the petting made Art3mis burst back into hysterics.

Truthfully, the Avatar Aech designed, wasn't that bad. Parzival had a monkey tail, instead of a pony one. With blue splotches, in the gray fur. As well as long quills, for a mane.

He was a Saiyan pony, which ment (despite not having wings) he could fly, shoot ki blast, and turn "Super Pony", as part of his racial perks.

However, this was a level one Avatar, so he had to unlock all those abilities, as he leveled up... and he really doubted he'd keep this Avatar for longer then he had to.

After Copyright fell, Hasbro had a field-day, ponifying practically every fictional race in the world, for Generation 10 of the My Little Pony franchise.

Saiyan Ponies weren't planet Busters (as nothing really was in the Oasis) but they were fiercely powerful Avatars.

"You know better then to touch someone without permission," Daito glared at his former apprentice.

Sho rolled his eyes, but stopped petting the pony child. "You're not my mentor anymore! Stop treating me like a child!"

Sometimes, it must really suck, working with people who knew you since you were a real kid. Parzival knew, sometimes, they forgot Sho had grown up, and wanted to stay a grownup.

Meanwhile, Aech smiled at all their friends. Although none of them were harrassing HIM, for wearing a ponified version of his Avatar. Like most things Aech designed, it looked bad ass, despite being a pony. His main Avatar was a Cyborg, so his pony version had cybernetic limbs, and was mostly hairless. Looking like he'd been badly burned... it was one scary pony.

"So what made you want to be a brony," Halliday couldn't hide his own smile.

"I'm being punished," Parzival muttered.

Aech explained, "He thought it was okay to publicly tease me about my 'cyber-pony' Avatar. So I decided to ponify his own Avatar."

The others snickered.

Thankfully, Sho spoke up. Looking at Aech, Sho asked, "Don't you think that's too harsh for a little teasing?"

"I use this Avatar," Aech explained. "to blend into the Brony fandom. To relax, without being swarmed."

The others nodded, they all had Avatars like that. So they could wander the streets, without being "The High 5".

Halliday's eyes widened, as he realized what this meant. "He didn't!" the wizard gaped.

"He did," Aech confirmed.

"You DOXXED Aech!" Halliday bellowed, glaring at the pony foal.

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" Z cried. "I just... posted some pics... and maybe made a meme about Aech's Pony Avatar-" Z hadn't realized the Avatar was for Aech's private life.

But before he could say as much, Halliday suddenly pinched Z's pony ear. Then began dragging him to a chair.

"Nooooooooooo!" Z tried to resist, but his ear hurt too much to do anything but follow. He had been in this position often enough, to know exactly where this was going.

"Please!" Z begged, as they reach the chair. "Aech already spanked me!"

"If you had doxxed me," Halliday glared, pulling the tiny foal on his lap, "I'd've spanked you every night for a week." the Wizard raised his hand, and crashed it into the little pony rump.

"OWwww!" Z cried, kicking all 4 of his legs. "But I'm already being punished." the foal cried, as the hand wasn't letting up. "Pony Avatar! Pony Avatar!" He reminded what his punishment was.

"That's not nearly enough!" Halliday insisted. With every syllable, another smack landed.

Parzival cried and cried. "It's enough! It's enough!" he assured. "Uncie Aech! Please tell him it's enough!"

Aech sighed, "Sorry buddy, but you know if your Papa thinks you need more lap time, there is little I can do."

Z just cried more, but accepted his fate. "Waaaah!"

Art3mis shifted uncomfortably. She might be more accepting of Z's lifestyle... but it was still weird as all hell, to be present for the few real punishments she had observed.

Aech was often called in, for baby sitting duty, and really got into treating his best friend like a little kid. Even Daito occasionally got into it.

Art3mis made up some excuse to Aech, and left the little family to their own devices. Leaving what was obviously a personal moment.

She might be a member of the High 5, but she didn't really fit into their family dynamic. Not since Daito and Aech started dating... and that was before Halliday began re-raising Parzival... or whatever those too were doing.

Honestly, after how Art3mis originally reacted, she was lucky they still considered her a friend. And she knew that started, as just a need to keep peace between their group.

"Should have kept my mouth shut," Sho followed her out of the room, "Poor kid."

Art3mis sighed, "Aech would have told him, eventually."

"True, but I remember how hard Daito's hand was, from back when he was my mentor." Sho shuddered. "And Halliday is a lot more harsh with him, then Daito was on me. But I think that's how people are with all age players. Versus real kids."

Example, Daito never would have smacked him on the bare, like Parzival was currently experiencing.

"Pleeeeeze Papa!" Z wailed like an infant. "It was an accident!"

"An Accident!" Halliday growled. Then an idea occured to him, "Well if your prone to accidents, we better get you in a proper nappy."

Parzival's eyes widened, "NOOOOOOOOO!" he begged. And not for the spanking to stop. He'd gladly be over this lap all day, if it meant he didn't have to wear a diaper.

"Oh yes," Halliday glared, his hand still tormenting the bum bum. "Once I finish up here. We are getting you in a nice pink diaper, and you will wear it everyday, til I say so. I don't care where you are, it's staying on."

Z cried real tears at the thought.

It wouldn't be the first time the boy received a "Diaper punishment". However, the press always had a field day when it happened. They had come to understand, Parzival didn't like diapers, and they were used to correct bad behavior. So, much speculation was always done, whenever Parzival wore them in public.

It was terrible, all kinds of embarrassing, and worse yet... Parzival actually heard, the fact he was punished, encouraged a player's guardian to use him as an example. Things like "If Parzival still gets spankings, don't think you'll get away with it."

Z continued to cry. Even instinctively trying to run, despite his dangling legs. The hand came down, over and over again. Continuously slapping the little pony rump, and watching it bounce back.

Parzival did all the begging he could. Givng plenty of "I'm Sorries", once it was clear Aech wouldn't save him.

Another 'SMACK' got the boy refocused on his own, more immediate, misery.

The real issue with Virtual spanking, was their was no chance of going numb to the pain. Or any chance of serious injury, which would discourage harder smacks.

The boy could only cry, until his "Cyber Daddy" decided he had enough. With no limits on time, or physical concerns. Child Avatars were even designed, so that hitting their butt, had zero chance of zeroing them out. It was automatically non-lethal damage.

"Alright," Halliday sighed. Having tired himself. He began rubbing circles into the boy's back. "You don't dox people," He lightly scolded. Though spoke more gently, as he rubbed the little back... "Now let's get you on the changing table."

Z could only cry harder.

In the Real World.

Waking up in the Real World, the Nanites that controlled Wade's body... preserved the stinging backside Parzival got in Cyber-space.

Wade groaned, crawling out of bed, and opening the back flap of his Pajama Bottoms... groaning more at the bright red on grey skin. He's going to be feeling this all day!!! You can bet the nanobots would make sure of it!!!

Parzival had spent near a billion credits, to give himself a Bio-Android body. His brain, being bigger then his head, had been removed and moved into the chest of a metal skeleton.

Then cybernetic organs were placed, in generally the same areas, with only his heart and brain swapped. Even his eyes were implants, and connected to the brain by the skeleton's neural interface, which also fed his nervous system.

But all his muscles, his vains, and even the nerve endings, were organic flesh, with a lot of nanobots to care for them. Doubling as interpreters between his organic and cybernetic systems.

Real kids hadn't been born in 42 years. So Bio-Androids had become a popular substitute for raising children. He could even age (if his parents wanted him to), but could also regress in age by flushing nanobots from his systems.

Parzival's Avatar didn't even have... boy bits... or nipples. Those cost extra, and he needed approval from his adopted parents to qualify... Halliday refused to give his permission, as he didn't think Parzival needed them... so his body looked like a bloody genderless doll. It been 42 years, so he kinda got used to not having them... and the SFW filter Halliday put on him. Which put a black bar over his vision, when inappropriate things showed... and made all "naughty" words sound like beeps.

Halliday was able to buy himself his own Bio Android body. But you bet his had sex parts, with a clear adult body..

Although most Bio-Androids hadn't started as humans. The technology just allowed the brains to be transplanted inside them.

Shaking his head, Wade tried to focus on the task at hand.

After Wade got ready for the day, he stopped by the Hospital Wing... to visit his son.

The rest of the High 5 was already there, watching a small developing fetus in a tube. The kid was officially a month old, and looked it. The clan's first son, whom would double as playmate for Parzival. Only took a hundred and 42 years since Bio-Androids were invented.

None in the High 5 paid much attention to their Villagers, as they prefered more arcade style games, or VR-MMOs. They weren't fans of Minecraft or Animal Crossing. So it took active effort to get enough Family AIs to operate the kid... They finally decided to pull their resources. Their child was genetically engineered from all their DNA, had samples of nanobots from all of them... used all their "Child" Family AIs.

He was all of their child, and so they were even able to split the permanent reduction of coin.

"This... is just weird," Art3mis commented. Then snorted, "We haven't looked after a kid, since sho grew up... at least, not a real one." sparing a glance at Z. Whom blushed.

Daito spoke up, "It's a rewarding experience." Ruffling Sho's hair.

The younger man rolled his eyes, "Try not to get off on changing his diapers."

Strangely it was Samantha, that knocked Sho upside his head.

"OW!" Sho yelped, "It was a joke!"

"One in poor taste," Insisted Aech.

Parzival just ignored them, staring at the developing life. "I'm a dad," he muttered. He was finally going to be a dad... just took 42 years to save up the extra coin. The thing cost millions of permanent funds. He might be a king, but he still had to earn his money.

Truthfully, the only thing he really did, on the ruling body, was acting as the Optimizers organic adviser. He held no actual advantage over other players, just bragging rights.

And he'd spent most of the fortune, he won from '"he Hunt for the Ultimate Easter Egg" on saving the world.

Aech laid a hand on his shoulder. The Cyborg's face bright with their own pride.

"I vote against spankings," Sho piped up.

"I second the motion!" Parzival agreed.

The two both having first hand experience with sore rears.

Sho, from his years as a child apprentice, and Parzival... from now.

"A motion has been seconded," Halliday's AI materialized next to them. What with him being their Home's main computer. Along with his duties as primary Optimizer. "I call for a vote."

Aech scoffed, "They weren't actually serious."

Both Z and Sho snapped, "I was so."

Aech just sighed.

"All in favor," The God Mod spoke formally. "Of denying Spanking as a form of discipline?"

Sho and Z raised their hands.

"All opposed?"

Now Aech and Daito raised their own.

Then all looked at Art3mis.

She shrugged, "Undecided."

"Voting is inconclusive," God Mod politely informed. "Another vote may be called for at a later date." then disappeared.

As everyone looked at Artie. She gave another shrug. "I was never spanked as a child. And it never did me any harm. But I've seen what good it did when Sho was a kid... Parzival doesn't really count. Since he didn't start getting spankings until he was an adult... and I've seen him deliberately misbehave to get one."

Z blushed.

"I think we should wait before completely going either way," Art3mis advised. "We might wanna keep spanking as a last resort. Then see how the kid responds. All kids are different."

The boys hesitantly agreed to wait to see how the kid actually responded to discipline, before ruling out anything.

CODEXes:

DRONES.

• Piloted by a player's "villager" programs, all their Villager programs, across every server.

• The more programs in a model, the more sophisticated and intelligent the drone is.

• Together, the "Villager AIs" act as the drone's operating systems, with one being chosen as the direct personality/voice, by the player. Working similar to the Geth, from mass effect, but with elements of the cartoon "Osmosis Jones".

• Villager Programs are more advanced programs, then the Geth, as a drone requires fewer of them, but they are still far less advanced than a human mind.

• Villager Programs can be purchased through the terminal directly, creating a "Template" of that character, which the player can then make edits to, or purchase "modifications"/"Mods" for it.

• The template is not an AI, but rather the raw files for the personality, gear, and Avatar appearance. So Templates can be swapped out, without bothering the Villager AIs.

• 150 Villager AIs come with every Server Tower, and are copied into each Cartridge. With all copies connected by a Hive Mind. So switching out the Template for one will affect all in that system, but not the other 149 Villager Systems.

• Villagers are one of the core games, found in every Cartridge. (which will be talked about next chapter)

Bio-Androids.

• A combination of organic flesh, around a nanite based skeleton, and cybernetic organs. They are grown through cloning, mixed with a good deal of genetic engineering, over a cybernetic skeleton, connected to a synthetic brain.

• Like Drones, Bio-Androids are run by all of a Player's villager programs, across all 13 server towers. But unlike a drone, their more advanced brain is operated by all a Player's Family AIs, of that type. Such as All romantic partners, operate one Bio-Android. Then all Best Friends operate another. And even all adopted children operate their own. With a minimum of 13 AIs, of that type, needed to run the brain. And a maximum of 150. They operate the Bio-Android, a bit like the emotions from the movie "Inside Out". With the Bio Android having it's own unique "Core Personality" which the Family AIs guide and react for.

So all Family AIs, operate a model's personality, as a joint effort. While Family AIs pilot different class Bio-Androids, be it romantic partners, children, friends, or other family members.

• sexual hardware, and relevant programs, are sold separately... for a greater permanent reduction in coins.

New Family Dynamic.

The family dynamic had changed. As the AIs insisted clans live together, in the real world. Instead of with a spouse. However, each individual Clansmen can have up to 3 children.

Child models, or rather "Bio-Brats" as the model was called, spend 7 hours a day, at a physical school, in the real world. Where they advance the sciences and culture.

Where children are directly raised by their players, in truth the whole clan helps care for them.

Village:

• Within the Oasis, Players can purchase an AI Template of characters, from any media they have consumed, once a week. While these Templates weren't actually AIs, but rather the raw files.

From their, additional personality subroutines could be purchased. Of the character's various incarnations (from reboots to fan fictions). Plus there memories.

Along with any alternative Avatars, equipment, and items.

The player could mix and match these attributes, and then upload them into a single, and more true, AI.

• These AIs are similar to Animal Crossing Villagers. Giving quests, and making requests of the Player. Or just being someone the player can talk and bond with. These programs are true Artificial intelligence, although more limited then most AIs. As they think more like human brains.

Hive Mind:

• As villager AIs are too simplistic to exist in multiple places at once, they instead share thoughts between all their direct copies. Experiencing the world vicariously through others. These AIs are programmed to like this.

The player could mix and match these attributes, and then upload them into a single, and more true, AI.

• Villagers are designed to be content living in the town. With no ambition to leave it.

• If a Villager wants more excitement, they will ask the player to plug in a new Cartridge. A good way to increase a Villager's Affection, is to plug in a Cartridge they request.

• A Villager's only ambition, is to insure their player has their values satisfied.

Affection:

• Of course there were also tricks to strengthening your friendship with your individual AIs. Within the "Villager Shard" players could talk with them (one on one), hang out with them, play a game, help them with their chores, complete a quest for them, or take them out for adventures. This would increase their Affection.

• The higher a Villager's Affection, the more money they earn their player. As well as the more likely they are to give their Player Gifts. Such as: extra coins, potions, weapons or armor, or other gear. It all depends on how high their affection is.

• It should be noted, that a Villager's Affection cannot drop below "Friendly". Even if their player ignores them. Or do something as evil as beat them, even to the point they are force to respawn. They will always love their player, unconditionally. Although it is possible for them to fear their player, as well.

• All Villagers and Family AIs, were programmed with a deep affection for their player, though it always starts out as platonic. Though this doesn't mean their player can't annoy them or even royally piss them off, but they would never wish to leave the player.

• The player has the option of "Courting" the AIs, to join their "Cyber Family". Which the player has to specify a role for the AI to fill, when they begin "courting" them. Villagers can even be courted, platonically. Such as a Sibling, a Parent, Child, Cousin, or even an Aunt or Uncle. With even an option to court a Villager to become the players "Best Friend" as well.

• If the Player successfully courts an AI, they are upgraded from "Villager AI" to "Family AI". This includes "Best Friends" as "Family". These "Family AI" have their programs transferred to a different harddrive. Which also uses it's own RAM. However, they still live in the Village Shard of their Cartridge.

• Players have the option, while courting a Villager, to convince them into becoming their parent. Which gives that AI rights over the player. Such as altering the Player's settings, and giving punishments. Such as time outs and spankings. Even deciding things like what the player eats, who is on their block list, and bedtimes. Most "Cyber Parents" will set the player's age, to prepubescent. However, most are willing to negotiate on these things. Although few Cyber Parents will allow their player to be older then 29, and definitely not older then themselves.

• If the player goes for the "Lover" route, instead of platonic, the Villager is still upgraded into a "Family AI". However, this unlocks different options, while interacting with them. Such as going on Dates, and having sex.

• Unlike other courtships, The "Lover" has different stages. Where as the "Lover" stage, is more a friend with benefits. Followed by the "Partner" stage. Where they are essentially "Boyfriend" or "Girlfriend" to the player. With the final stage being "Spouse". Where, the moment the Partner AI accepts the Player's proposal, activates a day long mini-game. Starting with getting the wedding together, and ending with the honeymoon.

• Players can have multiple "Family AIs" to fulfill the same role. As AIs are big on "polyamorous relationships". Once the players marry an AI, they become their dream spouse. Some even have poly relationships, with multiple AI spouses. All of which love each other and the player.

• If a regular Villager has a high enough affection, the player can act as "Matchmaker". This lets the player do mini quests, to get their AIs, from any franchise, to agree to marry each other.

• If the Villager came with a preset canon relationship, the AIs retain them when the player unlocks the character. However, those ties are severed when the player decides to "Play Matchmaker" for them...

Which is actually part of the quests to set up other bonds. Depending on how the Player sever the relationship, is if the AIs remain on good terms with their canon family.

• This relates to children as well. As an option of "Joint Custody" is available, when trying to get the kids to live with a different family.

• Once married, either to other Villagers or the player, the option to adopt AIs, modeled after children, is unlocked.

In fact "Bio-Brats" are are directly opperated by all child AIs.

• Neither Villagers, nor Family AIs, can have children through traditional means. However, during Villager creation, the player can adjust their age to a child. So it is possible to have children running around. Even adopt them.

Adventuring Mechanics:

• Villagers, and Family AIs, use gear and attacks based on their preprogrammed Template. However they don't start out as powerful as their fictional counterpart.

• Villagers have "Levels", which increase as the player does quest for them, not related to "experience" like a Player's level ups. But more rooted in their "affection" bar.

Villagers also have a level cap, based on the maximum potential of their Template. Unlike a player's ability to grow their Avatar's level infinitely.

There are Villager templates that don't have a level cap. However, they require a coin count in the trillions. But not a permanent reduction of coin.

• Villagers are more limited than the player. However they also gain greater computer assistance, through predetermined "Skill" ranks, Attributes, Abilities, Spells, and Gear.

• When a Villager, or Family AI, levels up, they get a 25 point increase to health. As well as a minor increase to the effectiveness of their abilities. Such as how much damage their abilities do. Villagers are designed to be companions to the player, not overshadow them.

• Villagers cannot suffer Perma-Death. If they are defeated, they just respawn, with a level reduction at worse. If their death was severe enough, the Villagers will be bedridden, in the nearest virtual hospital, for a few days. Players don't have to worry about permanently losing any of their AIs.

• Villagers do not have "Stamina" or "Magicka" stats. Rather they have cool down periods, to use each specific power.

The player can choose which power they use, if the Villager is in their party. However, villagers can only exist in a Village Shard, or the real World as drones.