>Jump over the barrier, walk down the corridor to the left.
>This one goes on for a while.
>Labyrinths like these are always so close together for some reason.
>Then there’s the fact that they are seemingly scattered virtually everywhere.
>Most of these places are apart of various quests.
>Some of those are freely given, while others, randomly discovered.
>Adventurers search these to earn fortune, fame, power, and more.
>The difficulty of them vary greatly, with some being easy, some being hard.
>No matter the difficulty, they themselves are integral.
>Because without doing them, there can be no progress in the story.
>Even the smallest of quests can have a much larger impact overall.
>Such as assisting a cook in getting supplies for the duke’s birthday, which leads to fighting a dark wizard bent on controlling the world.
>It’s quests like those that make things interesting.
>That’s one of the reasons games are so fun to play.
>Most ponies say games are too distracting, or even harmful.
>In the very same breath, they’ll praise books and movies.
>They’re all hypocrites.
>It’s not like any of those can be directly interacted with like a game can be.
>And what’s cooler, is that in most cases, the player themselves is the hero.
>It’s there that they can be extraordinary – to be truly special – in a world elsewhere.
>Isn’t that what everypony yearns for anyways?
>Yes, of course.
>Besides, the /real/ world is far worse, and especially far more cruel than any game could ever be.
>But here in the game? It’s fair, it’s kind.
>Friends are here that never desert you.
>Family is here that never hurts you.
>Life here is good.
>You’re the hero.
>You’re special.
>You’re not you.

>Sadly, gaming has to stop every now then and then, but it’s only for a short while.
>Sleep is one reason, and it is annoying.
>Have to do it, though.
>The long cold nights are bearable to get through.
>Hunger pains are a common form of interruption.
>Usually eat very little, so it’s not too much of an issue.
>Don’t have anypony to talk with about these things however.
>Well, that isn’t entirely true.
>But that isn’t the point.
>Because you don’t need anypony else.
>The game is all that’s needed.
>This current area is so drawn out, wish it wasn’t.
>Kinda makes it boring at times.
>That tends to wake up sleeping thoughts that should stay asleep.
>Alright, gotta pull the lever, then the next room can be accessed for-
>A skeleton pops up from seemingly nowhere.
>It is swiftly dealt with by the magic blade in your possession.
>In it’s place, several more crawl out from the earth.
>One by one, they are taken down.
>More take their place each time another falls.
>This is getting really dicey, gotta watch your health, otherwise-
“Darn it!”
>Written in red text across the screen is two words, “You Died.”
>Gonna have to redo that whole section, AGAIN.
>If you were paying more attention, you would’ve remembered that this was an ambush.
>And as the hero, mistakes cannot be afforded to be made.
>All the ponyfolk back in town are relying on the hero to save them from the dark wizard.
>The treasure this place has is essential to beating him.
>Although this is your third run of the game, it’s still just as great as the first time around.
>The hero, Epona, is awesome.
>She’s agile, strong, dependable, and skillful; borderline flawless.
>Above all else, she isn’t you.
>Need to concentrate, the area you died in is coming up again.
>Won’t fail this time, just need to circle the skeletons, then-
>The screen suddenly turns black.
>With it, the world around starts to come back into focus.
>No, don’t pay attention to that, go back to the game.
>Turning things out, the power button is pressed.
>Nothing happens however.
>Again it is pressed.
>Still nothing.
>Again and again it is pressed, each time it ends the same way.
>Which only means one thing.
>The power cells ran out.
“Great, just… great.”
>Haven’t been keeping track of it like you should have been doing.
>Worst of all, is bell that tolls inside your head.
>Your no longer the hero.
>You’re no longer special.
>You’re you.
>Again.
>Don’t like that.
>Don’t like any of it.
>There is /nothing/ good about it, ever.

>You slip a hoof into your hoodie, and press it against a needle.
>Pain clears away the growing fog; giving just enough focus to know what needs to be done.
>Have to venture into the market to get new power cells.
>Rather stay here where it is safe.
>Can’t do that, though.
>Sensations begin to creep up around as you sit here.
>The first is the itchy, sweatiness that is your body.
>It’s immediately followed up with a sharp pain in your gut that forces you to strongly wince.
>Not sure when the last time you ate anything, but it’s clear that it’s a problem now.
>That’s just something else that will have to be dealt with.
>You give yourself a once-over as you put away your game.
>Clothes are start to wear out again, need to fix them soon.
>Just sow them up later, like you always do.
>As for smell, well… it isn’t pleasant.
>Doesn’t matter, it’s fine.
>Out into the streets you go, with your gaze to the ground.
>Various eyes bore into you as you’re walking.
>They’re judging you.
>I know.
>They’re disgusted by you.
>I know…
>They want you gone.
>I-I know.
>Focus, don’t get sidetracked.
>As if things couldn’t get worse, a delicious smelling aroma wafts in your general direction.
>In response, a pang of hunger strikes without mercy.
>Can’t help but wince slightly.
>Keep it together.
>Have to do this.
>There is no choice.
>A large crowd moves about the marketplace up head.
>That is both good and bad.
>Good because it ensures that more distractions, so less likely to be seen.
>Bad because there’s a lot of ponies.
>Too many.
>Regardless of that, you enter the crowd, and it’s immediately clear that you’re given a wide birth.
>Legs keep shaking with each step, head buzzes loudly, with neither stopping.
>World is tightening around more and more.
>Everypony is drawing closer to you.
>It’s getting harder to breath.
>Fire licks away at your trembling form.
>Sight is fading away.
>Everything is-
“NO!”
>Chest heaves hard, body quakes in tremors, but all in all, you’re still here.

>However, here in the middle of the crowd, all eyes are upon you.
>A single squeak escapes as you dart off into a nearby alley.
>Your heart beats like drums in your ears as they splay back upon your head.
>You hide behind a set of trashcans, and hold yourself tightly.
>It is awake, the beast, it is eating away your insides.
>That’s why there is pain.
>Never will it stop.
>It just waits.
>Everything around turns black as you squeeze your eyes shut.
>Slowly, you gently rock yourself back and forth.
>Shouldn’t have come here.
>Shouldn’t exist.
>There is no choice.
>For a time, everything else remains quiet.
>Eventually, you reopen your eyes to the blurry world around.
>Your sleeves dry your eyes, and you shakily stand back upon your hooves.
>Need to finish this, fast.
>It will be done.
>Because you are the hero.
>No pony notices when you slip back into the crowd.
>Good.
>First things first – get food.
>That’s the easiest part of all of this.
>Second thing to do – get power cells.
>The hardest part.
>Speaking of which, you can just make out the stall from where you are.
>A young mare is running it instead of the owner.
>Good.
>Some guards are talking with her, though.
>Bad.
>Will figure out what to do later once you got food.
>Various stalls sell various kinds, and best of all, nearly every one of them is crowded.
>That makes things a little less difficult, but still not a complete breeze.
>After all, it only takes on observant pony to see, then it’s all over.
>Now, what to get?
>Something small enough to conceal away within your hoodie.
>Mouth keeps watering as you eye the different foods.
>Brain is fuzzy, just want to eat.
>Probably drooling like a zombie.
>Don’t care.
>Moving along like the aforementioned creature, you slip by a few vendors.
>Practice skill comes into play, with several new items now occupying a space close to your body.
>Should eat now.
>No, not yet.
>A quick glance around reveals no pony seems to have noticed.
>Good.

>As you start to make your way around to the next destination, the strongest hunger pain drives you to stumble.
>Barely recover enough to move out the way of everypony else.
>This is getting worse.
>Go off to eat then, that will solve the problem.
>Get the cells first.
>Going to make mistakes if you keep this up.
>Just go, do what needs to be done.
>Despite what just happened, everypony around moves on like nothing is wrong.
>Why would they ever notice you, other than seeing a piece of trash?
>You’re not special.
>You’re you.
>But you can pretend not to be.
>Remember: the hero never stops, they can’t otherwise the world suffers.
>The hero suffers alone, it is their burden.
>So you too must suffer alone.
>Body is very itchy, sweat continues to worsen.
>Hunger aggravates everything else further.
>In spite of it all, you carry onward.
>A prayer from when you were younger echoes quietly inside your mind.
>“Celestia, please help me through this.”
>No pony else has ever helped before, but if she does?
>Well, then… thanks.
>Can see the stall again, and the guards are no longer there.
>Good.
>Mustering everything you have, you *try* to appear normal as you reach the stall.
>“Hi there, can I help you with anything?” Says the cheerful voice of the mare.
>She doesn’t know you.
>Good.
>She doesn’t need to.
>She will eventually.
>Staying silent, you shake your head gently.
>Throat is dry.
>I know.
>Stomach hurts.
>I know.
>You need to eat.
>I know…
>You need to get the power cells.
>I-
>Stop getting distracted!
>The needle in your pocket is pressed against your barrel.
>It breaths some much needed concentration back.
>From the corner of your eye, the mare is keeping an eye on you.
>There is no pony else here but you.
>Be patient, don’t rush things.
>Various titles are brushed over, some interesting, others not so much.
>Keep browsing regardless, an opportunity will present itself soon.

>As if on cue, a young colt accompanied by his mother come up to the stall.
>Good.
>Just need to wait a little longer.
>Nerves may be frayed, pain may be constant, but determination is all you have right now.
>The colt begins talking up a storm to the mare running the stall.
>There we go.
>Leaning forward slightly, a seemingly unassuming scratch of a foreleg does the job.
>With that, you carefully, and calmly, retreat into the crowd.
>Each step is very shaky, unfocused.
>A dull ringing is in your ears, it won’t stop.
>It will pass once you get home, so keep going.
>Some color from nearby draws your attention, though once you see it, prettification takes hold.
>A large group of guards are coming your way.
>Instincts take over instantly, with you breaking out of the crowd, and immediately sprinting away.
>Each leg aches badly, along with your lungs that burn terribly, but there can be no stopping, there can’t be.
>There is no choice.
>Into the alleyways, around street corners, and through backyards you go.
>Reflexes just barely prevent accidents.
>Shouting is seemingly coming from all directions.
>Every voice oozes with venom; the very same venom that’s been spewed your way since you were little.
>They’re going to catch you.
>No.
>They’ll find what you really are.
>No!
>They’ll lock you up in that terrible, terrible place.
>NO!
>The asylum awaits.
>Vision rapidly begins to dissolve into a blurred mess.
>Can just barely make out greenery around through the pain.
>It’s-
>…
>…
>…
>Sounds.
>Thoughts.
>Feelings.
>Pain.
>So. Much. Pain.
>Every part of you is agony, especially your lungs.
>Looming over you, is a dark unicorn mare.
>Her steel blue eyes burn into you, “...welcome home…”
“NO!”
>Your words banish her in an instant.
>Clarity takes the reigns, and with it, everything else around comes into focus.
>There are no pale walls around; only grass, stones, bushes, and trees.
>You must have crashed face first into here.
>Guess you blacked out.

>Nearby, nestled between a set of trees is a something you are very familiar with.
>Those boxes, all cobbled together, you know them.
>It’s then that you realize exactly where you are.
>This is home.
>Fear forces your ears to twitch about to listen carefully.
>No pony else is around here.
>It’s just you.
>Which means one of two things – either you lost your pursuers, or there was no pony chasing you to begin with.
>Of course, it’s the former, it has to be.
>You’re not crazy.
>You are not your si-
>Your hoof makes contact with the needle in your pocket, thus silencing that thought.
>Alongside it, are the items acquired from the marketplace.
>Despite the pain, a sigh of relief escapes from your lips.
“...quest complete.”
>An apple is withdrawn, and is greedily devoured within seconds.
>Something hot and wet rolls down your cheeks.
>Ignore it like the beast inside is ignore.
>Another piece of food is eaten hastily.
>Would go for another, but you must exercise restraint to save the rest for later.
>Legs hurt too much to stand up, so you crawl into your home.
>Still feel really itchy, need to remedy that.
>Your hoodie is removed, and a coolness washes over your body.
>It does little in the wake of the pain coursing through you, but it certainly feels better.
>The power cells are replaced in your game, then the button is pressed.
>The screen lights up, so does everything else around begin to fade away.
>You can be hero.
>You can be special.
>You can not be you, Bambi.
>This is fun.
>This is right.
>This is all that matters.
>There is no choice.
>Ever.